Chapter 3

I was about to say more, but Jared interrupted me. “Enough, Charmaine. Stop playing around.

“You’re doing this to get my attention, right? Well, you have it now, okay?

“It must’ve been hard without me all these years. Were you even able to find a proper job?

“If you really want to go inside, fine. Apologize, and I’ll get you something more decent to wear. You can come in with me, and I’ll show you around, okay?”

Then, he pulled out his phone and unblocked me to transfer money to my account.

However, he paused when he realized I had changed my profile picture to a recent family photo.

The man in the picture—my husband—was none other than Aaron, the man he was scheduled to meet today.

Jared was furious. “Are you delusional, Charmaine? If you were going to Photoshop something to piss me off, at least make it realistic!

“Everyone knows how infatuated Aaron is with his wife. It’s public knowledge that they have two kids and that he keeps her out of the public eye.

“How stupid do you have to be to try getting a reaction out of me using him?

“What makes you think someone like Aaron would marry someone like you, huh?”

Isabelle came over to ‘persuade’ me as well. “Enough, Charmaine. Haven’t you thrown a big enough tantrum already? We all know how much you love Jared. You were his most loyal dog, weren’t you?

“If you want to be his, then learn to suck up your ego and apologize.”

Jared grabbed my wrist roughly.

I did not want to waste any more time with him, so I showed him the ring on my left hand. “I’m not lying. I’m married.”

He stared at the ring, and a conflicted look flickered in his eyes. ‘You kept the ring I gave you?”

He had given me a handmade ring before we broke up, along with the promise of marriage after Valentine’s Day.

When we broke up, I mailed back the ring and everything else he had ever given me.

I guess I could say both rings had similar designs.

I snatched my arm back. “This is not your ring, Jared. This ring is from my husband. I love him, and I have never once thought about getting back with you.”

Clearly, Jared did not believe me because he did not let go. “Impossible! I am your first and only boyfriend!

“Who else would you marry if not for me?

“Didn’t Isabelle tell you there’s nothing between us? Stop being so calculative and move on!

“All I’m asking for is an apology, Charmaine. Be good to me again, and you know I’ll forgive you.

“Stop throwing your tantrum. You know you’ll just end up crying under the covers if you lose me for good.”

My son’s birthday celebration was about to start, and I did not want to waste any more time dealing with Jared.

I shoved him off and walked back into the lobby when suddenly, Isabelle raised my hand to her eyes and shouted, “Charmaine! This is an exclusive designer ring from M House! It’s worth twenty million dollars! How could you afford something like this? Don’t tell me you’ve started stealing for a living! You can’t have stolen this ring, can you?

“Wait! Everyone! Check if you’ve lost a ring!”

The security guard approached again. “Ma’am, hand over the ring now before I call the police.”

Jared rushed over as well. “This is not the place to fool around, Charmaine! Everyone here is powerful and rich. Hand over the ring!”

I pulled my hand away and tried to reach for my ring. “No! I didn’t steal it. It’s mine! The ring is engraved…”

Isabelle squinted and tried to read the engraving inside. Then, she raised it high in the air. “This is Mr. Schuler’s ring! How dare you steal from him, Charmaine!”

Then, she shoved me to the ground and shouted, “She’s a thief! Hold her down!”

Aaron’s and my wedding rings were a pair. Mine had his name engraved, while his ring had mine. However, this somehow became ‘evidence’ that I had stolen something from Aaron.

The security guard approved of Isabelle’s actions and grabbed my hands from behind my back, pushing me further to the ground. “Just you wait, thief! I’ve already called the police!”

I was about to struggle when I felt a sharp prick to my ankle. I must have twisted it earlier.

Jared looked disappointed. He asked the security guard to let me go. “I didn’t think you’d stoop so low and start stealing, Charmaine. Just apologize, and I’ll explain everything to the police and Mr. Schuler. He’ll close one eye just this once.”

I shook my head and fought back tears. “I already told you! I have a husband, and that is my half of our ring pair! Of course it has his name!

“I’m here to celebrate my son’s birthday! It has nothing to do with you!”

Jared did not believe me, nor did he have any patience left to argue. “Enough, Charmaine. Stop lying. If you were really celebrating your son’s birthday, what are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be at a hotel or something?

“I can get you a ring if you want one so badly, but you’d better apologize when Mr. Schuler comes down!”

Forget it. There was no point trying to explain myself to people who refused to listen to me. I wanted to borrow a phone to call Aaron, but everyone was looking at me with too much disdain for me to even dare to ask.

Jared managed to get a first-aid kit from the receptionist’s desk and handed me a cold spray. “Okay, okay, fine. Just take care of your leg first, Charmaine.”

I turned away.

Isabelle stopped Jared. “Don’t waste your energy on her. She’s just acting pitiful so she doesn’t need to apologize.”

Jared believed her. “This is your last chance, Charmaine. I’ve already contacted Mr. Schuler. You’d better get on your knees and apologize once he’s here. He’ll forgive you once I tell him you’re with me.”

I refused to kneel and apologize when I had done nothing wrong.

I powered through the pain and got to my feet. If no one would lend me their phone, then I would just have to retrieve my own and contact Aaron myself.

Just then, the lift doors opened, and a young boy threw himself into my arms. “Mom! You’re finally here!

“Your cosplay looks so good! I love it so much!”

My son Allen was just as handsome as his father. He quickly caught sight of my injured foot. “What happened, Mom?”

I kissed his forehead and pulled out a bag of cookies I had made for him. “I’m okay, baby. Here, have some of my homemade cookies.”

He took the bag happily and was about to have a taste when Isabelle knocked it to the floor.

“Don’t you know it’s dangerous to take food from a stranger? You’ll get sick, you know!”

Jared grabbed my son and took a good look at his resemblance to Aaron. “You even found a child to sell me your story?

“Too bad! This kid here looks nothing like you. At least find someone with a bit of resemblance if you want me to fall for your lies!

“I knew you would never have another man’s kids.”

Afraid and in tears, my son reached out for me, but I was in too much pain to even stand.

Isabelle carried Allen into her arms. “She’s not your mom. Don’t worry, I’ll look for your mom with you, okay?”

Allen sobbed and reached out for me. “No! She’s my mom! Let go of me!”

It hurt my heart to see my son crying. I was about to reach for him when the security guard grabbed my collar and dragged me toward the door. “That’s enough, Ma’am. You need to leave now!”

Allen sobbed harder. I growled, “Let go of my son now, Isabelle!”

Just then, the elevator doors opened, and a tall, handsome man walked out.

Aaron was finally here with his pressed suit and jade cufflinks.

He coolly demanded, “Let them go! What do you think you’re doing with my wife and son?”