Chapter 3My Vampire Fiance Abandoned Me for a Human Girl，So I Married His Brother

Elena's POV

Seeing that I had gone quiet, Adrian took a box from the attendant.

"Yesterday's was a birthday gift.

"This one is an apology I prepared especially for you."

He lowered his head as he spoke, his expression gentle, his brow lightly furrowed, looking troubled.

As if my not forgiving him would cause him unbearable guilt.

"I broke my promise last night.

"Please don't be angry anymore, all right?"

In the past, every time I saw that look on his face, my heart would ache for him.

I would think that being caught between duty and love must have been exhausting enough for him already.

Then I would take the initiative to comfort him, tell him I wasn't angry, step back once more, and swallow all my grievances.

But this time, I only watched as he opened the box.

Inside lay an antique brooch.

I recognized the piece.

It was originally part of a matched pair that had attracted fierce bidding among the nobles at an auction a week ago.

I picked up the brooch and turned it over. A clear repair line ran across the back.

The restoration work wasn't bad, but the original break had been too extensive. The mark was still plainly visible.

I looked up.

"Where's the other one?"

Adrian answered without hesitation.

"Vicky liked them, so I let her pick first.

"This one was only repaired on the back. You can't tell when it's being worn."

He glanced at the brooch in my hand and added,

"You have so much jewelry. You wouldn't mind a small blemish like this."

I looked down at the crack, a faint ache still pulsing in my chest.

He had come here today specifically to make amends.

Yet even with a gift meant as an apology to me, he had still let Vicky choose the better one first.

He said I was the person he cared about most.

But every time a choice had to be made, he would look after Vicky first without a second thought.

Only after everything was settled would he come to me with whatever was left and assume I would accept it.

Vicky walked over to my side and spotted the brooch in my hand. Her face immediately filled with surprise.

"I had no idea this one was damaged so badly."

She lowered her head and touched the flawless brooch pinned to her own chest, her tone quickly turning guilty and pitiful.

"Elena... maybe we should trade.

"I didn't know the crack on this one was so obvious, and I didn't know Adrian would give it to you."

I shook my head calmly.

"That's not necessary."

Vicky's hand froze in place, and her eyes quickly turned red.

"Elena, have you hated me all along?

"If it weren't for me, you and Adrian wouldn't always be fighting.

"I've been trying so hard not to bother you two, but it seems like no matter what I do, I'm always wrong."

I didn't rush to deny it the way I always used to, and I didn't try to comfort her.

I no longer had the energy to prove that she had never affected our relationship, and I didn't want to keep lying to myself.

Adrian, predictably, went to her side first.

"Don't overthink it."

He patted Vicky's shoulder gently, then turned to frown at me.

"Elena, she was just trying to trade you the better one.

"Even if you're still upset about last night, you shouldn't take it out on her."

I looked at him and was suddenly struck by how foolish my past self had been.

It wasn't that he couldn't see who was being wronged.

He simply always felt Vicky's tears first.

Seeing that I still hadn't spoken and was simply standing there watching the scene with cold detachment, Adrian's tone gradually softened again.

He walked up to me and said quietly,

"Elena, I came here today specifically to apologize.

"You've always been the person I care about most.

"I keep Vicky by my side only because I owe it to her parents.

"You know this has nothing to do with love."

I had heard this line far too many times.

Every single time, he would say I was the only one he loved.

And then, at my birthday, my coming-of-age ceremony, and my engagement, he would turn around and leave for Vicky.

Before last night, I had still been willing to believe him.

Because admitting that he didn't love me that much, admitting that he had always been biased, was even more painful than continuing to wait.

But once I decided to marry someone else, all the hurt I had deliberately ignored suddenly became impossibly clear.

I placed the brooch back in the box and pushed it across the table to Adrian.

"Since Vicky likes them so much, give her both.

"One to wear, one to collect. Wouldn't that be better?"

Adrian's expression froze.

He stared at the returned gift box, and for the first time, genuine unease surfaced in his eyes.

"Elena, what's gotten into you?"

I didn't answer.

This had long since stopped being about necklaces or brooches.

I simply didn't want to keep taking someone else's leftovers and convincing myself that he had no choice, that I was the only one who truly mattered to him.

Adrian was quiet for a moment, then tried to lighten the mood.

"In a few days, I'm planning to take Vicky to the human world for a change of scenery.

"She's been dreaming about her parents a lot lately. A new environment might help.

"I was going to bring you along too, as a belated birthday celebration."

Even my belated birthday celebration still had to revolve around Vicky.

Before I could respond, a guard strode down the corridor toward us.

"Miss Valerie, Prince Cassian has arrived."

Adrian was taken aback.

"What's my brother doing here?"

I stood and smoothed my skirt calmly.

"I have something important to discuss. If you'll excuse me."

Adrian frowned at me.

"What is it?"

I glanced at him.

"It doesn't concern you."

With that, I turned and walked toward the parlor.

My chest still ached.

But this time, I didn't look back.