Chapter 4 The Ring He Gave Another Woman

I wondered, 'How many women has he promised forever to?'

That night, a banquet was held inside the estate.

I went to the restroom to freshen up.

When I came back, Adrian was gone.

I didn't look for him.

Instead, I walked through the estate garden and happened to see two familiar figures.

They were sitting on a swing, locked tightly in each other's arms. Their muffled sounds drifted toward me with the night breeze.

All the strength suddenly drained from my body.

I stood frozen in place.

Just like that, I watched the man I loved kiss another woman like he couldn't get enough of her.

I had seen plenty of photos.

I thought I was ready.

However, it wasn't until I saw it firsthand that I understood the pain extended beyond just my heart.

It spread everywhere. My hands and feet went cold instantly. Every part of me ached, as if I had been pierced with holes.

I didn't interrupt them; I merely turned around and returned to the hall. I had no idea how much time had passed until Evelyn sent me another message.

'Willow, your fiancé is really good. As my reward, he personally put that diamond ring of faithful love on my finger.'

It came with a photo.

The ring was on her hand.

I glanced at it once before turning off my screen.

…

Soon after, Adrian came back to the hall and reached out to pull me into his arms.

I stepped away from him.

His brows furrowed. "Willow? Are you upset that I wasn't with you? I only stepped out for a moment to handle something at work."

His voice softened. "Don't be mad, okay?"

I caught the perfume on him.

Even so, I kept my expression cool and asked calmly, "Where's the diamond ring?"

Adrian's eyes darted, and a flicker of guilt flashed across his face briefly. His voice turned apologetic. "I thought it wasn't as nice as the wedding rings we chose, so I returned it to Mr. Collins."

I nodded. "Oh, but I liked it."

Adrian seemed troubled and quickly tried to persuade me, saying, "Willow, that ring wasn't good enough. I'll buy you something more expensive and prettier. Okay?"

I merely smiled at him.

He once told me that as long as I desired something and loved it, he would do whatever it took to get it for me.

Now, he was making excuses because of another woman.

It wasn't just his body that betrayed me; his heart did, too.

"Forget it." I turned and walked away.

Adrian hurriedly followed me, while Evelyn approached from the opposite direction. I could see the diamond ring on her finger

He stiffened, fearful I might notice her.

I didn't expose him; there was no point in tearing everything apart now. I was too exhausted to fight and too wounded to argue.

I left the estate, called a cab, and went home alone.

…

Only after Adrian watched me leave did he grab Evelyn by the throat.

His voice turned vicious. "Are you insane? I told you not to show up in front of Willow. I let you off at the auction because you didn't provoke her too much."

His grip tightened. "Now, you dare walk right up to her? Do you have a death wish?"

Evelyn only slid her fingers slowly down her neckline despite being yelled at. "I'm sorry."

Her voice turned soft and playful. "I didn't mean to. I found a really nice spot in the estate and wanted to take you there... That's why I came looking for you."

She moved closer. "Don't be mad. Let me make it up to you tonight, okay?"

Adrian's throat shifted as the heat in his eyes intensified. Still, his voice remained icy. "No. Willow's mad at me. I need to go home and be with her."

He released her. "Stay here, and don't cause me any more trouble."

...

I got home first and started packing the last of my things.

I burned the love letters Adrian had written to me over the years, our anniversary photographs, and the portraits he drew of me.

Then, I gathered every gift he had ever given me to make me happy and sold them all to a luxury resale store.

The house felt cleaner almost immediately after my cleansing ritual.

I carefully erased every part of me from this house.

My heart grew calm as the items fell into the fire one after another.

Our wedding would be held on the day after tomorrow.

It was also going to be the day I "died" in order to start anew.