Chapter 2

I glanced down at my bare ring finger and said coldly, "I don't know, maybe I lost it."

He stared at me intently, furrowing his brow, trying to decide if I was lying.

I met his gaze without flinching.

After a long pause, he let out a relieved sigh and smiled knowingly.

"Really? How careless of you. Well, I'll just buy you a new one.

"I know I've been busy lately, and I've ignored your feelings.

"Actually, I've got a little surprise for you. I brought you something you always wanted."

Lowell took a small box from his pocket and pointed to the cluttered clothes and shoes on the floor.

"But you'll have to clean this up first before I can give it to you."

I glanced at the box in his hand, then replied coldly, "I don't need it. Keep it."

A clear sign of displeasure flashed across Lowell's face.

"You're so difficult. I bought you the gift you wanted, and now you won't even do a little housework?

"I must have been too..."

Before he could finish, his phone rang.

I knew that sound. It was the ringtone he set specially for Kaitlynn.

Lowell smiled instinctively. He gave me a quick glance before heading to the bedroom with his phone, then closing the door with a loud bang behind him.

Five minutes later, he came out, wearing his coat, and tossed the box onto the couch.

"Alright, I was just joking. Go ahead and open it.

"But the house still needs to be cleaned. It has to be done before tomorrow night. It's a mess in here, and you're just sitting around.

"We've had some small issues with a company project. I need to go to the company to handle it. You can sleep. Don't wait up for me."

I watched his lousy performance in silence.

The same scene had been playing over and over again for the past eight years.

But I always hid inside the false dreams he had woven, too afraid to wake up.

After Lowell left, I tossed the gift into the trash.

But the box hit the edge of the bin, and with a snap, it popped open.

A delicate ruby necklace fell to the floor.

I froze for a moment, then remembered something.

Seven years ago, I had asked him for a ruby necklace.

At that time, the company had just started, and I had accompanied him to countless social events. Finally, we landed a major deal.

The day the project was completed, I gathered the courage to ask Lowell for a ruby necklace.

He frowned, clearly irritated.

"Bessie, can't you stop being like a spoiled girl? Today, you want a necklace. Tomorrow, you'll want a car, and the day after that, you may want me to buy you a plane.

"Besides, your neck's so short. What's the point?

"If you really like it, I'll buy you a crystal pendant, okay?"

The next day, Lowell handed me a cheap crystal pendant.

I always thought he just didn't like these things.

But later, he showered Kaitlynn with countless jewels.

It was so many, and she couldn't help but flaunt them on social media.

[How could anyone love giving jewelry this much!!! I'm not an octopus. I can't wear it all!]

[He says I look good in it, so he buys more. Such a spendthrift.]

[This ruby necklace is so old-fashioned. I hate it. I really don't want it!]

I clicked on the picture, and there it was. The ruby necklace. The one he had given me.

I pressed my lips together and tossed it back into the trash.

Then, I dialed a number.

"Anstey, can you recommend that famous divorce lawyer you mentioned last time?"