A Countdown on Camera

The chat in the livestream went wild in an instant.

[Whoa! Is the host serious? That's a million-dollar diamond ring!]

[She's so awesome for tossing it! It's about time!]

[Is this just for show? Who'd actually throw away a ring that pricey?]

"Nina, have you gone crazy?" Ethan Larsen scowled as he spoke.

"Go get that ring back now, clean it, and put it on. Then we can act like this never happened."

Before this, I would have been scared and quickly moved to fetch it.

Even if I ended up all dirty, his happy nod would make my day.

However, this time, it just made me laugh.

I did not tell the livestream who he was. I just crossed my arms and looked at him with my head tilted.

"Ethan, are you the one who's lost it? If you want the ring, go get it yourself."

Ethan was shocked.

He had not seen my response coming.

For seven years, I had been like a quiet servant around him.

I never fought back or talked back.

Seeing that, Winter Johnson stepped up in front of Ethan, her eyes teary.

"Sis, don't talk to Don that way.”

"Don made that ring just for you. It's supposed to show how much he cares.”

"If you're mad, be mad at me, not at his gift."

She reached out to grab my hand, but I stepped back with a grimace. "Don't touch me, it feels gross."

Winter's hand hung in the air, and she started crying. "Don, sister, she..."

Ethan hugged Winter and pointed at me, yelling. "Nina! Apologize to Winter!”

"Why do you think you can call her gross? You, who'd do anything for money, are nothing!"

I watched him stand up for Winter, and I could not help but smile a little.

He was the guy I had spent seven years trying to impress.

For him, I had lost friends, given up my pride, my sense of self, and any chance of living a normal life.

However, to him, I was just someone who would do anything for money.

The countdown in my head was ticking away.

Only 29 days and 23 hours to go.

I took a deep breath, trying to ignore the ache in my heart.

"Apologize?

"Ethan, you'll never hear that from me, not in a million years."

After that, I showed them my middle finger one more time.

"Take your precious Winter and get lost."

Ethan was so mad his face turned the color of storm clouds, and his chest started rising and falling like he could not breathe.

He marched over and grabbed my wrist so hard it hurt.

"Nina, you're really asking for it!"

I bit back the pain and stared him down.

"Yeah, I am asking for it. So go ahead. If you're brave enough, do it now."

The look in my eyes made Ethan freeze.

He let go without meaning to.

I rubbed my sore wrist and let out an icy laugh.

"If you're not going to do anything, then zip it.

"Get it straight, Ethan.

"As of today, I quit."