Finally, she raised her champagne glass to toast me, her slender, pale fingers adorned with none other than my engagement ring.
“You!” I hissed, my chest tightening painfully.
“Oh, this ring?” Alice laughed boldly, her voice filled with pride.
“It’s a gift from Justin to celebrate my perfect performance. Isn’t it beautiful?”
“Take it off! I searched high and low for that gemstone in Avani before I found it!”
I had always loved the rich orange-pink hues of a fiery sunset.
That love led me to Avani where I discovered the perfect gem and asked Justin to use it in his proposal.
It symbolized purity and that purity was now ruined.
“Yours? Did you engrave your name on the stone?” she asked, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
“Viola,” Justin interjected, his tailored suit immaculate, hands casually tucked into his pockets.
Bathed in the opulent glow of the crystal chandelier, he looked like a figure from a dream.
“Alice really likes the ring, so I decided to give it to her. You don’t mind, do you?”
The atmosphere turned cold instantly and the room plunged into silence.
Our friends lowered their gazes, unwilling to meet mine.
“You gave my engagement ring to another woman. How can I not mind it?” I asked, my voice sharp with restrained anger.
“The gemstone isn’t worth that much. Next time, I’ll propose with a three-carat diamond,” he replied dismissively.
“Return the stone to me. I paid for it myself. Then I’m going back to Arcania,” I said firmly.
“Are you serious?” Justin’s tone turned cold as he straightened, the last hint of amusement fading from his face.
“The Nolans are among the most prominent in Marina Sands. Where will you find a man better than me?”
I rewarded him with a dramatic roll of my eyes.
“If you insist on leaving, then I’m pulling my investment,” he said, his voice steely, his gaze condescending.
“Without my money, let’s see how you’ll manage with all those animals you’ve taken in.”
