Swapping a Broken Heart for a New Start novel Chapter 1233

Pearson’s face fell a little when she wouldn’t take the scarf, but he still tried one more time. “Please, just take the scarf too. I picked it out especially…”

“Pearson.” Walter’s voice cut through the moment, stopping Pearson mid-sentence. “Scarves make better gifts for a girlfriend. You should really keep it.”

There was something about Walter’s presence, this quiet kind of authority that was hard to ignore. His eyes met Pearson’s, and it was like all the air had been sucked out of the room. Pearson was smart and talented, but in front of someone like Walter, who’d been in the business world for years, he just couldn’t hold his ground.

And honestly, Audrey didn’t look like she wanted the gift anyway.

Pearson finally gave up, letting out a small sigh. “Thanks for the advice. I get it.” He pressed his lips together and didn’t say anything else.

Audrey seemed totally unaware of the tension. She took the apple he’d given her, smiled, and said, “Alright, we’ll head back now. It’s freezing outside, and you’ve had a long day. Get some rest, okay? Goodnight.”

“Goodnight…” Pearson watched them go, wishing things had turned out differently.

Once Audrey and Walter left the school, their driver was already waiting. They climbed into the car, and Audrey rubbed her hands together, breathing into them to get some feeling back. After she warmed up a little, she reached into the back seat for a gift box.

Her eyes were bright as she handed it to Walter. “Here. This is your Christmas Eve present. Keep it safe.”

Walter blinked at the sudden appearance of the gift bag. “You got something for me?” He remembered her telling Pearson she hadn’t prepared any gifts.

Audrey grinned. “I didn’t get anyone else anything. This one’s just for you. Open it and see if you like it.”

Walter nodded and peeked inside. There was a perfectly shiny red apple, a little bag of fancy gingerbread cookies, and a gorgeous snow globe. Inside, a tiny Christmas tree stood in the center. As he lifted it, the globe lit up, and tiny snowflakes drifted down, slowly covering the tree.

Something about the tree caught his eye. It looked so familiar. He glanced at Audrey, surprised. “Wait, why does this look exactly like the tree at my place?”

Audrey snapped her fingers and laughed. “Because it is! I had someone make an exact replica. It took them two days to finish it. Pretty cool, right?”

Walter smiled. “It’s beautiful.”

The gift wasn’t as expensive as the scarf Pearson had tried to give, but that didn’t matter. For Walter, it meant everything. It was their tree, the one they’d decorated together.

Everywhere you looked, there were things celebrating different cultures and traditions. There were stalls with calligraphy brushes and ink, handcrafted hairpins, vintage jewelry, tea tastings, and all kinds of pastries. Seriously, you could eat, drink, and shop to your heart’s content.

The main clubs Audrey had organized were already in place, everyone dressed up and ready. Their makeup and costumes were perfect, just waiting for the special guests so they could put on their performances.

Audrey surveyed everything, satisfied. “The performances haven’t even started, and everyone’s already so excited. I just know today’s going to be a success.”

Walter’s eyes softened as he looked at her. “You planned everything so well. You should really believe in yourself.”

Audrey grinned. “Thanks. I will.”

By nine, the booths were officially open. Students wandered around in groups, chatting and laughing, the whole place buzzing with good energy.

Meanwhile, Robert had arrived as well. The university leaders personally took him to the office. After a quick chat and a short break, they brought him to the auditorium to start his speech.