Chapter 2
I glanced down at my bare ring finger and said coldly, “I don’t know, maybe I lost it
12:05 PM
<
He stared at me intently, furrowing his brow, trying to decide if I was lying.
I met his gaze without flinching.
After a long pause, he let out a relieved sigh and smiled knowingly.
“Really? How careless of you. Well, I’ll just buy you a new one.
“I know I’ve been busy lately, and I’ve ignored your feelings.
“Actually, I’ve got a little surprise for you. I brought you something you always wanted.”
Lowell took a small box from his pocket and pointed to the cluttered clothes and shoes on the floor.
“But you’ll have to clean this up first before I can give it to you”
I glanced at the box in his hand, then replied coldly, “I don’t need it. Keep it.”
A clear sign of displeasure flashed
across Lowell’s f
face.
“You’re so difficult. I bought you the gift you wanted, and now you won’t even do a little housework?
“I must have been too…
Before he could finish, his phone rang.
I knew that sound. It was the ringtone he set specially for Kaitlynn.
Lowell smiled instinctively. He gave me a quick glance before heading to the bedroom with his phone, then closing the door with a loud bang
behind him.
Five minutes later, he came out, wearing his coat, and tossed the box onto the couch.
“Alright, I was just joking. Go ahead and open it.
“But the house still needs to be cleaned. It has to be done before tomorrow night. It’s a mess in here, and you’re just sitting around.
“We’ve had some small issues with a company project. I need to go to the company to handle it. You can sleep. Don’t wait up for me.”
I watched his lousy performance in silence.
The same scene had been playing over and over again for the past eight years.
But I always hid inside the false dreams he had woven, too afraid to wake up.
After Lowell left, I tossed the gift into the trash.
But the box hit the edge of the bin, and with a snap, it popped open.
A delicate ruby necklace fell to the floor.
I froze for a moment, then remembered something
Seven years ago, I had asked him for a ruby necklace.
At that time, the company had just started, and I had accompanied him to countless social events. Finally, we landed a major deal.
The day the project was completed, I gathered the courage to ask Lowell for a ruby necklace,
He frowned, clearly irritated.
“Bessie, can’t you stop being like a spoiled girl? Today, you want a necklace. Tomorrow, you’ll want a car, and the day after that, you may want me to buy you a plane.
12:06 PM
“Besides, your neck’s so short. What’s the point?
“If you really like it, I buy you a crystal pendant, okay?”
The next day, Lowell handed me a cheap crystal pendant.
I always thought he just didn’t like these things.
But later, he showered Kaitlynn with countless jewels.
It was so
many,
and she couldn’t help but flaunt them on social media,
[How could anyone love giving jewelry this much! I’m not an octopus. I can’t wear it all!!
[He says I look good in it, so he buys more. Such a spendthrift.
[This ruby necklace is so old–fashioned. I hate it. I really don’t want it!]
I clicked on the picture, and there it was. The ruby necklace. The one he had given me.
I pressed my lips together and tossed it back into the trash..
Then, I dialed a number.
“Anstey, can you recommend that famous divorce lawyer you mentioned last time?”
