C5 The Body Should Not be Judged by Its Appearance

Limited-edition watch turned out to be a knockoff?

Eustace's comment instantly riled up both Camden and Gemma.

Gemma, a woman prone to vanity, was particularly sensitive about her reputation.

She had mistakenly thought Eustace's watch was a knockoff and even suspected he had stolen it. But after the boutique staff confirmed Eustace was the legitimate buyer, she was left red-faced.

She had hoped to restore her pride and sense of superiority by dining at the Riverbend Retreat, only to discover it was owned by Eztli's boyfriend—an unexpected and unfortunate twist of fate.

The incident might have ended there, with Dagny taking Eustace away. But Eustace couldn't help himself and made a remark that set Gemma off.

She had been looking for a way to save face, and Eustace had just handed it to her on a silver platter.

How could a homebound househusband, reliant on his wife for spending money, dare to question whether a vice president of a public company wore a fake watch? Where did he find such audacity?

It was as ludicrous as a beggar doubting the authenticity of a landlord's gold ingots.

Gemma scoffed, "Camden's watch is a high-end, limited edition piece that cost over a hundred thousand dollars. You can't even find it domestically. His one watch is worth ten of yours, and yet you dare to suggest it's a fake? Eustace, just because you can't afford it doesn't mean everyone else's is counterfeit."

"Take a good look—are you going to claim the BMW is a fake too? Camden is decked out in international designer brands from head to toe—brands you've probably never even heard of. I don't know where you get the nerve to spout such nonsense."

Camden, touching his watch, looked down at Eustace with a haughty expression and said, "Gemma, don't waste your breath on him. He's a jobless nobody who wouldn't know luxury if it hit him in the face. That watch of his is probably the only luxury he'll ever own."

Just as Eustace was about to speak up, Dagny tugged at his sleeve and subtly signaled with her eyes for him to hold his tongue.

"Gemma, Camden, I apologize. Eustace must be mistaken. Please forgive him this once; I'll apologize for him."

Gemma waved dismissively and said, "Let it go, let it go. For Dagny's sake, I won't make a fuss."

Camden huffed and, taking Gemma's hand, they headed toward the BMW.

"Gemma, you should steer clear of such people. They're just jealous, begrudging anyone who's better off, ready to snap like mad dogs."

After they climbed into the car, Camden revved the engine as if to flaunt their departure. The BMW's engine growled deeply before they sped away.

Dagny breathed a sigh of relief and turned to reassure Eustace, "Honey, Gemma's words were a bit harsh, but don't take them to heart."

"Don't worry, I won't."

Eustace chuckled. He had no interest in squabbling with two fools who couldn't recognize the real deal.

He had insisted that Camden's watch was a fake, and he was confident in his judgment. Having been part of the Rhodes family, he was no stranger to luxury goods and had developed a keen eye for them.

It would indeed be odd if he were the one to be mistaken.

Dagny frowned and said, "Still, you shouldn't have said what you did. I get that Gemma is suspicious of you, but you can't just make wild accusations and cast doubt on her boyfriend. Gemma and I are best friends and colleagues. If you upset her, how are we supposed to get along?"

Eustace dropped the subject of the watch and quickly offered a conciliatory smile. "Alright, my bad. Darling, please don't be mad."

Dagny gave Eustace a playful glare, not one to get worked up over such a trivial issue.

"By the way, come clean—where did you get the money for that watch?"

Eustace had his explanation ready. "I won it in the lottery. Every day when I went to buy groceries, I'd pass by a lottery store, and I'd always buy a ticket. After three years of this routine, I finally hit the jackpot a few days ago. It just goes to show, fortune favors the persistent!"

"You won the lottery days ago? Why didn't you tell me?"

"Uh... The prize money hadn't hit my account until today. I went straight out and bought you this watch. Do you like it? Try it on!"

Eustace watched with a grin as Dagny unwrapped the watch, her face lighting up with joy.

"Honey, how much did you win? Is there any left?"

"I still have some left, but not much. I only won 130k in total."

The watch costs $128,000, so Eustace lied about winning $130,000 to prevent Dagny from checking his accounts.

As expected, Dagny pouted and said, "Ah? So, you spent all the winnings on this watch?"

Eustace replied with a smile, "You can't put a price on your smile. As long as you're happy, it's money well spent."

Dagny paused before speaking, "Honey, can we return the watch? If we refund it and add it to the 100,000 I've saved, we'd nearly have enough for a house down payment. Then, we could move out and start our own life together."

Eustace felt a surge of emotion at her words. He understood that Dagny's wish to move was to spare his feelings, to avoid the daily nagging from her parents.

"Sweetheart, the store's policy is clear: no returns or exchanges after a sale. If the watch has issues, they only offer free repairs. Keep it, and don't worry about the house down payment. I'll find a job, and we'll save up together."

"You're looking for a job?"

Surprise spread across Dagny's face as she pressed, "Really? Honey, what made you decide to start job hunting all of a sudden?"

Eustace chuckled, "I've been recuperating for three years, and I'm ready to work again. Plus, mom gave me an ultimatum today: find a job within three days or she'll have us divorce."

"Are you sure you're physically up to it?" Dagny asked, her face etched with concern. For the last three years, Eustace hadn't been able to work, and not once had Dagny held it against him. His injury, after all, was a consequence of protecting her.

It happened three years prior when Dagny was new to her job. Working late had her walking home at an hour when the streets were less safe, and she encountered a group of drunken troublemakers who nearly assaulted her. Eustace, happening upon the scene, intervened and saved her, but not without sustaining a stab wound to his back from one of the assailants.

Rushed to the hospital, Eustace was on the brink of death due to severe blood loss. Dagny's O-type blood was a match, and her transfusion helped save his life.

Their bond was forged through life-saving acts for one another. In the days that followed, Dagny frequently visited Eustace in the hospital. Their shared experiences and the time spent together led to a deep understanding and mutual affection.

Eustace's recovery was enough for his release from the hospital, but the injury to his waist was severe. The doctors warned that heavy physical work and prolonged exertion were out of the question for him.

Moved by gratitude, affection, and a touch of guilt, Dagny chose to marry Eustace, even in the face of her family's disapproval.