Marry My Billionaire Second Husband - Chapter 73

Chapter 73: Engagement Party
Amelia’s face flamed, and she snatched that box away from Ronan. “Thank you very much. I got this.”

The men helped her carry the boxes inside the room while she changed. It was harder than expected, but Amelia somehow managed to wrangle herself into the gown without tearing it.

When she emerged from the room, there was only Ronan and Dimitri waiting outside for her. Ronan gave a low wolf whistle and two thumbs up as his eyes roved over her.

“Excellent. You won’t lose to Emmeline Hawthorne! I’ll get a hair and makeup artist for you tomorrow, and we’ll show that woman and her harpy mother!”

“Technically it’s not a contest,” Amelia said, but she couldn’t help but smile at Ronan’s encouragement and enthusiasm. “But where’s my father, Dimitri?”

Dimitri stared at her unblinkingly, before he quickly collected himself. “He’s in his room. He said he had to find something for you.”

“I’m here! Millie, it’s time for you to have this.” Michael Kentwood appeared, an ornate jewelry box in his hands. “This is something your mother left behind. It was meant to be given to you when you first got married but your mother didn’t trust Caleb enough to give this to you during your wedding.”

“Mom had better instincts than us both,” Amelia mused wryly. “So what is it?”

Her father cleared his throat and opened the lid of the jewelry box. Amelia’s breath caught in her throat.

Inside the black velvet of the box, laid a platinum necklace that boasted a flawless blue sapphire pendant that seemed to shimmer with the ocean’s waves. It was set in a delicate halo of other, smaller white diamonds, each equally pristine as the next, as though they were imitating a flower slowly blooming in spring.

There were also plenty of white diamonds along the chain of the necklace, and interspersed among them were small vivid emeralds, their rich color providing a striking contrast to the brilliance of the diamonds.

Amelia was stunned. “How… this…”

How did her mother get her hands on this? Surely it wasn’t real. Perhaps this was simply costume jewelry. It had to be.

“I don’t know how your mother got her hands on this, but I’m sure there’s no better time for me to give it to you. Wear it with pride, Millie. We might be poor, but we won’t be stepped on!”

***

Amelia adjusted the brooch that sat on her chest, a finishing touch to her outfit as gifted by Dimitri. He had insisted she wore the small accessory but didn’t further explain why she must. She took it as a good luck charm. In the short time they had known each other, Dimitri seemed to extend the same kind of overprotective care he showed Ronan to her.

The car rolled into the driveway of the grand hotel they had booked the event at, the pebbles crunching under the rubber tires of the car.

“Are you ready?” Ronan asked.

He had gotten out of the car first and opened the door, holding his hand out for Amelia to take. Between his comforting smile, his warm hand, and the flashing lights of the reporters that had gathered outside the hotel’s main entrance, Amelia had no choice but to pluck up her courage.

The moment he helped her out of the vehicle, the lights were blinding. The paparazzi were like birds of prey, hawks that had gained vision of the field mice, their latest dinner. They came swarming over in a second, completely ignoring the other guests as they fought to the front.

“Amelia Kentwood!”

“Miss Kentwood, look here!”

“What do you have to say about the latest statement released by Caleb Walton on your marriage?”

“From whom did you receive the invitation to attend Emmeline Hawthorne and Matteo Montgomery’s engagement party, especially after what happened between you three?”

They offered her no chance to breathe, cramming their questions right into her face one after another in rapid fire. It was Ronan who stood in front, blocking her from a direct view. Their bodyguards cleared a path for them to walk, but Amelia could feel the burning flashes and stares that trailed behind her figure.

“Ignore them,” Ronan said once they were safely inside the ballroom, an area that was restricted to a limited number of photographers, most of which were busy with the star of tonight, Emmeline. “They’ll eventually move on.”

“Not anytime soon, I’m afraid,” Amelia said, wincing. However, she still braved a smile quickly after. “Perhaps we should look for Horace. I don’t think any of the other hosts here will appreciate seeing me here tonight―”

“Amelia! What are you doing here?”

The familiar voice forced Ronan and Amelia to turn on their heels, only to meet Caleb Walton standing there, two champagne flutes in his hands.

His eyebrows had shot high above his forehead as he stared at Amelia. She didn’t miss the way his eyes lingered on her body, his gaze trailing down from her slender neck to the dip of her cleavage due to the off-shoulder design of her dress. He stopped at her waist, and his Adam’s apple bobbed before he hurriedly raised his eyes to meet her gaze again.

“And what are you doing with him?” Caleb pressed, this time, glaring hotly at Ronan instead. His grip on the champagne flutes tightened as he spat out the words, causing Ronan to roll his eyes.

“We were invited,” Amelia said evenly, not wishing to explain any further. In fact, she wished not to have any further interactions with this ex-husband of hers, especially after the disgusting offer he made her the last time they met.

However, before she could walk away with Ronan, Caleb reached out. He hastily placed the drinks down before reaching out and grabbing Amelia’s hand, holding her back.

“Hey―!”

“Why are you with Ronan Sullivan?” Caleb asked again, his grip tightening the more Amelia struggled.

“What the fuck, dude?” Ronan rushed forward, tearing Amelia free from Caleb’s hold. He shoved Caleb back, protectively standing in between them, Amelia tucked safely behind him. “What is your problem?”

“My problem?” Caleb echoed, coldly laughing. “My problem is why is my wife here with you? The failed Sullivan heir?”