The Florist's Dominance

Chapter 2

Unaffected by the insults from Elysia's friends, Adrian answered calmly but firmly, "I didn't steal it. This ring was a gift from a tycoon who—"

Before Adrian could finish his sentence, another friend of Elysia cut off Adrian's words, "A gift?”

"Do you think the diamond in your hand costs only a few hundred dollars? That's a two-carat stone! Even a mediocre one would cost over twenty thousand! The one you're holding, if it's real, could be worth eighty, even a hundred thousand! And you're telling us you got it as a gift?"

"It doesn't make sense! Tell us which tycoon you deceived! You must have manipulated a rich old person! How immoral!"

"Adrian, come to your senses! We know you're poor and trying hard to equalize yourself with Elysia. But this isn't the way!"

"If you're poor, at least you should have ethics and a sense of shame! This is outrageous!"

Their gazes were accusatory and full of judgment as if looking at the most criminal human in history.

"No need to bother making up stories about a tycoon who gave you a diamond ring! If you really care about Elysia, show us your real contribution to Elysia's AEON project!"

Elysia's friends cheered in agreement. Advanced Encephalic Oscillation Neutralizer, or AEON for short, was a brainwave therapy device shaped like headphones for treating trauma victims that was invented by Elysia. Thanks to her work, Elysia was often invited to talented youth events and received several national awards.

It wasn't surprising that AEON became the focus of Elysia's friends' attention.

They demanded in unison, "Yes, show us!"

Not long after, their laughter erupted, because indeed they weren't expecting any answer from Adrian.

To them, Adrian was nothing more than a clown putting on a show. "You can't, can you? Because you really can't show any support for Elysia!"

Adrian had never actually intended to show off to anyone, not even to Elysia. But the words of Elysia's friends this time were extremely outrageous.

Coldly, Adrian shot back, "If I say something, will you even believe me?"

The reality was that they all already regarded Adrian as a fraud, no matter how clear the facts Adrian would state.

Adrian turned to Elysia. "Elysia, I never just stood by while you fought hard to realize AEON!"

Their laughter exploded again, "Everyone can say that too, idiot! Without proof, it's all just empty talk!"

Everyone nodded in agreement with that statement as if it were fact.

"Tell us, from what angle can you claim to provide valuable support to AEON! Sponsorship? Bureaucracy? Academia? Research? Data?" They laughed until they were holding their stomachs.

"Elysia is a genius student! With her achievements, her expertise, and also her connections, every proposal she makes becomes very substantial! Funding, bureaucracy, and research matters aren't significant to her! And you? You're only busy with your soil and your useless flower plants!"

"You're nothing in Elysia's life and don't deserve to claim any contribution!"

"If you really can't contribute anything, it's better to just stay silent than to act embarrassingly!"

The sound of insult after insult sounded like annoying flies in Elysia's ears. After glancing briefly at the ring in the box, Elysia raised her face to the sky as if trying to compose the right words. "Ad, enough. Please stand up!"

All eyes were now on Elysia as if waiting for the epic final performance of the foolish drama that Adrian was trying to play out.

The grip on the bouquet of flowers in Elysia's hands tightened. Her chest moved up and down and there was a subtle tremor in the tone of her voice, "Look around you! Do you think I'm a joke to you?"

Adrian answered, "I've never regarded you as a joke, Elysia!"

"If not, why are you kneeling in front of me with a diamond ring in front of so many people? Do you like being laughed at?"

"Elysia, I don't care—"

"I care! I care! Everyone is looking at me now!"

Elysia shook her head as if dispelling all her doubts, then spoke in a firm tone, "I'm going to be at VIT, in The Olympus Index, in international labs, or prestigious companies!"

"And you? What can you offer? A future where I have to explain with shame and confusion every time someone asks, What does your husband do?"

One of Elysia's friends interjected, "A butterfly researcher, I suppose." Laughter erupted among them again.

Another chimed in, "Friends, come on, a butterfly researcher isn't a bad thing either! That's more in line with the major he chose than claiming to get diamonds from an old tycoon!"

That wasn't a statement of pure empathy. They all only knew how to laugh at what they thought was ridiculous in an elegant way.

One of Elysia's friends asked, "Haven't you ever thought about that before, Elysia? Or were you just playing around with him?"

They all waited for a clarifying answer from Elysia. Everyone knew Adrian had worked as a florist since his first year in college. Elysia must have had considerations for why she was willing to be Adrian's girlfriend even though their social status was very different.

But unfortunately, after waiting for a while, Elysia didn't say anything.

Another friend responded, "Ah, I know, I think it's because Adrian looks very similar to the late Alistair Rios!"

When the name Alistair Rios was mentioned, Elysia's perfect defense fortress crumbled. Without realizing it, her tears flowed. Elysia's silent reaction seemed louder than any scream.

The people in the crowd looked at each other and nodded knowingly as if they had the same memory connection. The figure of a handsome, tall man with brown hair and a charismatic smile formed in their minds. Alistair Rios.

"Elysia, you don't really love Adrian, do you? You're just looking for Alistair's shadow in him, aren't you?"

"Hard to believe, but Adrian really does look very similar to the late Alistair. A strange coincidence. Just different fates!"

"And you, Adrian, you must be taking advantage of Elysia's sadness over losing Alistair to become her boyfriend, right? How cunning."

"But it's useless! You're not him and you'll never be the same as him!"