Truth be told, he still carried a twinge of guilt over the broken engagement.
If a few extravagant gifts could ease his conscience, so be it.
Money had never been an issue for him, after all.
With just a few carefully chosen words, Juliet had once again played the role of the doting elder sister—while silently reinforcing that Harrison belonged to her, and her alone.
Queen continued savoring the tea cakes, though a mocking smile played at the corners of her lips.
Everyone believed Juliet was frail and rarely left home, assuming her gentle appearance mirrored her personality.
Only her twin sister—who’d endured countless childhood torments at her hands—knew the truth: beneath that delicate facade lay a sharp, calculating nature, the polar opposite of her saintly image.
Stealing the engagement that rightfully belonged to her without leaving a trace?
That was proof enough.
Not that Queen cared.
Harrison had never mattered to her anyway.
When Queen remained silent, not even sparing her a glance, Juliet spoke again, her voice laced with cautious hesitation.
"Queen.. did you hear me?"
"I heard you just fine.
My ears work perfectly," Queen replied coolly, setting down her spoon as her gaze fixed on the projector screen displaying the auction hall.
"But save your generosity.
The Bernardo family may not rival Harrison family in wealth, but we’re hardly paupers.
I can buy what I like—no charity needed."
Harrison’s brow furrowed.
Juliet’s thick lashes fluttered, her already pallid face growing even paler.
"Queen, that’s not what I meant—"
"Whatever you meant, my stance is clear," Queen interrupted, her crimson lips parting as she narrowed her eyes at the face so eerily like her own.
"I see." Juliet’s voice was soft as a whisper. She lowered her head and fell silent, looking utterly crestfallen.
Harrison, who had witnessed the entire exchange, reached over and took Juliet’s hand from where it rested on her knee.
Harrison shot Queen a disapproving glare.
"Queen, Juliet was just trying to be kind. You’re being unreasonable."
Juliet spoke up, seemingly caught off guard by Harrison’s words.
"It’s fine," Harrison reassured her, patting her hand with a determined look that screamed unwavering support.
Juliet turned her head, casting a helpless, almost pleading glance at Queen.
Queen arched an eyebrow, not even bothering to spare Juliet a second glance.
Instead, her mocking, ice-cold gaze locked directly onto Harrison.
"Go on, enlighten me—which part of what I said was ’too much’?"
The smirk curling her lips was dripping with sarcasm.
"Was it pointing out that the Bernardo family isn’t short on cash and doesn’t need your gifts?
Or was it refusing to play along with Juliet’s little act?"
Sometimes, honesty was the deadliest weapon.
Of course, it was the latter.
But with Queen calling it out so bluntly, Harrison found himself at a loss for words.
Pressing his lips together, his expression darkened further as he finally spoke.
She only wanted you to be happy by letting you choose.
What was that attitude of yours just now?"
"Figures," Queen let out a mocking laugh, leaning back into the sofa as her gaze returned to the projection screen.
"When people can’t find fault with others, they blame everything on attitude."
Harrison’s true intentions were laid bare, and a pang of frustration tightened his chest, his brows furrowing deeper.
"Alright, Harrison," Queen’s hand gently tugged at Harrison’s sleeve, her voice soft and placating.
"Queen has always been . Let it go."
Her tone carried the familiar weight of resigned patience and concession.
Harrison’s expression darkened further, unable to suppress his anger as he scoffed. "You’re too soft-hearted.
That’s why she’s grown this spoiled and willful."
Queen’s temper and capriciousness were no secret in E Country’s high society.
Meanwhile, Juliet, frail and often absent from crowded gatherings, remained a shadow in the background.
So much so that whenever the Bernardo family was mentioned, most people could only recall Queen’s name. Spoiled?
Queen pressed her lips together to suppress a smirk.
Oh, she was spoiled alright.
Juliet glanced at her younger sister, shaking her head with a mix of exasperation and affection.
"Don’t say that. She’s still younger than me."
"Five minutes younger counts?"
Harrison arched an eyebrow, his gaze sharpening with displeasure as it landed on Queen.
His tone dripped with insinuation.
"Don’t worry," he continued, turning back to Juliet with deliberate sweetness, "once we’re married, my entire family will dote on you.
No one would dare give you any trouble."
Juliet’s eyes shimmered with emotion, but perhaps because of Queen’s presence, she didn’t respond outright.
Instead, her fingers tightened slightly around Harrison’s hand.
Noticing this, Harrison smirked and lowered his head, enveloping her slender hand in his palm.
Queen, seemingly oblivious to their exchange, lifted her cup with detached calm and took a sip.
The next instant, her brows knitted in distaste.
She set the cup down with a quiet clink and pressed the service button.
The chime of the bell instantly drew the couple’s attention back to her. Harrison remained impassive.
Juliet, however, frowned slightly. What is she up to now?
The door swung open as a waiter entered the room. "President Harrison, Miss Juliet, Miss Queen." he greeted the trio with a respectful nod. "How may I assist you?"
"Yes," Queen extended her hand languidly, pointing at the teacup that had been returned to the table.
Her voice carried an icy detachment.
"This tea is too strong.
Brew me a fresh cup."
"Certainly," the waiter responded with another bow before stepping forward to retrieve the cup.
His movements faltered momentarily when he glimpsed the dark brown liquid inside, his expression freezing in silent disbelief.
Queen observed his reaction with amusement, her lips curling into a knowing smirk. "Is there a problem?" she inquired coolly.
"Miss Queen..." the waiter began hesitantly.
The waiter hesitated for a moment, but under Queen’s questioning gaze, he voiced his confusion.
"Ma’am, this is coffee."
The overwhelming tea aroma was too strong?!
Both Harrison and Queen frowned in unison.
"It is coffee, but it tastes overwhelmingly like tea.
I’m not used to it," Queen said, looking at the waiter with a bright, unapologetic smile.
"Is there a problem?"
She was already a radiant beauty, but when she smiled, her charm was downright dazzling.
"No problem at all, no problem," the waiter stammered, nodding repeatedly under the force of her smile before hastily retreating with the untouched coffee.
Men might enjoy drinking tea, but they weren’t exactly experts at discerning its nuances.
Women, however, were different.
Harrison simply thought Queen was throwing another one of her spoiled-rich-girl tantrums, making a fuss over nothing, and didn’t pick up on anything else.
But Juliet instantly grasped the deeper meaning behind Queen’s words.
A shadow flickered in the depths of her eyes, and her grip on Harrison’s hand tightened unconsciously—though she remained completely unaware of it.