Chapter 1

The day before the wedding, my fiancé Andrew Cole's secretary, Chloe Hart, threw my ring into the lake.

My whole body shook with anger. I told her to go and get it back.

Instead, she dropped to her knees in front of everyone. Tears streamed down her face. "I'm sorry, Ms. Sterling. It was my fault. I didn't catch it properly. I'll pay for a new one, I promise. Please don't fire me. Please don't send me away from Mr. Cole."

I had seen it clearly. She had thrown it on purpose. And now she was pretending it was an accident. I let out a cold laugh. "Fine. If you can really afford to replace it, then I won't fire you."

I took out my phone to calculate the cost. Andrew snatched it from my hand and threw it into the lake.

Then he pulled Chloe into his arms as she cried. He glared at me. "She already said it wasn't on purpose. Why are you still going after her like this? It's just a ring. Do we really need it to get married?"

I stayed silent for a moment. Then I gave a short, bitter laugh. "You're right. We don't. So let's not get married."

*****

The day before the wedding, Andrew organized a gathering so everything would go smoothly the next day. He invited friends and family to the venue for a rehearsal.

He stood close to me and spoke in a soft, affectionate voice. I looked at his handsome face and felt happy.

People around us chuckled and teased us. Andrew reached into his pocket, searching for the engagement ring. He checked again, then again. It wasn't there.

I froze. Just then, Chloe hurried over. She was holding a red velvet box. Her face was tense with worry. "Mr. Cole, you left the ring with me. Good thing I made it in time."

Andrew saw the ring in the box and let out a quiet breath of relief.

He reached out to take it. Chloe suddenly stepped back and avoided his hand.

Instead of giving the box to him, she turned and held it out to me.

A rush of emotion hit me. No woman wants to take her own ring like that. I wanted Andrew to put it on my finger. He was right there.

I looked at Chloe. She was smiling. I clenched my teeth and glanced at Andrew, hoping he would step in. But his eyes stayed on Chloe. He did not move.

People around us were watching. I did not want to make a scene. I forced myself to reach for the box.

Just as my hand got close, Chloe moved. The ring slipped from her fingers and fell into the lake.

My heart dropped. Anger surged through me, sharp and sudden. My whole body started to shake. "What kind of secretary does that? Go get it back."

Chloe's eyes filled with tears at once. She began to cry. Then she bent her knees and knelt in front of me. "I'm sorry, Ms. Sterling. It was my fault. I didn't hold it properly. I'll pay for a new one, I promise. Please don't fire me. Please don't send me away from Mr. Cole."

I had never said I would fire her.

And I had seen it clearly. She dropped the ring on purpose. It was not an accident.

Watching her put on this act, I let out a cold laugh. "Fine. If you can afford to replace it, then I won't fire you."

I pulled out my phone, ready to show her the cost.

Andrew suddenly grabbed my phone and threw it into the lake.

Then he helped Chloe to her feet and pulled her into his arms. He glared at me and raised his voice. "Ava, she already said it wasn't on purpose. Why are you still treating her like this? It's just a ring. Do we really need it to get married?"

I froze. All I could see in his eyes was concern for Chloe. There was nothing there for me.

Everyone was watching. They were waiting for me to calm him down, the way I always had.

I stayed quiet for a moment. Then I let out a short, cold laugh. "You're right. We don't. So let's not get married."