Chapter 314:
A gentle shrug from Rylie followed. “Her progress is slow, but I think she’ll pull through the exams just fine.”
“Is that so?” Zaylee kept her voice light, masking the contempt in her heart. “I learned a lot from Ms. Carter, but most of it went over my head. Maybe you should be my tutor, Rylie — except Brad seems against it. He’s convinced you’re…”
One brow arched, Rylie leaned in. “Convinced I’m what, exactly?”
Dropping her voice, Zaylee looked genuinely troubled. “You know I trust you, but Brad told me your grades weren’t real — that you only got into school because of family connections. He only allowed you to tutor me because of the Owen name.”
A burst of laughter escaped Rylie. “Let’s get something straight. You begged me for help, Zaylee. I never offered.”
Feigning embarrassment, Zaylee forced a chuckle. “Yes, because I trust you. I just have no idea why Brad would tell me that.”
Just then, she squeezed Perla’s hand under the table, giving her the signal to move forward with their plan.
Uncertainty tugged at Perla, her gaze meeting Rylie’s. The conflict between supporting her daughter and her own conscience made her hesitate.
But after a brief pause, Perla gave in to Zaylee’s silent plea. Reaching into her pocket, she produced a small velvet box and set it on the table for Zaylee. “Ah, almost forgot. Brad had this picked out just for you. Since you were already asleep last night, he asked me to pass it along today.”
Excitement brightened Zaylee’s face. “A present from Brad? I can’t wait to see!” Without another thought, she dropped her fork and grabbed the box. Lifting the lid right in front of Rylie, she gasped in delight. “Wow! It’s a necklace!” Sunlight caught the petals of the sunflower pendant as Zaylee held it up, casting sparkling reflections that made Rylie blink. With a curious smile, Rylie leaned in for a better look, her eyes filled with playful mischief.
Holding the necklace up against her neck, Zaylee beamed at Perla. “Mom, how does it look on me?”
With a practiced smile, Perla replied, “It’s perfect — almost as if Brad had it made just for you.”
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Zaylee then turned to Rylie. “Rylie, look at the necklace Brad specially gave me. Does it suit me?”
Rylie answered with an easy smile, “It’s very elegant.”
Brandishing the necklace had been Zaylee’s way of quietly staking her claim on Brad, yet no hint of emotion flickered across Rylie’s face — not even a spark of jealousy.
How could that be?
Puzzled by Rylie’s calm, Zaylee decided to press a little further. She let her voice lilt with false surprise. “Rylie, don’t you think this counts as a love token from Brad? It must be expensive.”
A raised brow and a quick glance at the very necklace that Brad had given her, but she refused. She then replied lightly, “You’re right, it’s definitely not cheap. It’s a handcrafted piece, and the brand is famous for luxury.”
Zaylee glowed with delight. “You really do have an eye for these things, Rylie. I never imagined Brad would think of me like this.”
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