Chapter 2 The Ring on Her Finger

It was almost dawn when Cameron came back, and this time, he was not alone.

Rose stood beside him with his suit jacket draped over her shoulders, while he carefully supported her right hand in his. Her eyes were still red from crying.

I was at the dining table, slipping several signed documents into a manila envelope, when they walked in.

The moment Cameron saw me, his brows knitted together. "You haven't slept at all?"

Before I could answer, Rose shifted half a step behind him. "Noelle, I'm sorry. I didn't know you'd still be here."

My eyes dropped to her left hand, and that was when I saw it.

My wedding ring was sitting on her ring finger.

Eight years ago, Cameron bought that ring with the money he had saved from his background acting jobs, when he only earned 200 dollars a day.

Inside the band was a crooked little engraving he had chosen himself: Only N.

I still remembered those early years in our tiny apartment, when Cameron would hold my hand and talk about replacing the ring someday, once he was earning enough money.

Back then, I had believed him.

Eventually, Cameron did start making real money. He just forgot about the ring, along with the promise that came with it.

I stared at it now without saying anything. Cameron followed my gaze, and for the first time since he walked in, he seemed to remember exactly what Rose was wearing.

"The swelling got worse," he explained quickly. "The doctor said we shouldn't force the ring off right now, so she has to keep it on until her hand goes down."

I gave a small nod. "It suits her."

Rose's eyes filled with tears. "Noelle, please don't misunderstand. There's nothing going on between Cameron and me. He just feels guilty about what happened years ago. He's only trying to make it up to me."

When I still did not respond, she reached out and caught Cameron by the sleeve. "Maybe I should leave. I don't want Noelle to get upset because of me."

His expression darkened. "Your hand is still swollen. Where exactly are you supposed to go?"

Then, he turned to me as if the solution were obvious.

"Noelle, clear out the guest room. Rose can stay here for a couple of days."

My hand paused over the envelope. "My luggage is in there."

"Then, move it into the study."

He said it so easily that for a moment, I simply stared at him.

Over the years, Cameron had grown accustomed to asking me to step aside. I had given up my time, my sleep, and even credit for work I had done on his s. Whenever someone important came along, I was always the one who quietly slipped into the background.

Apparently, now I was expected to give up a room too.

A small laugh escaped me. "Cameron, do you even remember what's in the study?"

He frowned, so I answered for him.

"Your first audition tape is in there, along with drafts of more than 300 emails I wrote when your career was falling apart. The original contracts from the year when no studio wanted to touch you are there, too. I spent months fighting to keep those deals from being canceled."

Rose bit her lip before saying softly, "Noelle, you shouldn't say it like that. You make it sound like Cameron only has everything he has today because of you."

I looked at her. "Then, was it because of you?"

The room fell silent.

Cameron's expression turned cold immediately. "That's enough."

He stepped slightly in front of Rose, shielding her from me. It was such a small movement, yet somehow it hurt more than if he had slapped me.

"Rose isn't feeling well," he continued. "She doesn't need you attacking her."

I lowered my eyes and continued sealing the envelope. "What? You won one Best Actor trophy, and suddenly, no one's allowed to tell the truth in your house?"

His jaw tightened. "I already told you she isn't well. Stop provoking her."

I looked up at him again. "She isn't well, so she gets to wear my wedding ring and sleep in my guest room?"

For the first time, a flicker of discomfort crossed his face.

I held his gaze. "Does she get my husband too?"

My voice never rose, but that only seemed to make the words land harder.

Rose suddenly pressed a hand to her chest as her breathing turned shallow. "Cameron… I… I can't breathe."

His expression changed at once. He caught her as she leaned into him, wrapped an arm around her, and quickly led her toward the door.

Just before leaving, he looked back at me. "Noelle, if anything happens to her because of this, I'll never forgive you."

Then, he walked out with Rose, and the door slammed shut behind them.

I stood there for a while after they left, too drained to move.

It was not until I noticed a folded sheet of paper on the floor where Rose had been standing that I finally bent down to pick it up.

It was her medical report. My eyes skimmed the page before settling on the diagnosis: mild anxiety.

I stared at it for several seconds, caught somewhere between wanting to laugh and feeling sorry for myself.

Then, the front door suddenly opened again.

Cameron was back.

For a brief moment, I thought Cameron had come back because he noticed Rose had dropped the paper. Maybe he had seen the diagnosis and finally realized how absurd the whole situation was.

However, he did not even glance at me.

He walked straight past me and disappeared into the study. A moment later, he returned carrying an old wooden box in both hands.

The instant I saw it, the composure I had been holding onto all night finally began to crack.