Chapter 6

With a stubborn look in her eyes, Keke reached behind her to touch the zipper on her back. "Sorry, Sloane. If you mind, I'll take it off and return it to you right now." Sloane raised her hand to stop Keke. "Don't. We're in public. Even if you want to take it off, I don't want to see it." She then stepped past the two of them and walked toward the banquet hall. All kinds of gazes fell on her the moment she stepped inside. She could hear the pity amidst the gossip. She held her back straight, took a champagne flute, and walked onto the balcony. A cold, sharp wind hit her face. The sound of footsteps behind her grew clearer, and a figure appeared beside her. "Lo, don't be mad. I'll buy you another dress next time. Look at what I got you." Sloane turned her head and saw a silver necklace glimmering and swaying slightly with Easton's movements. She pressed her lips together. Just a moment ago, the same necklace had been hanging around Keke's neck. A flash of mockery flickered in her eyes. She took a sip from her glass. Easton sighed at her indifferent response. "I'll ask for your permission first next time, okay? I bought this because I thought it would suit you." Next time? Did he really think he could bring his mistress along to steal a gown again? Sloane casually placed her glass aside and looked up. "Was the necklace a buy-one-get-one deal?" Easton's expression stiffened instantly. "Lo, I only gave Keke one because she didn't have a necklace that would match her outfit. Don't be unreasonable, okay?" Unreasonable? She hadn't even said much, yet somehow, she was the one being unreasonable. Easton's love was just like that necklace—whoever wanted it could have a share. "Lo, I told you that you're my only wife. There's no need for you to compete with Keke." He reached out, trying to pull Sloane into his arms, but she easily avoided him. Feeling exhausted, Sloane pinched the bridge of her nose. Easton wanted her to wait again. Sloane had already waited five years. Her patience, along with the last traces of love, had been worn away by time. She no longer wanted to argue with Easton about something so meaningless. After taking the necklace from him, she casually tossed it into her handbag. The only thing left for her to wait for in this marriage was the divorce cooling-off period. Music began playing in the banquet hall. Without looking at Easton again, Sloane turned and walked inside. "Sloane." Keke's voice came from behind. "Let's talk." Sloane stopped and turned around. "There's nothing for us to talk about." Her voice was cold. She moved to leave when a strong grip suddenly tightened around her wrist. In the next second, cold liquid splashed onto her face. Sloane instinctively shut her eyes. The strong smell of alcohol hit her then. In a deliberately lowered voice, Keke whispered in her ear, "Sloane, tell me. Who do you think Easton values more?" Sloane snapped back to her senses and instinctively raised her hand. But before her palm could land on Keke's face, Easton grabbed her wrist. Easton frowned. "Lo, what are you doing?" As he spoke, he finally noticed Sloane's soaking wet face. Her bangs clung to her skin, making her look utterly disheveled. "What happened to you?" he asked again. Sloane yanked her hand free and asked shakily, "What happened to me, you ask? Why don't you ask her what she did?" Hearing this, Keke immediately put on an aggrieved expression and stammered, "Easton, I didn't mean to. Sloane scared me..." As if terrified, she shrank behind Easton, with pearl-like tears rolling down her cheeks. The moment Keke cried, Easton's frown eased, and his tone softened. "Shh, don't cry. I'm not mad at you." He gently wiped the two stray tears from Keke's face with his sleeve. As Sloane watched the scene before her, she felt as if a giant hand was squeezing her heart before it suddenly let go. Easton looked at her somewhat apologetically. "Lo, Keke didn't do it on purpose. Let's just drop this, okay?"