Chapter 3

"I can have it remade exactly the same."

I looked up at him. "Charles, I never wanted another copy."

"Then what do you want?"

"I want you to stop touching what's mine, stop crossing my boundaries, and stop making me step aside for Joanna."

"You know I owe her," he said.

"Then pay her back," I said.

"But you can't pay that debt with my marriage."

His expression turned ugly, "It's not as serious as you're making it out to be."

"Then tell me, what counts as serious? Lending out the stone my mother left me? Standing me up at City Hall? Still thinking I'm just throwing a fit?"

His lips moved, but all he could utter in the end was one word: "Evelyn."

"Don't call me that," I said coldly.

I didn't take much with me: a few clothes, a box of tools, an old sketchbook, and the bedside lamp that had stayed with me for years.

When I reached the door, he suddenly asked, "Where are you staying tonight?"

"Somewhere that isn't here." I answered.

He called my name again.

"Yeah?"

"Don't regret this."

I looked back at him once. "Save that line for yourself."

The second the door closed, I heard a cup smash inside. I didn't look back once.

The next day, Michael sent me the filing documents.

"We'll file first and take the process step by step." he said.

"Okay." I replied.

"What about your work authorization?"

I looked up at the collaboration poster on the wall. Across it ran the words, "Riverstone Jewelry Restoration Consultant: Evelyn Moon." I picked up a pair of scissors and cut myself right out of it. "Take it all down."

Michael smiled, "Finally ready to cut the cord?"

"Not finally," I said. "If I don't do it now, he'll think I'll give up anything."

The day I revoked the authorization, Charles stormed straight into my studio.

"Evelyn, what the hell is this supposed to mean?"

"Exactly what it says." I shot back.

"Riverstone's new collection next month is still waiting on your designs."

"Then stop waiting."

He laughed in anger, "You're trying to pressure me with work now?"

I looked at him, "Did you forget? I didn't start working with you because the money was good."

"Then what was it for?"

"Because I thought you'd respect what was mine." I paused, "Turns out I was blind."

"Do you really have to take it this far?"

"Not me." I pushed the stamped termination papers toward him. "You're the one who pushed me to the edge first."

He didn't take them. He just stared at the pages.

"Evelyn, Riverstone can't do without you."

"But I can do without Riverstone."

"I'll deal with Joanna."

"How?" I looked at him. "Find my original ring and return it to me exactly as it was."

"I'm looking."

"Then come back after you find it."

That night, Charles' mother called. "Evelyn, what's going on with you two?"

I was quiet for a few seconds before saying, "Mrs. Rivers, Charles lent my wedding ring to Joanna for her engagement."

Silence fell on the other end. After a long while, she finally asked, "Which ring?"

"The blue diamond one."

Her voice changed instantly. "Does he even know who left you that stone?"

"Whatever. Ask him yourself. I'm tired."

"Okay." She only said that one word, but her tone had gone ice-cold. "I'll ask him myself."

Early the next morning, Charles showed up at my door with dark circles under his eyes and his tie askew.

"What did you tell my mom last night?"

"The truth."

"How did she know about that ring?"

"Because my mother left it to me."

He went stiff. I looked at him and asked, "After three years of marriage, do you even know what my ring was made from?"