Fiancé Gave Free Ring While Cheating on Me

Synopsis

The velvet box sat in my palm, small and perfect. I stared at it, unable to breathe properly as Brandon watched me with an uncharacteristic nervousness in his eyes. "Open it," he urged, his voice soft in the dim light of the parking lot outside my office building. My fingers trembled as I lifted the lid. Inside, nestled against dark fabric, was a simple gold ring. Not an engagement ring—we already had that, though it was more modest than I'd once dreamed of—but a delicate band with a small twist design. It wasn't extravagant, but that's what made tears spring to my eyes. "Brandon," I whispered, "it's beautiful." "You deserve something nice," he said, taking the ring and sliding it onto my right hand. "I know I've been... well, things have been tight with the startup." Eight years. Eight years of supporting him, of believing in his dreams, of putting my career second. Eight years of hearing