Chapter 3

3.

I was testing him, and I saw his body stiffen for a fraction of a second.

"You bought new ones, didn't you? The old one is gone. I lost it," he answered casually.

Lost it. A sharp, stinging pain radiated through my chest.

When we got married, his family's company was facing a financial crisis. We didn't even have a real wedding.

Those rings were given to me by my mentor back when I was just a junior assistant. They weren't expensive, but they meant the world to me.

I had wanted to upgrade them, but I never intended to throw them away. They were the witnesses to our seven years together.

Did he really lose it? Or was he afraid Greta would see it?

Normally, I would have started a massive fight. But now, it seemed pointless.

"Are you really going to make a scene over this?"

Gavin knit his brows in annoyance. I had been silent for too long, and he clearly expected an outburst.

He knew better than anyone how much I cherished those rings. Once, I thought I'd lost mine at a spa and nearly turned the whole place upside down.

Even the police were called.

When the group finally found it, they were shocked to see it was just plain silver. People whispered about me.

They couldn't understand why a woman from the wealthy Sterling family would cause such a scene over something so cheap.

When Gavin arrived and saw the commotion, he looked at me with pure embarrassment.

"It's just a piece of junk," he had hissed. "Why are you so worked up? You can buy whatever you want now."

I had been so hurt then. With red eyes, I told him it was because he was the one who put it on my finger.

Gavin couldn't comprehend my sentimentality. He turned around and walked out, leaving me there alone.

I knew he felt I had humiliated him.

Usually, when he looked at me like that, I would rush to smooth the tension. I was terrified of his anger because I was the one constantly chasing him.

I was more afraid of losing him than of being mistreated.

Now, I simply didn't care anymore. I let out a short, cold laugh.

"There's no need for a scene. Do whatever you want with them."

I picked up the new jewelry box and tossed it into the trash can by the door.

I wouldn't wear something someone else had already touched. It felt filthy.

I refused to let my hard work and devotion benefit another woman.

My actions clearly enraged Gavin. He grabbed a ceramic figurine from the hallway table and smashed it onto the floor.

"Lana, what the hell is wrong with you? Who are you throwing a tantrum at? So I missed one anniversary. Is that really worth this drama? You need to remember who provides this comfortable life for you!"