"Exactly! I even saw sweat on his forehead—he must have sprinted all the way here."


    "Well, we''ll be waiting for your wedding invitation!"


    "Serena, go outside and apologize to your brother. He''ll forgive you," Vanessa said gently, giving her an encouraging smile.


    Feeling a pang of guilt, Serena finally pushed open the door and slipped out of the lounge.


    She spotted her older brother in the hallway, phone pressed to his ear, and her heart started to race. The way he''d looked at her earlier-like he was ready to chew her out-still lingered in her mind.


    But didn''t all this just prove how muchn cared about Vanessa? Sure, she''d been scolded a little, but she''d also managed to show everyone just how much her brother loved Vanessa. In the end, wasn''t it worth it?


    "You''re leaving already,n? Aren''t youing in for a drink?" Serena reached out and tugged at his sleeve.


    "I''ve got things to do." He gently pulled his arm free and stepped aside.


    Just then, a cab driver hurried up the hallway, clutching a gift bag. "Excuse me, where did that gentleman in the suit go?"


    He turned to Serena, looking a little flustered. "Miss, did you see a tall, handsome guy in a ck suit? Looked like he came from old money."


    Serena nced at the driver, then at the gift bag in his hand. Something about it seemed familiar-she was pretty sure she''d seen that box at home before.


    "You mean my brother?" she asked.


    "Your brother?"


    Serena quickly pulled out her phone and scrolled to a photo ofn. "Is this him?"


    Serena blinked in surprise. "My brother took your cab? And brought a gift?"


    The driver nodded. Honestly, with the tipn had given him, he felt duty-bound to return the lost package.


    "I''ll take it."


    He handed Serena the bag, then hesitated. "Mind if I snap a photo? Just so I know I delivered it to the right person."


    "Go ahead," Serena replied, a bit impatient.


    After taking the picture, the driver left. Serena, now curious, wondered what gift her brother had picked out for Vanessa. She couldn''t resist she opened the box.


    Her eyes widened. "Wow,n really went all out with this one!"


    When she walked back in with only the box in hand, Vanessa''s smile faltered. She stepped forward, concern in her voice. "Where''s your brother?"


    "He had something urgente up, but don''t worry, Vanessa-he left you a present." Serena handed her the gift bag. "Here, take a look—see if you like it!”


    Their friends all crowded around as Vanessa, her eyes shining with anticipation, lifted the lid. Under the soft glow of the lights, a violet bracelet shimmered-so beautiful it hardly looked real.


    "Purple is the rarest this must be top-tier jade!" someone eximed.


    Vanessa''s lips curved into a gentle smile. "Ian really put his heart into this."