Chapter 3
On the day Edward proposed, the company's annual party was held at the Grand Crest Hotel.
Photos from our seven years together flashed across the big screen.
There were shots of us at the university gate, me helping him move desks and chairs on his first day as an entrepreneur, and me sitting by his hospital bed all night when he had a fever.
Everyone was clapping.
Edward dropped to one knee, holding out the ring to me.
"Charlotte, marry me," he said.
The ring was tiny.
The diamond was so small it was barely a glimmer.
I was so overwhelmed, I couldn't even get a word out.
He said, "I know it's not much now, but I promise, someday I'll give you everything you deserve."
A year later, we were back at the same hotel, in the same banquet hall.
Edward made sure Sophia was seated right next to him.
It was the company's anniversary bash, and all the top brass and their families showed up.
I was still wearing last year's old dress when Linda dragged me into a corner.
"Don't sit at the main table. Sophia just got back, and most people don't know her yet. Edward can show her around and introduce her to everyone," Linda said.
I glanced over at the main table.
Sophia was wearing a designer white dress, and on her wrist was the mother-of-pearl bangle my mom left me.
That bangle was the only thing my mom ever passed down to me.
Last night, I tore the place apart looking for it.
Linda just said she hadn't seen it.
Now it was hugging Sophia's slender wrist.
Bathed in the lights, it looked so flawless—like it had never been mine at all.
As Edward raised his glass, the host grinned and teased, "Mr. Bennett, that lady by your side is gorgeous. Is she your wife?"
The whole room burst out laughing.
Sophia frantically waved her hands, flustered.
"No, no, I'm not!" Sophia stammered.
She denied it, but her face was flushed bright red.
Edward didn't rush to explain.
He glanced over at me.
His eyes met mine for a moment across the crowd, then he turned away.
Linda nudged me with her elbow.
"Don't look so gloomy. Today's Edward's big day," she said.
On stage, Edward took the microphone.
"Sophia is someone I truly care about," he said.
The crowd erupted in applause.
"She's had it rough all these years. From now on, I'll do everything I can to protect her," Edward said.
Sophia's tears started to fall.
My hand shook, and red wine splashed onto my dress.
People nearby started gossiping.
"So what does that make Charlotte?"
"I heard they're not even married yet."
"Seven years and he still hasn't put a ring on it. You know what that means."
I heard a man's voice behind me.
"Miss Evans, do you want to head to the lounge and freshen up?"
I turned around.
Michael Shea handed me a fresh handkerchief.
He was the new legal advisor at the company, usually pretty quiet.
Edward saw us, and his face instantly turned icy.
He stepped down from the stage and strode right up to me.
"Why are you standing so close to him?" he demanded, his voice sharp with jealousy.
I clenched the handkerchief in my hand.
"My dress got stained," I said quietly.
"Then go clean it up," he ordered coldly.
He leaned in, his voice dropping to a threatening whisper.
"Don't cause trouble for me in front of everyone," he warned.
Michael frowned.
"Mr. Bennett, Miss Evans just needs some help," he said.
Edward sneered.
"This is between my wife and me. Stay out of it," he snapped.
Wife.
He finally admitted I was his wife in front of everyone.
But only when he wanted to treat me like his property.
Sophia hurried over and stepped in front of him.
"Edward, please don't be mad. It's all my fault," she said, her voice trembling.
She raised her hand to wipe away her tears.
The bangle slipped out from under her sleeve.
I fixed my gaze on her wrist.
"Give me back my bangle," I said, my voice cold.
Sophia froze.
Linda hurried over.
"Give it back? I just let Sophia wear it for fun," Linda scoffed.
I looked straight at her.
"That was my mother's heirloom," I said quietly.
The whole room went quiet.
Sophia's face went pale, and she started fumbling with the bangle, desperately trying to pull it off.
"Charlotte, I'm so sorry. I didn't know," she said, her voice shaky.
The bangle wouldn't budge—it was stuck tight on her wrist.
The more she struggled, the more panicked she got.
Edward grabbed her hand.
"Don't take it off," he said.
I looked up at him.
He frowned, as if I was being unreasonable.
"It's just a bangle. Sophia likes it, just let her have it for a few days," he said.
It felt like someone had punched me right in the chest.
That was the last thing my mom ever left me.
I reached out to grab it.
Sophia flinched and jerked away.
The bangle slammed against the corner of the table.
A sharp, crisp crack echoed.
It shattered.