He Gave My Promotion To Her I Left

Chapter 3

I dragged my suitcase toward the door. As I passed the living room coffee table, I reached for the velvet box holding my mother's memento.

But a hand with bright red nail polish got there first, snatching the box to her chest.

"Oh, what's this? It looks like an antique."

Tina shook the box curiously, flicked her finger, and popped the clasp open.

Inside lay a fine emerald bangle—my mother's only keepsake.

"Give it back."

I stopped in my tracks, my voice cold.

Tina, however, took out the bangle and held it up against her wrist to see how it looked on her wrist.

"Sophie, it's so unsafe for you to move out with something this valuable. Why don't you leave it here, and I'll keep it safe for you?"

I lunged to grab the bangle, but Tina let out a shriek and jerked back.

A sharp "c***k" rang out.

The emerald bangle slammed hard against the corner of the marble coffee table and snapped clean in two instantly.

My breath caught in my throat.

"Ah! I'm so sorry, Sophie. My hand slipped!"

Tina covered her mouth and cowered timidly behind Cameron.

"You suddenly reached out and scared me. I didn't do it on purpose..."

I squatted down and picked up the two broken pieces of the bangle with trembling hands. The sharp, jagged edge sliced my palm, and bright red beads of blood seeped out.

2 years ago, I had accidentally chipped a tiny corner of the bangle and cried all night.

Cameron had been terribly distressed.

He had pulled strings overnight to find the best antique restoration master in the city, and waited at the workshop for 3 whole days and nights to get the bangle fixed.

When he slipped the repaired bangle back onto my wrist, he had sworn solemnly,

"Sophie, I know this was left to you by your mom. From now on, I'll protect it for you, and I'll never let it get damaged even a little bit."

But now, he glanced indifferently at the broken bangle on the floor.

"Enough. It's just a worthless thing. If it's broken, it's broken. Tina didn't do it on purpose."

He frowned as he went on,

"Can you stop moping around like you're half dead all day long?

"After we get married, I'll be even busier with work. I won't have as much time to coddle you as I used to.

"Before you go to Belmere Street for training, get rid of that spoiled, entitled attitude of yours, and do it soon!"

He tugged at his tie, his gaze smug and self-assured.

"Apologize to Tina right now, and admit you startled her by grabbing for it out of nowhere.

"As long as you do as you're told and apologize, your transfer to Belmere Street headquarters in 3 days will still go through."

Passing the transfer notice to Tina was just a stunt to force me to cave.

He thought the spot I'd earned after pulling so many all-nighters was a bargaining chip he could use to manipulate me however he wanted.

I stood up clutching the blood-stained broken bracelet, placed the broken emerald back into the box, and tucked it into my bag.

"No need."

I pulled open the door, dragged my suitcase, and stepped straight outside.

Cameron shouted after me,

"Sophie! If you dare step out of this door today, not only will the wedding be called off, but you can kiss your spot on the Belmere Street program goodbye!"

I didn't slow down, and slammed the front door shut.

Inside the house, Tina tugged gently at Cameron's sleeve, her movements cautious.

"Cameron, Sophie seems really pissed off and left. She's not really going to leave for good, is she?"

Cameron let out a cold sneer, turned and sank into the sofa, taking his time pouring himself a glass of water.

"Relax, she's faking it. I see this kind of act once a week.

"Besides, she worked her ass off for that Belmere Street spot for a whole year. How could she bear to give it up?

"Just wait and see. By tomorrow morning at the latest, she'll be back crying and begging me for forgiveness."