Chapter 1

"Emily, stop being difficult. Claire just got back to the country, and she isn't in good health, so what's wrong with letting her have the brooch?"

Ethan seized my hand, tore it away from my chest, and took the brooch from me.

That brooch had been the first gift he ever gave me on our wedding day seven years ago. He didn't hesitate for a moment as he pinned it onto Claire's dress.

The guests around us stared, their eyes heavy with judgment that pressed down on me from every direction.

I looked at the impatience in his expression, and suddenly, I laughed.

Fine. She could have it. And she could have the man as well.

*****

The Grant Group's anniversary party was in full swing, the air thick with laughter, clinking glasses, and the scent of expensive perfume.

As Ethan Grant's wife, I was mingling with the guests, glass in hand, playing the perfect hostess.

That was, until Claire Hughes walked in.

She walked in wearing a flowing white dress, her long hair draped over her shoulders. Her makeup was perfect, but she had that damsel-in-distress vibe that instantly made her the center of attention.

Even Ethan, my husband, was totally mesmerized.

I watched as his whole body tensed up, his eyes locked onto her.

Seven years, and he still hadn't changed one bit.

Claire, his forbidden fruit, the girl he loved but could never have, the one he still couldn't forget after all these years, was back.

She walked straight over, her gaze slid right past me and landed softly on Ethan. Her eyes were a little misty as she said, "Ethan, it's been so long."

Her voice lingered on his name, every syllable dripping with nostalgia and tenderness.

The air around us seemed to freeze.

The guests' eyes flicked between the three of us, eager to see the drama unfold.

My smile never wavered as I slipped my arm through Ethan's, making it clear who he belonged to. "Ethan, who's this?"

Ethan snapped out of his daze, shooting me a complicated look before pulling his arm away. His voice was stiff as he introduced her. "Emily, this is Claire Hughes. She's... an old friend."

"An old friend?" I let out a soft laugh, turning to Claire. "Hello, Ms. Hughes. I'm Emily, Ethan's wife."

Claire's face went pale for a second, but she quickly put on that delicate, helpless act again. She forced a smile at me. "Hello, Mrs. Grant."

She looked at Ethan, her eyes brimming with tears, her voice trembling. "I had no idea you were married... Congratulations."

Her "congratulations" sounded shakier than a sob, making everyone uncomfortable.

Ethan was instantly thrown off, his heart in chaos.

He gazed at Claire, his tone unconsciously gentle and careful. "When did you get back? Why didn't you tell me first?"

"I..." Claire bit her lip, her eyes filling with tears. "I didn't want to disturb you."

She didn't want to disturb him? She was putting on a show.

I just stood there, watching them reminisce as if I were invisible, and feeling like the punchline to some cruel joke.

Just then, Claire's eyes locked onto the brooch at my neckline.

Pinned to my dress was a delicate sapphire brooch, one I'd carefully chosen from my jewelry box just to match my outfit tonight.

"That brooch..." Claire's eyes sparkled for a moment and then faded as if she remembered something sad. She murmured, "It's really beautiful."

Ethan followed her gaze, his eyes flickering, something unreadable flashing across his face.

My heart sank, a wave of dread washing over me.

This brooch was the very first gift Ethan ever gave me, back when we got married seven years ago. He said the sapphire reminded him of my eyes.

But now, he looked at Claire, his voice gentle, almost doting. "You like it? It's yours."

Before I could even react, Ethan turned to me, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Emily, take off the brooch."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

"What did you just say?" I asked, my voice shaking.

"I said, take off the brooch," Ethan snapped, his brow furrowed with impatience. "Claire likes it. Give it to her."

I was shaking with rage, clutching the brooch to my chest like a lifeline. "Are you crazy? This was your wedding gift to me."

"It's just a brooch. I'll get you a pricier one later," he said, as if it meant nothing to him, already reaching for it.

Claire put on her best innocent act, her voice soft and hesitant. "Ethan, please don't. This is Mrs. Grant's. I really can't take it..."

The more she played the victim, the more Ethan thought I was just being dramatic and unreasonable.

"Emily, stop being difficult." Ethan snapped, his voice full of warning. "Claire just got back to the country, and she isn't in good health, so what's wrong with letting her have the brooch?"

He knocked my hand away with so much force that I staggered back a couple steps.

Then, with everyone watching, he ripped the sapphire brooch from my dress himself.

The cold metal scraped across my skin, cutting through the last bit of my pride.

He turned to Claire, gently pinning the brooch to her dress, and even fussing over her skirt like she was some kind of princess.

"You look stunning," Ethan said, his gaze overflowing with tenderness as he looked at Claire. "It suits you perfectly."

Claire shyly lowered her head, but there was a hint of triumph in her smile.

At that moment, it was like the whole world went silent.

All I could see was Ethan's gentle profile and the way he looked at Claire, like she was shining brighter than anyone else.

And me? I felt like a clown, standing there with nowhere to hide while everyone watched. Some pitied me, some mocked me, and some simply despised me.

Seven years of marriage, and all of it was shattered in an instant in front of his precious Claire.

My heart went cold as ice.

I saw the annoyance in his eyes when he looked at me and the way he gazed at Claire like she was his whole world. Suddenly, a bitter laugh escaped me.

My laughter was so sharp, tears stung my eyes.

He really was something else.

I took a deep breath and, with everyone watching, I marched right up to them.

Staring Ethan down, I made sure every word was crystal clear. "Ethan, now that I think about it, she can have it."

I continued, "And she can have you as well."

"Because we're done. I want a divorce," I added.