Chapter3
When I regained consciousness, I was already lying in a stark white hospital bed.
Nolan was keeping vigil by my side. The moment he saw my eyes flutter open, he leaned in close.
"Baby, you're finally awake. I was terrified."
When I didn't respond, a flicker of unease crossed his eyes. "I saw those photos and videos. I'm so sorry. I got completely wasted the other night, and someone grabbed the wrong phone and leaked them."
"Don't worry, I've already had my people scrub them all from the internet. Don't overthink it, okay? I forgive you."
I just stared at him in silence, my chest feeling completely hollowed out.
He was the very architect of this nightmare, yet here he was, playing the merciful savior.
If he hadn't relentlessly pursued me when I was at my absolute lowest, I never would have been with him in the first place.
Before I could even part my lips to speak, his phone buzzed.
I couldn't hear the voice on the other end, but he murmured something tender in response, turned on his heel, and walked out without looking back.
The door had barely clicked shut behind him when Cullen walked in.
He took one look at my wretched state, and plain disgust flashed in his eyes.
"Do you know where he rushed off to? Vera just flew back and she's feeling sick from the jet lag. He went to coax her to sleep. He won't be protecting you anymore, so drop the delusion."
A violent shudder wracked my body, completely beyond my control.
Vera was the childhood sweetheart who grew up with them. She was also Nolan's first love.
Because Cullen's mother once remarked that Vera looked exactly like her, Cullen had catered to Vera's every whim since they were kids.
I had treasured having Cullen as a brother, bending over backward to treat him well, yet nothing I did could weigh against a single word from Vera.
I closed my eyes, pulling my lips into a bitter, self-deprecating smile.
Only now did the clarity finally hit me: whether it was Nolan or Cullen, neither of them ever truly had a place for me in their hearts.
In the past, I would have immediately apologized and tried to appease him.
But this time, I just turned my head away, my voice devoid of emotion. "I got it. It won't happen again."
Cullen froze for a split second. "Nolan isn't here. Who are you putting on this pathetic act for?"
He stormed out in a huff.
Due to the severity of my injuries, I stayed in the hospital for a full week.
When my mother found out, she simply wired me the money for the medical bills before flying off on a business trip with my stepfather. She didn't bother to visit.
On the day of my discharge, I was entirely alone.
Taking advantage of the empty house, I started packing up my belongings.
There wasn't much to take, really. The things I used to treasure most were mostly charity handouts from Cullen.
I didn't need them anymore.
The only item I absolutely had to bring was the ring my grandmother left me.
It was a sapphire set in an old, slightly worn band.
My grandmother raised me from childhood, and it was only after she passed away that I moved in with my mother.
Right before she took her last breath, she personally slipped the ring onto my finger, praying for my lifelong peace and happiness.
But when I popped open the small velvet box, the ring was gone.
I tore the entire room apart, searching every corner to no avail.
It wasn't until I checked the home security footage that I saw the truth: Cullen had taken it.
He ignored all my calls.
By the time I finally tracked him down, he and Nolan were in a VIP suite at a club, celebrating Vera's birthday.
Someone in the crowd started to jeer:
"Hey, Mr. Gray, since you dumped your nerd girlfriend, how about passing her over to me?"
Nolan remained completely silent.
Cullen flicked the ash off his cigarette, his tone icy. "Why bring her up on such a happy occasion? Total buzzkill."
I balled my hands into tight fists.
The moment I shoved the heavy door open, the entire room fell dead silent.
I locked eyes with Cullen. "Give me back my ring."
"Give me back my ring."
Before he could utter a word, Vera raised her hand, flaunting her finger. "You wouldn't happen to mean this, would you? Cullen gave it to me."
I recognized it instantly. It was the exact sapphire ring my grandma left me.
"That ring is mine, and it means everything to me. Please, give it back."
Cullen let out a scoff, his voice dipped in venom. "So what if it's yours? You live in my house. Everything in there belongs to me. I'll take whatever I damn well please."
My fingernails dug so deep into my palms that they nearly broke the skin, yet I didn't feel a shred of pain.
"You can take anything else, but not that. That was my grand—"
Nolan cut me off. "It's just a cheap ring. I'll buy you a new one some other day. Vera likes this one, so just consider it her birthday present."
