Chapter 3

Ethan stared at me, anger and fear intertwined.

"Do you know who Marcus is?

He's nominally my uncle, but in reality I'm less than nothing in his eyes.

If rumors that you're connected to him reach his wife's ears, not only you but I'll be punished too. Lena, are you trying to kill me?"

The others snapped to attention too, glaring at me with rage.

"I knew she was up to no good. Left in a huff back then, and now she's back for revenge. Pfft! And Ethan searched everywhere for you. Ungrateful wretch!"

"Exactly. Good thing Ethan didn't actually marry her, or she'd get him killed eventually."

Yasmine's face was full of venom: "Sister, why can't you just be sensible?

Ethan and I already decided to compensate you and even gave you the opportunity to have children for us. Why aren't you satisfied?

Do you need to see Ethan completely ruined to be happy?"

Her disappointed tone reminded me of five years ago.

Five years ago, Yasmine had used this exact tone to frame me bit by bit.

At first, Ethan would blame Yasmine.

Gradually, he lost even the patience to hear my explanations.

Just like now---I hadn't said anything, yet Ethan's anger had completely exploded.

He gripped Yasmine's hand and pulled out a ring, throwing it viciously at my face.

"For old times' sake, I'll give you one more chance. Put on the ring. From now on, Yasmine will stay in the picture, and you can be the one on the side"

The diamond cut my eye, drawing thin lines of blood. I raised my head and stared at Ethan, hatred surging.

Ethan froze, panic flashing across his face.

But Yasmine quickly grabbed him.

I said nothing. Right in front of them, I bent down and picked up the ring.

This was my and Ethan's wedding ring. Before going abroad, I had thrown it away at the hospital.

Seeing my movement, the panic in Ethan's eyes gradually faded, replaced by smugness.

"That's more like it. Don't worry, when my uncle returns to the country, I'll definitely shine in front of him.

Once I inherit the company, I absolutely won't shortchange you..."

His words stopped.

In everyone's shocked gaze, I threw the ring Ethan had kept for five years into the trash.

"Sorry, I don't want secondhand goods."