Chapter 3: The Ring I Couldn't Keep
836 Words
No one moved.
No one spoke.
The silence after Damien's announcement hurt more than the words themselves.
I looked at him, waiting for him to say something else.
Anything.
Tell them this was only temporary.
Tell them he needed time.
Tell them he still believed me.
Instead, he stood on the stage, his face unreadable.
It was the same face that had comforted me when I lost my mother.
The same face that had promised, "I'll always stand beside you."
Tonight, he couldn't even look at me.
The reporters rushed forward.
"Mr. Kingston, does this mean the wedding is canceled?"
"Did Ms. Hart steal company secrets?"
"Was your relationship a lie?"
Microphones stretched toward him.
Cameras flashed so fast that my eyes began to sting.
Sophia stepped in front of me.
"Emilia, don't answer them."
I barely heard her.
My ears rang.
Everything around me felt far away.
I only heard Damien's voice.
"The investigation will continue," he said calmly. "Until then, I have nothing more to say."
Nothing more to say.
Five years together.
Five years of memories.
And that was all he had left to say to me.
A reporter pushed past the others.
"Ms. Hart, did you cheat on Mr. Kingston?"
Another shouted, "Did you sell company information?"
I opened my mouth.
Nothing came out.
How could I defend myself when no one wanted the truth?
They only wanted a scandal.
"Please move."
Sophia's voice became firmer.
"Give her some space."
No one listened.
Someone grabbed my arm.
I turned quickly.
It was Margaret.
Her eyes were filled with tears.
"My dear."
She held both my hands tightly.
"I am so sorry."
I tried to smile.
It didn't work.
"I didn't do it."
"I know."
Her answer came without hesitation.
"I know the kind of woman you are."
Those words almost broke me.
At least one person believed me.
I looked past her.
Arthur Kingston was watching from the other side of the room.
He wasn't looking at me.
He was looking at Celeste.
His expression was cold.
Celeste noticed.
She gave him a pleasant smile.
Then she turned away as if nothing had happened.
Something wasn't right.
I couldn't explain it.
But I felt it.
Sophia gently pulled my arm.
"We're leaving."
This time, I didn't argue.
As we walked toward the exit, the crowd slowly parted.
Not because they pitied me.
Because they wanted to stare.
Some whispered behind their hands.
Others openly judged me.
"She was living every girl's dream."
"I guess money wasn't enough."
"I always knew she looked too perfect."
Every word landed like another stone on my heart.
Near the door, I stopped.
I looked down at my left hand.
The engagement ring sparkled under the ballroom lights.
Just this morning, I had kissed it and smiled.
Now it felt like it belonged to someone else.
Slowly, I slipped it off.
My fingers shook.
Sophia watched me.
"You don't have to do this now."
"Yes," I whispered.
"I do."
I turned back toward the stage.
Damien had just finished speaking to another reporter.
For the first time since everything began, our eyes met.
I walked toward him.
The room became quiet again.
People thought I was about to beg.
They were wrong.
When I stood in front of him, I held out my hand.
The diamond rested in my palm.
His eyes dropped to the ring.
For the first time that night, I saw pain on his face.
Real pain.
"If this investigation proves I'm innocent," I said quietly, "will you regret tonight?"
He didn't answer.
I gave a sad smile.
"I hope your silence is worth what it costs you."
I placed the ring in his hand.
His fingers closed around it automatically.
For one brief second, I wanted him to stop me.
To tell everyone he had made a mistake.
To choose me.
He said nothing.
I nodded once.
"Goodbye, Damien."
I turned before he could see the tears running down my face.
Each step toward the exit felt heavier than the last.
Outside, the cool night air hit my face.
The city lights blurred through my tears.
Sophia wrapped an arm around my shoulders.
"We'll get through this."
I laughed softly.
It sounded empty.
"I don't even know who I am anymore."
"You are still Emilia Hart."
"The whole country is going to think I'm a liar."
"Let them think."
She opened the passenger door of her car.
"The truth doesn't disappear just because people refuse to see it."
I looked back at the hotel.
Through the tall glass windows, I could still see the lights of the ballroom.
The party continued.
Only I had been removed.
As if I had never belonged there.
My phone buzzed.
One message.
Unknown Number.
My heart started racing.
With trembling fingers, I opened it.
This is only the beginning. Stay away from the Kingston family if you want to stay alive.
A second message arrived before I could breathe.
Next time, you won't lose only your reputation.
- Writer
