Chapter 3

Chapter 3

On the second day of my departure countdown, my mother-in-law called, ordering me to coordinate the catering and floral arrangements for Garrett and Chloe's wedding.

With so many urgent matters left to handle for my father, I flatly turned her down.

To my surprise, the woman who had always put on a gentle facade instantly dropped her mask, screeching into the receiver.

"Your family is completely broke, and you're just a useless barren hen! What right do you have to throw a tantrum when my son wants to marry a decent woman?"

I did not yell back, keeping my tone deadpan.

"He can marry whoever he wants, but I am simply too busy to plan his wedding."

Garrett hadn't even consulted me before demanding a divorce to marry his old flame.

Why on earth should I lift a finger to organize their big day?

Tired of her screeching, I hung up the phone without waiting for her reply.

When I returned to the estate, I ran into Garrett sitting in the sun-drenched courtyard.

He was dressed in a soft grey cashmere sweater, lounging beside Chloe with an easy, relaxed smile on his face.

He laughed softly as he poured a cup of fresh berry tea for her.

Chloe wore a pair of exquisite pearl drop earrings that shimmered brilliantly under the afternoon sun.

Fresh peonies on the marble table swayed in the gentle breeze, framing the two of them in an atmosphere of tender romance.

Ever since he launched his own private equity firm in our second year of marriage, Garrett had been constantly buried in work.

He was always too busy to sit down and chat with me, let alone spend an afternoon lounging in the garden.

My chest tightened for a second, but I quickly averted my gaze and hurried toward the side entrance like an intruder fleeing the scene.

Their intimate silhouettes flashed across my mind like a cruel slideshow.

I shook my head violently, desperate to purge the lingering images from my thoughts.

That single glance at the charity gala years ago had trapped me in this gilded cage for far too long.

Only today did the bitter reality finally sink in.

He had never loved me.

From the very beginning, his heart had belonged entirely to Chloe.

I rushed into the bathroom and splashed freezing cold water onto my face, forcing my racing mind to stay grounded.

Once I calmed down, I began cross-checking the inventory of the heirloom dowry my father had gifted me.

Yet no matter how many times I counted, one specific set was missing.

I pulled out the original appraisal ledger to double-check the items, and the realization hit me like a slap.

It was a pair of rare South Sea pearl drop earrings.

The exact ones currently dangling from Chloe's ears.

Without a second thought, I stormed across the hall and kicked open Chloe's bedroom door.

She had just returned from the garden, admiring a diamond-encrusted bridal tiara in her hands with a broad grin on her lips.

Their wedding was only three days away, and I assumed Garrett had prepared everything from scratch.

I never imagined he would brazenly steal my heirloom tiara to crown his mistress!

White-hot rage surged through my veins as I lunged forward and ripped the tiara from her hands.

Spotting the pearl earrings on her lobes, I pinned her against the vanity table with one hand and tore the earrings off with the other.

My rough movements tore the delicate skin of her earlobes, making her scream in agony.

"Let go of me! If you want the earrings, I can take them off myself!"

Clutching the tiara and the blood-stained earrings tightly against my chest, I glared down at her with icy contempt.

Chloe struggled to sit up, her eyes brimming with aggrieved tears.

"If you wanted them back, you could have just asked! Why do you have to be so cruel?"

I remained entirely unmoved, letting out a cold scoff.

"You stole my property and expect me to have manners? Dream on!"

She blinked her large, teary eyes, her lower lip trembling.

"I didn't steal anything…"

Heavy, hurried footsteps echoed behind me before a violent shove sent me crashing sideways into the wall.

Garrett caught Chloe in his arms with desperate urgency.

My shoulder slammed painfully against the drywall, and my grip slipped.

The diamond tiara clattered to the floor, the massive center diamond fracturing right down the middle with a sickening crunch.

Garrett locked his furious gaze onto me, his eyes burning with pure disgust.

"It's just a piece of jewelry! I was the one who told her to wear it!"

"Are you so petty that you'd rather smash it to pieces than let Chloe wear it for one day?"

"Your family is dead broke! If you pull another stunt like this, I will throw you out onto the street right now!"

Chloe wept hysterically in his embrace, looking at the cracked tiara on the floor with subtle disdain and disappointment.

Garrett stroked her hair, soothing her with endless tenderness.

"Don't cry, my love. I'll commission a luxury jeweler to rush a custom replacement immediately. It will be ready in time for the ceremony."

I quietly wiped away my tears, bent down without a word, and gathered my cracked tiara and earrings.

My heart felt as if it were being torn in half, a dull, throbbing ache radiating through every nerve in my body.

Just a few more days.

Once the divorce was finalized and my flight took off, I would finally be free.