They Abandoned Me, I Became Untouchable

Chapter 3

The day I was discharged from the hospital, the designer called me.

"Miss Turner, are you happy with the engagement ring? Is there anything you'd like changed? I tried calling Mr. Hayes, but he didn't answer."

I frowned.

"I never picked up the engagement ring."

Just then, Ava came downstairs. When she saw me, she walked over, took my hand, and looked at me with tears in her eyes.

"Annie, you're finally home. I've been so worried about you while you were away. I know you're blaming me because Colton and Logan chose me, but don't worry. They must still care about you. I would never try to take them away from you."

I stopped frowning, though her little performance still irritated me.

I was about to speak when I noticed the ring on Ava's finger.

A flawless blue diamond sat at its center, and the ring bore the Hayes family crest, an emblem reserved for the family's future Donna.

My chest tightened until it was hard to breathe.

When Ava realized where I was looking, she immediately dropped to her knees in front of me.

She frantically tugged at the ring, pleading through tears, "Annie, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wear it. I'll give it back right now. I was just worried it might not fit you, so I tried it on for you."

She tugged until her finger turned red and swollen, but the ring still wouldn't budge.

Then two familiar figures rushed over. Colton and Logan helped Ava to her feet, both furious.

"Didn't I warn you? Annie, what the hell are you doing? Look what you've driven Ava to. Do you have any compassion at all?"

Colton's expression hardened. "Apologize to Ava right now, or I won't marry you."

Ava wiped at her tears, her shoulders trembling as she clutched at Colton's jacket.

"It's all my fault. I shouldn't have tried on my sister's engagement ring. I never belonged to this family to begin with. I had no right to touch her things."

Her eyes reddened as she cried.

Logan's eyes flashed with anger. He pulled her behind him.

"Enough, Annie. You're completely unreasonable! As long as we're here, no one's going to bully Ava! You even forced her to kneel in front of you. You're cruel."

Colton took Ava's hand and looked at her swollen ring finger, the concern in his eyes impossible to hide.

"It's my future Donna's ring. I can put it on whoever I want. That's none of your business!"

I stared straight at Colton, my face going still.

"It's mine."

The ring bore the Hayes family crest, but Colton had forgotten that my mother was the one who had hired a top designer to create it.

The ring had been in the works for 3 years.

My mother had gone to great lengths to acquire the blue diamond from Greyhaven.

My mother wanted me to be the most beautiful bride possible, so she made sure everything she prepared for me was the very best. Once I chose a fiancé, his family's crest would be engraved on the ring.

After I was injured, Colton was the one who stepped forward and said he would marry me.

That was why the ring bore the Hayes family crest.

Ava finally seemed to understand.

She started pulling at the ring again and dropped back to her knees. "I'm sorry, Annie. I know it's yours. I was only trying it on for you. I'll give it back right now."

That was what she said, but no matter how much she pulled, the ring still wouldn't come off.

By then, Colton was looking at me with open hostility.

"Enough! How far are you going to push Ava? I gave her this ring. If you have a problem with that, take it up with me. Don't take it out on her. I'm telling you right now, Annie. Looking the way you do, you don't get to choose anymore. If I don't marry you, no one else will!"

"Let's go." Logan put an arm around Ava's shoulders and took her upstairs.

I was left standing there alone.

'So he thought marrying me was doing me a favor.'

A cold laugh escaped me. A sharp pain twisted through my chest for a moment.

When it passed, I steadied my breathing and checked the booking confirmation on my phone.

It wouldn't be long.

In 3 days, I would be gone.

I didn't need anyone to marry me just to protect my reputation.

And I would make every one of them pay for humiliating me.