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Chapter 2

ผู้เขียน: Rivvy
Jim looked at me like he wanted to say more, but he stayed quiet.

"Good that you understand me. I know you’re the best, Ella.

"When you're not grounded anymore, we'll go out, okay?"

His words hurt.

I watched him walk back into the party, and I couldn’t stop the tears from falling.

'There's no future for us, Jim,' I thought.

I went home feeling hollow and smashed the pendant he gave me.

For five years, it wasn’t just me hoping and holding on.

If he hadn’t kept giving me hope after turning me down, I wouldn’t have chased him for so long.

My parents tried to warn me, but I refused to listen.

Now, after getting hurt so badly, I finally saw they were right.

Jim must have still been worried about me because he sent another message.

[Ella, I'm going to ask your parents to let you out early, okay?]

[Even if they don't like me, I'm going to stand up for you.]

Before, a message like that would’ve melted my heart.

I would’ve believed that Jim really cared about me, that he was the only one who truly understood how I felt.

Now, it just felt like a cruel joke.

I didn’t reply his message, and put him on Do Not Disturb.

Then, out of nowhere, I got a friend request.

It was from Rowena.

The moment I accepted, she flooded me with photos—dozens of shots of her and Jim looking intimate and close.

[You saw what happened today in the VIP room, didn’t you?]

[I actually spotted you there earlier, but I pretended not to.]

My hands trembled as I scrolled through the photos.

Jim was smiling in a way I had never seen before.

He wasn’t always so serious and cold.

He just wasn’t happy when he was with me.

When I didn’t reply, Rowena messaged again.

[I’ve been waiting for Jim for five years, waiting for him to prove himself in the Larson family before I made my move.]

[Now that Jim’s grandpa, Mr. Trevon Larson, is close to passing, Jim’s sure to inherit part of the shares. My patience is finally paying off.]

[Ella, don’t think being a rich girl makes you special to Jim. He’s only ever had eyes for me.]

That’s when it hit me—she wasn’t trying to show off. She wanted to crush whatever was left of my hope.

"You're wrong. Jim's not worth my time," I replied calmly.

Then I powered off my phone and tried to rest.

However, I couldn’t stop thinking about everything I’d done for Jim over the past five years.

Like that time at the auction, I bought up everything for him just to make sure no one dared look down on him.

However the next day, I saw an ancient bracelet from the auction on Rowena’s wrist.

Jim had brushed it off with a casual excuse.

I wanted to believe him. When he asked me not to go, I even gave up my chance to study abroad.

He promised at the airport that he’d treat me well from then on.

Yet three days later, he turned me down again.

All those memories came rushing back, weighing on my chest like a big rock.

I didn’t sleep the whole night.

Then, in the early morning, Jim showed up at my place.

When he saw the dark circles under my eyes, he almost looked smug.

"Ella, do you miss me that much? You look so worn out. Was it because of me?"

I was stunned and about to tell him off, but he cut me off.

"I came today because I need a favor.

"My grandpa wants to see me engaged before he’ll hand over the shares.

"So, will you pretend to be engaged to me?"

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  • Stranger With a Ring   Chapter 9

    Seeing Rowena’s wild look, I stepped back, scared."You were the one who kept causing trouble. I let it go before, so why the rush now?"Jim sighed and stepped in front of me."Rowena, it's really my fault. I shouldn't have given you hope. Let's just get everything out in the open today."Ella is the only one I love. Don't come looking for me anymore."Rowena wouldn’t listen. She kept scratching and clawing at me.Jim quickly pulled her away, warning her sharply, "Remember who you are. Try to touch Ella again and you'll regret it."I slapped Rowena across the face. "That's enough. What gives you the right to hit me? You never had any business being around me."Jim looked like he wanted to say something but held back."Ella, I'm not with her anymore. Please don't be mad at me."I know you're part of the Shaw family now, but I'm willing to wait for you."I knew exactly what Jim was getting at and kept my voice calm."You always act so superior, but you're not even fit to carr

  • Stranger With a Ring   Chapter 8

    Seeing Edward get a little jealous made me feel something special.Then, Edward and I got married.He looked at me so kindly.After the wedding, we went to our new room.I was about to go wash up when Edward gave me a big hug."Dear, I'm just so happy."I blushed. "Edward, let's slow down, we've got lots of time..."Before I could finish my sentence, Edward kissed me. The rest of my words got caught in my throat.A little while later, I playfully frowned at him."I said not so tight. Why are you hugging so hard?"Edward chuckled. "My dear, I was wrong, but you're just too gorgeous—I couldn’t resist."Then he opened up to me, confessing he had been watching over me all this time.The Shaw family’s business was massive and incredibly messy.And it wasn’t just internal problems—other relatives were trying to grab power too.“Back then, it felt like every day someone was out to get me. I got so fed up.“However, I couldn’t keep you safe, so I gave in to what they wanted and

  • Stranger With a Ring   Chapter 7

    Five days later, at the grandest hotel in the capital. I stood there in my wedding dress, holding Edward’s hand, about to marry him.The Shaws and the Cunninghams were both powerful families, so the wedding was extravagant and luxurious, with everyone who mattered in attendance.My hand was in Edward’s, but my heart was pounding.He had been incredibly attentive lately, making real efforts to grow our relationship. Yet, I still had this nagging sense of unease.And I was right.Because in the middle of the ceremony, Jim burst in.He was holding a brand-new, sparkling diamond ring—and the delusional belief that he could still take me away.“Ella!” he shouted. “I’m here to take you with me. Stop being angry, okay? You’ve already won. I don’t want to fight anymore.”Edward’s mother, Anna Wood, was furious. “Who let this lunatic in? Get him out of here!”She had never liked the Larsons, and now she was looking at Jim like he was a stain on her son’s perfect day.Security star

  • Stranger With a Ring   Chapter 6

    With those words, I walked away with Edward, leaving Jim and Rowena behind without a second glance. After buying the wedding dress I had picked out, I felt a huge weight lifted off my shoulders.In the past, Rowena always showed up to taunt me whenever I got turned down.Now, I was the one walking away from Jim.Back at the bridal shop, Jim watched me vanish, feeling a void in his chest.He couldn’t wrap his head around how things had changed.‘Ella’s heart was always with me, even after all those rejections,’ he thought.Jim had to admit—he’d been playing games, stringing me along.Deep down, he had planned to say yes on my 100th confession.He really did have feelings for me—I wasn’t just anyone.For five years, even without the title of girlfriend, I’d been his strongest supporter.When the Larson family acted all high and mighty, I was the one who stood up for him.Jim had always felt a little insecure around me. He thought he wasn’t good enough, which was why he had let

  • Stranger With a Ring   Chapter 5

    Edward was drop-dead gorgeous.I’d always been the type to fall for a handsome face. That was the only reason I’d put up with Jim for so long—he looked good.But Edward? He was in a whole different league."Hey there, fiancée," he greeted me with a smile, tapping my forehead lightly. "Weren’t we going to pick out a wedding dress?"I snapped out of it, grabbed his bags, and led him to the car.Edward chatted casually along the way, trying to make me feel comfortable. He wasn’t cold at all—totally different from what everyone said. In fact, he was kind of funny.We clicked instantly and even added each other on Messenger.His profile picture looked strangely familiar, but I brushed it off as a coincidence.At the bridal shop, I tried on dress after dress.Edward sat on the couch watching me, his eyes focused and calm, but there was something warm in his gaze."Which one’s your favorite?" I asked, cheeks warming.He stood up and gently brushed my hair behind my ear."I like whatever you w

  • Stranger With a Ring   Chapter 4

    Whenever we fought before, he would give me the silent treatment.I was always the one to apologize first.However, this time, I told the butler not to let Jim in again.After I got rid of everything he had given me, I felt a little better.But then, he got into a car accident on his way home.Rowena called, her voice sharp with blame. "What did you say to Jim? He got distracted and crashed. This is all your fault!""You’re really holding a grudge over a few texts? How can you be so heartless?"I was stunned. I found out where Jim had been taken and started getting ready to go see him.He had left my place just before the accident. I needed to see him to ease my mind.Just as I was about to leave, my parents came home.They heard I wanted to go out and immediately stopped me."Edward Shaw, the eldest son of the Shaw family, is coming back tomorrow. He doesn’t care about that silly scene you made," they said."Why waste time on Jim when you have a fiancé like Edward?""Besides, we check

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