Chapter 5

Naomi nursed her injuries in her room for an entire day. The lash wounds from the whip on her back burned, but she was already used to pain like this. Just then, the door softly opened. Jocelyn walked in with an exquisite gown in her hands and said, "It's James' birthday today, Nae. I planned a party for him. Come attend it with me." Naomi shook her head and said, "I'll pass. The two of you can go on ahead." Jocelyn's smile stiffened slightly. Her voice was laced with a tinge of threat as she warned, "You'd better be a good girl, Nae." Naomi shuddered when she heard that. Her eyes instantly turned blank and lifeless, as if she were suddenly under the control of some unseen force. She nodded mechanically, took the gown from Jocelyn, and turned around to change into it. Jocelyn smirked as she looked at Naomi's silhouette. She had already noticed that whenever Naomi was told to be a good girl, it was almost like casting a spell on her. The latter would obey the command without the slightest hesitation. Jocelyn couldn't help but wonder if this was a habit that Naomi had picked up on while she was at the academy. Still, she thought that the academy was a school for etiquette learning. So, why would they use such methods? Before Jocelyn could think it through, Naomi was finished changing her clothes and had walked out. Jocelyn gave her a once-over and nodded approvingly. "Let's go. The party is about to begin." … The banquet hall, illuminated with dazzling lights, was filled with guests. Naomi followed behind Jocelyn with her head down like a lifeless puppet. Her appearance caused the guests to whisper amongst themselves. "That's the dainty young lady that Mr. Payne had raised and doted on? Why does she look so frail and lifeless?" "Yes. My son once had a crush on her. He said that she brightened up the room and that all the boys in school had a crush on her. Why does she look like a mere puppet now?" "What a striking contrast she makes standing beside Mr. Payne's fiancée." "Ms. Mentley and Mr. Payne look so good together. They're truly a match made in heaven!" Naomi followed quietly behind Jocelyn, turning a deaf ear as she ignored the gossip about her. Jocelyn smiled as she made her way to James. She slipped her arm through his and smiled sweetly. "Many people are saying that we're a match made in heaven, James." James smiled. His tone was gentle as he responded, "Of course. That's the truth, after all." When it was time for gifts, Jocelyn whipped out a delicately wrapped gift box and bashfully said to James, "You don't lack anything, so my gift to you is a pregnancy planner. "We're getting married soon, and I hope we'll have a son and a daughter after our wedding. What do you think?" James was stunned. He subconsciously stole a glance at Naomi, who was standing to the side, and quickly looked away. He replied lovingly, "You can call the shots. I'll go along with your plan." Jocelyn leaned into his arms giddily and turned to Naomi. "What have you prepared, Nae?" Naomi lowered her gaze, took out a gift box from her bag, and passed it to James. James opened it to find a gleaming emerald bracelet within the box. Jocelyn looked at it and nonchalantly commented, "Oh, it's an emerald bracelet. James never wears jewelry. You didn't put in a lot of effort in this gift, huh?" Naomi didn't respond. She simply looked James in the eyes. As expected, she could see from his eyes that he was utterly stunned. Only the two of them knew that the emerald bracelet was a Payne family heirloom, and it had always been a gift for the future lady of the Payne household. All those years ago, Naomi whined, pleaded, and demanded the bracelet. James assumed she was just a young girl who thought it was beautiful, so he gifted it to her, doting on her as he did. That day, she had returned it to him of her own accord. Naomi softly said, "I wish you all the happiness in the world, Uncle James." James suddenly felt a sharp pain in his heart. Just as he was about to say something, he heard a blood-curdling scream. He looked up and saw the chandelier swaying dangerously, threatening to fall on Naomi.