In the dream, I stared at the menacing Steven, terrified, my only thought to run. But before I could get up, he pinned me to the bed, his arm locking around my waist.
He held both my hands above my head, leaving me immobilized. His kiss was violent, and he tore my wedding dress to shreds.
He bit my neck hard, his eyes wild. "Zephyra, I must have been crazy to watch you marry him. You're mine. Even in death, you can only die in my arms!"
I woke with a jolt, sitting bolt upright. I realized I was lying in the hospital bed; my brother must have moved me.
Ryan and Julian both looked over at me, concerned. "What's wrong? Did you have a nightmare?"
My forehead was beaded with cold sweat. I brushed my hair back. "Yeah, a nightmare. I probably didn't sleep well last night."
Ryan handed me a glass of water. I took a few sips to calm my nerves, but my glamorous face still showed signs of lingering fear.
The dream had been far too realistic, so immersive that my heart was still pounding.
But then I thought about it. Steven might be a jerk, but he wasn't the type to resort to such forceful tactics, at least not with me. In my past life, he never treated Verna that way. If he had, she would have broken up with Jacob long before she did.
I was probably just overthinking things. It was all Steven's fault for pestering me even after the divorce, leaving me so unsettled.
The next day, Ryan and I went to a jade auction. I'd never been to such a high-end place before. After all, I'd never had much money. In my past life, my jewelry designs mostly used diamonds and pearls, materials whose prices were easier to control and which were more convenient to source.
Now, I had some spare cash from selling the antique painting. If I could cut some high-quality jade, it would be the perfect raw material for my jewelry, and the final pieces would sell for a much higher price.
Of course, for a designer, it was also a significant challenge, given the expensive nature of the materials.
The venue was bustling with people. Raw stones were displayed on every table, each marked with a price. There was also a cutting station where a crowd was gathered, watching something intently. Ryan and I walked over to see, and we overheard people muttering.
"No jade on the first cut. It's probably a lost cause. Thirty million at auction... looks like that kid's money is going down the drain."
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