Chapter 2

I slept fitfully after getting home, and upon waking, I found a message from my mom.

[Did everything go well? When are you bringing him home?]

Darkness had already claimed the sky.

"It's not happening," I said when I called my mom.

"Mom, I want to come home."

For years, I had fought to make it from Jubilee City to Twilight City. Then, for the first time, I felt the pull to abandon it all and return to my roots.

My mom, an international designer with a small yet renowned studio, had always been my inspiration.

She had hoped to hand down her connections to me, but then I met Emmett while studying abroad.

He was the family's hope, pouring his soul into finance.

Yet, he could not shake off the feelings of inadequacy and anxiety whenever he saw his peers from rich families.

For seven long years, I kept my past a secret from him, hoping to be by his side, to be his rock as he grew more confident with each passing day.

He had built his own company at that time, and I was happy to work there; our relationship was the envy of all who knew us.

Things were looking up. I dreamed of the day we would get married, and I could finally introduce him to my parents and my world.

However, those words would never be spoken.

"Okay, come home!

"I'll book your flight and come get you myself!" my mom said over the phone.

I hung up and flicked on the light, illuminating the stark emptiness of my bedroom.

I ordered takeout on a whim and started scrolling through videos, only to stumble upon Natalie's vlog. There she was, beaming about getting married.

The video showed them, hand-in-hand, Emmett looking nothing like the stern CEO he usually was, but tender and warm.

"After three years of loving Emmett, we're officially tying the knot."

People were gushing, asking when they would get to see them being lovey-dovey.

Natalie coyly replied with a blushing emoji. [I wouldn't tell you even if there was any.]

My appetite vanished, and I tossed the untouched food straight into the bin.

Come morning, I was ready to pass my duties to a talented designer.

However, as I opened my mouth to speak, there was Emmett, stepping out of the elevator with that familiar smile and a coat too small for him, the scent of citrus in the air.

I tried to shrink into the background, but it was too late. Chloe Harris, the designer taking over, her eyes suddenly brimming with tears, blurted out, "Ms. Patel, are you leaving us?"

I wanted to silence her, but Emmett's eyes were already on me, questioning.

"You're quitting?"

I inhaled deeply and, with a steady hand, clicked on the Send button on the resignation email right in front of him.

"Yes, if you could just sign off on that, please."

Emmett did not hesitate, opening his email and promptly hitting the Decline button.

"I can't approve this.

"A marriage license is just a piece of paper. Is it really that crucial?" he asked.

My voice was calm, detached as I said, "I agree, it's not. I'm resigning because I'm exhausted and need a break."

Emmett's brow creased with concern.

"Take a few days off, then. Everyone just found out about Natalie and me yesterday. If you quit now, it'll stir up gossip about her."

He forgot that I had already used up all my vacation days on every single trip to get our marriage certificates.

However, his world was filled with Natalie, and only Natalie.

My eyes drifted to the coat he was holding.

Before I could say a word, Emmett jumped in with an explanation.

"We got a little wild last night, and I grabbed the wrong coat, that's all. Don't read into it."

Yet, he clutched the coat closer, not even trying to set it aside to avoid any doubt.

"Oh, and the sports car I promised you last night—it's parked at the house.

"The bracelet you wanted is in there too, waiting for you to open it."

It was his pattern.

Whenever he did something he should not have done, he would try to make up for it with lavish gifts.

Seeing I had not pushed back, Emmett figured I had cooled off and pressed the car keys into my palm.

"Let's not make a big deal out of this, okay? It's just a little girl's drama.

"My dad's birthday dinner is tonight. I'll pick you up after work."

He leaned in for a kiss on the cheek, but before his lips could land, someone shouted, "Emmett!"

That familiar voice cut through the air.

Emmett stopped in his tracks, let go of my hand, and turned to Natalie, who had come rushing in.

Natalie gave me an apologetic smile.

"Sorry to interrupt, but there's an urgent file that needs Emmett's review. I didn't mean to get in the way..."

Emmett did not even glance back as he smoothly took the papers from her hand.

Natalie's lips twisted into a sly grin as she wrapped her arms around his, making a show of it for the entire office to see.

"Oh, and Emmett's under the weather today, so if you need anything, come to me, okay?" she said, as if she were laying claim to the throne.

Heads popped up from behind cubicles, eyes full of pity aimed my way.

Then, in a heartbeat, my engagement ring slipped from my finger.

I scrambled to pick it up, but it just would not fit anymore.

Emmett had that ring made just for me, claiming it was one of a kind, meant for the one he truly loved —a token of our lifelong happiness.

I handed the ring to Natalie.

Emmett's brow creased in confusion as he looked at me.

"It's yours now. I can't wear this ring any longer," I murmured.

Without a word, Emmett caught the ring, gave it a flick, and tossed it into the trash.

"If you don't want it, then it's garbage," he said calmly before walking away, Natalie at his heels.

As the office door clicked shut, Natalie flashed a ring at me, one that outshone mine in every way.

"Like I'd ever want your junk," she sneered.