The Ring He Gave to the Wrong Woman

After I was discharged, I went straight to Stockdale headquarters.I first met Ross at a charity auction years ago. Back then, I was staying at a church-run girls’ school and had been called in to help arrange the auction pieces. A few wealthy guests recognized my name from the foster records and spilled red wine over my skirt on purpose, laughing as they asked whether I would spend the rest of my life standing behind people like them with a tray in my hands.Ross happened to pass by. He draped his jacket over my shoulders and stepped in front of me, his voice cold enough to silence them.“If anyone uses Izzy’s background as a joke again, you can answer to me.”From that day on, I fell for him.After college, Ross started his own company. He had no family fortune behind him, no old name to open doors, and no one willing to take him seriously. His first office was a rented room above a repair shop, with bad heating, cheap desks, and a coffee machine that broke every other week.I stayed

Ross stared at the resignation letter on his desk, his face darkening at once.“You’re resigning?”His voice was low and cold.“Izzy, what are you trying to pull this time?”Before I could speak, Samora gave a soft laugh, as if she were helping me out.“Ross, don’t be so harsh. She was in an accident a few days ago. She probably hasn’t recovered yet, so it’s normal for her to be emotional.”Then she turned to me, polite and gentle.“Izzy, don’t be impulsive. You’ve been at Stockdale for so many years. Leaving like this won’t be good for the company either. Ross is only worried about you.”I looked at her.“What does my resignation have to do with you?”Samora’s smile paused for half a second before settling back into that forgiving expression. Standing beside Ross, she looked and sounded like the rightful woman of the room.Ross gave a cold laugh.“Don’t mind her, Samora. She’s just used to doing things like this to get my attention.”His gaze returned to me, sharp and oppressive.“Izz

“What proof do you have that I took it?”My voice was quiet, but the front hall still went silent.A few people laughed.“Proof? She came out of a church school. Has she ever even seen a Leone family token?”“People like her know how to look innocent.”“If she has nothing to hide, search her bag.”Several men stepped closer, already assuming I had no right to refuse.I looked at them.“Don’t touch me.”They stopped.Samora spoke then, eyes red, voice soft.“Please don’t. Maybe Izzy made a mistake. She’s been with Ross for years. Seeing me come back must be difficult for her.”She sounded as if she were defending me.What she had done was give everyone a motive.I looked at her.“Samora, I’ll say it again. I didn’t take your brooch.”She bit her lip.“Izzy, the elders pinned it on me tonight. It matters to me. If you only wanted to hurt me, I won’t blame you. Just give it back.”Daphne snapped at once.“Samora is already giving you a way out. Are you still going to deny it? You’re jealo

The screen froze on Samora’s smiling face.The front hall stayed silent for a few seconds before Daphne broke first.“That proves nothing. Samora only asked me to hold the brooch for her. I was just—”I looked at her.“Then why did you put it in my bag?”Daphne froze.Samora’s eyes reddened at once.“Daphne, why would you do this? I trusted you.”Daphne stared at her in disbelief.“You told me to.”A low murmur spread through the hall.Samora’s expression cracked for a second before she recovered, wounded and tearful again.“You’re scared of taking the blame, so you’re putting it on me. I understand, but you can’t accuse me like this.”Daphne panicked completely.“You said if Izzy showed up tonight, everything would be ruined. You told me to make sure she couldn’t stay. You said no one would believe her because she had no background and had followed Ross for years. As long as the brooch was in her bag, everyone would think she was jealous of you.”Ross looked at Samora.“Is that true?”

Three months later, Samora was sentenced.The charges included intentional injury, false accusation, and conspiracy connected to the crash that caused me to lose my child. Daphne testified in exchange for a reduced sentence, while Marcelline was convicted of switching the babies, falsifying medical records, and taking money from accounts that belonged to the Leone family.The newspapers called it the fall of the false princess.I did not read the articles.On the morning of Samora’s sentencing, I attended my first formal board meeting as Isabella Leone. My father sat at the head of the table until everyone arrived, then stood and placed the family seal in front of me.“You came home late,” he said, “but this seat was always yours.”I looked at the seal for a moment before taking my place.“Then I won’t let anyone sit here for me again.”From that day on, I began handling the Leone family’s public business. There were contracts to review, people to replace, accounts to clean, and partne