Chapter 2
My hand was yanked sharply, causing a stabbing pain from the IV needle
But instead of answering him immediately, I asked, “What do you want my ring for?”
That ring had been something I put a lot of effort into designing and handcrafting myself. It was a symbol of our commitment, the proof of our lifelong
bond.
“Lilia likes it,” Gavin replied casually. “She wants us to wear matching couple rings.”
“Just give it to her, it’s not like that cheap ring’s worth anything anyway! Barely got any diamonds on it.” he said dismissively.
As he spoke, he saw that I had placed the ring in the corner of the table. Without hesitation, he grabbed it and turned to walk away.
I tried to get up to stop him but almost forgot my leg was still injured. Despite that, I stubbornly held onto the ring, refusing to let go. “Give it back!”
Gavin’s eyes were filled with disappointment as he looked at me. “Vera, I remember when you used to be so generous. What happened? Why are you so petty over something so small?”
I replied, “If you insist on taking it, then we’re done.”
Gavin froze.
He dropped to his knees, looking up at me in disbelief. “What did you say?”
His voice trembled. “We’ve been together for ten years. Are you really just going to break up like this?”
“Don’t you know I can’t live without you?”
“I won’t let you break up with me!”
I looked at him coldly, a chill settling in my heart as I said, “But Gavin, it was you who chose Lilia over me first.”
He crawled into my arms, hugging me tightly. “It’s not like that. I just felt sorry for Lilia. She was so upset, she even tried to commit suicide. I had no choice but to calm her down first.”
“Once she’s better, I’ll come back to you, and we’ll have our wedding. Please, believe me!”
Looking at Gavin’s desperate face, I nodded reluctantly. “Fine.”
He sighed with relief and left, but he still took the ring with him and didn’t return it.
I touched the empty ring finger on my left hand, then picked up the phone to call a former colleague who was overseas.
“Can you ask the professor if there are any spots left in the lab? I want to go back and continue my research.”
The voice on the other end was excited. “Really? When you left, the professor was really upset. He’ll be thrilled when he hears you’re coming back. I’ll go ask him right now.”
“But didn’t you go for a wedding? Isn’t it going to be inconvenient to live apart from your husband?”
I almost instinctively tried to make an excuse for Gavin, but after a moment, I found it ridiculous.
I said, “He’s dead. It won’t affect my work anymore.”
After hanging up, I booked a flight back overseas.
Then I discharged myself from the hospital and went home to rest.
Meanwhile, Lilia was constantly posting pictures on Instagram, flaunting her relationship with Gavin.
I saw posts where Gavin had bought her haute couture dresses, and pictures of her wearing expensive jewelry.
She even posted photos of them holding hands, wearing the diamond ring she had stolen from me.
They also took multiple sets of wedding photos, with Lilia captioning one of them:
“Three years in the shadows, now the world finally gets to see our love.”
Gavin had reposted it too, but quickly deleted it, likely afraid I would see it. He then reposted a birthday invitation for his mother.
Before the wedding, Gavin had specifically mentioned his mother’s birthday, reminding me to attend and celebrating with him as a couple, Chapter 2
His mother, Pearl, also eagerly invited me to her house.
Though the wedding never happened, I still brought a gift to Gavin’s mother’s home.
But when I opened the door, I was greeted by an unexpected scene.
The party had already started, and all of Gavin’s relatives were there. Gavin and his mother were seated across from each other, with Lilia sitting between
them.
Pearl cut the steak into bite–sized pieces for Lilia’s plate, murmuring, “You’ve lost weight lately. Eat up and get your strength back.”
Gavin shot his mother a sideways glance. “Mom, she’s high–maintenance. Won’t even cut her own steak–always makes me do it.”
Yet even as he complained, he was already slicing the meat for her, then lifting a piece to her lips.
I stood there, feeling out of place and awkward, the only one left standing alone.
Suddenly, someone noticed me, and someone gasped, “Vera?”
