Chapter 3

I avoided his gaze. "I''m not wearing it."

Rory''s grip tightened around my wrist, the pain making me wince.

Sienna quickly intervened. "Rory..."

As if waking from a daze, he released me and smiled at her. "Pardon my crudeness."

I walked away, the eyes of those around me following me with a strange intensity.

...

On the sixth day before I left, I went through the papers.

Rory''s mother called, asking me to move out of their house as soon as possible. I refused, saying I still had work to finish.

Unhappy about it, she reprimanded me, "You''ve been married for three years, and there''s still no sign of a baby. It''s time for Rory to find someone else."

I lowered my head. "He''s free to. But it''ll only happen once he agrees to divorce me."

Rory could marry anyone he liked. It had nothing to do with me.

Anyway, the divorce agreement was already signed. All that was left was to go to the courthouse with him to get it approved.

I ended the call and returned to my room. In the corridor, I caught a glimpse of Rory sitting on the terrace.

He was wearing a crisp white shirt, his posture straight. He was having afternoon tea with Sienna, who was wearing her new diamond necklace. Her smile was gentle as she poured coffee for him.

As she bent down, the sunlight reflected off the necklace, casting sparkling rays across the room. The steam from the coffee swirled around them as their eyes met. It was a tender moment they shared.

Rory used to be locked away in his room, saying he was busy with work. He had never accompanied me to things like this.

I quickly turned and went back to my room. My thoughts were in disarray. The papers in my hands were now a blur. I couldn''t focus.

I''d fallen for Rory at a young age, trapped in my feelings for three years. It wasn''t until now that I saw the truth. He had always treated me like a passing game. His passion lay with Sienna.

I stared blankly at the papers until my secretary came in, holding the asset report I''d requested.

Chloe Gordon said, "Madam, I''ve finished checking everything. Besides the part we invested in the company, there are a few pieces of jewelry missing."

My head jerked up. "Which ones?"

My parents gave me so many gifts. I couldn''t remember everything.

She replied, "A diamond necklace and a wedding dress."

"A diamond necklace?" I muttered, then remembered seeing it around Sienna''s neck.

I rushed into her room where she was standing in front of the full-length mirror, trying on the wedding dress my mother had designed for me.

Her wedding to Rory was six days away. Everything was moving quickly. I couldn''t shake the feeling that he had planned it well before all this.

Fury bubbled up inside me. I marched over and grabbed the hem of the dress. I tore at the delicate lace and pearl embellishments, ripping them off. They scattered across the floor like broken dreams.

But without stopping, I yanked harder until I heard the fabric rip with a harsh sound.

Sienna cowered in fear. "I''m sorry. I''ll take it off right now."

I clenched the dress in my fist, glaring at her. Sienna crumpled to the ground, the wedding dress now a mess. The pearls and lace scattered everywhere.

She looked up at me through teary eyes, her voice quivering. "If you want me to take it off, just say it. Why did you have to do this?"

I looked down and kicked her with the tip of my shoe. "You''re wearing my wedding dress without my permission, and you have the nerve to talk back?"

She dropped her head and started to sob.

Footsteps echoed as Rory stormed into the room, shoving me aside and pulling Sienna into his arms.

I stumbled, instinctively reaching out to steady myself on the nearby vanity.