Chapter 2
James's voice drifted over the phone, casual and unbothered. "Let her go. She'll come back once she's done making a scene. That's how it always goes."
Nick saw me leaving and hurried after me, a few groomsmen in tow, spreading his arms to block my way. "Ashley, where are you going? James will be back any minute!"
I stopped in my tracks, glancing down at the massive diamond ring on my ring finger.
As the light caught the facets, it cast a shower of delicate sparkles across the surface.
Three years ago, James rented out a whole island and went down on one knee in front of everyone, sliding this ring onto my finger.
He said this ring was a symbol of our eternal love and loyalty.
That day, he was so nervous he forgot what he wanted to say. He stumbled over his words, repeating himself three times, but never finished the speech he'd practiced.
I poked him on the nose and laughed, "Even the big shot can't pull off a proposal?"
He looked down, blushing hard. "I was... scared you'd turn me down."
In that moment, I believed that even if the whole world abandoned me, he would stay.
But his love was like the facets of this diamond, each one reflecting a different person.
Slowly, I slipped the ring off my finger.
"Ashley, don't do anything rash!" Nick rushed over, trying to stop me. "James is only handling an emergency. You know better than anyone how fragile Jo is. She can't be left alone."
"Yeah, Ashley, you've been looking forward to today for ages. Plus, everyone's watching," one of the groomsmen added.
They were right. Hundreds of eyes were glued to me.
Some looked sympathetic, others snickered behind their hands, and most whipped out their phones.
This wedding, canceled nine times already, finally gave them enough gossip to last for days.
Three years ago, I cut ties with my family for James.
After all the betrayal, I couldn't even get a wedding.
But now, none of that mattered anymore.
"If he's so busy, then I'm calling off the wedding." I tossed the ring, watching it fly in a clean arc and drop straight into the trash can.
"Holy shit!" Nick lunged for the trash can, rummaging frantically. "Ashley, are you out of your mind? James went all the way to Southeria for that pink diamond. There isn't another one like it anywhere!"
Too bad. I was never the only woman meant for that diamond.
My phone buzzed. It was a message from James. [I'm at the door.]
I paid them no more mind. I gathered my dress and walked straight out.
"Quick! Stop her!" Nick shouted.
The groomsmen rushed in like a pack, closing in on me.
I shot them a steely, wide-eyed glare. They shrank back under my anger, stepping aside and trailing behind me as I strode out of the hotel.
A Maybach with Harbor City plates was already waiting at the entrance.
Next to the car, a man in a perfectly tailored suit leaned back, looking cold and aloof.
When he saw me come out, he walked right up to me in confident strides.
Nick, flustered and angry, shouted at the man, "Who are you? You think you can butt into the Carter family's business? Don't think I..."
But when Nick finally saw who it was, the color drained from his face. His lips quivered as he stammered, "Harrison?"
*****
Three years ago, Harrison Porter, the Prince of Harbor City, stormed into Bay City and nearly bankrupted the Carter family in under a month.
William Carter himself had to show up at Harrison's door, begging for mercy, to keep Carter Holdings afloat.
No one knew why Harrison suddenly went after the Carter family.
Everyone figured William must've pulled some strings to keep the Carter family afloat.
But I was the only one who knew Harrison's real target was James.
In the end, it all came down to me.
Behind James's back, I went to Harrison and begged him to spare the Carter family. I had to plead with the man who had orbited my life for more than twenty years.
*****
Harrison didn't spare anyone else a glance. He crossed to my side in long, purposeful strides.
His eyes froze for a split second when he saw me in the wedding dress.
"Three years," he murmured, so quietly it was as if he were speaking only to himself.
I turned to face him.
The kid I used to know was all grown up now, cool and composed, with a sharp jawline and an Adam's apple that bobbed as he swallowed.