After we got married, I had asked him to make a doll for me, too, but he always brushed it off, claiming he didn’t have the time.
No matter how many times I pleaded, he never agreed. And yet, for Sabrina, he created an entire row.
It was never about time. I just wasn’t worth it.
Each of Sabrina’s dolls wore crescent-shaped eyes and bright, cheerful smiles.
I picked one up and gripped it so tightly it nearly cracked in my palm.
Just because he adored her, she became a dazzling star in the jewelry world.
And I? I became the convict everyone spat on.
That night, father and son returned.
Wesley called me “Mom” in the same affectionate tone, and Reid held my favorite pastries like always.
But what used to warm me now felt ice-cold, like a cruel performance I could no longer applaud.
The next day, after they both left the house, I quietly stepped out too.
I hailed a cab to a deserted swimming facility and went straight to a locker I thought I’d never return to.
After entering the code, I placed it inside a letter with only four words. “I regret it.”
Once, someone had promised if I ever regretted it, he would come for me without hesitation.
When I returned home and stepped out of the car, I saw them at the gate, Reid and Sabrina, with Wesley trailing behind.
Wesley was chattering excitedly, his hands gesturing in the air.
Sabrina was laughing so hard she doubled over while Reid watched her with that soft, indulgent smile I once thought belonged to me.
The sound of the car door shutting snapped them out of their little world; their smiles froze in place, stiff and unnatural.
My gaze landed on the glittering crown atop Sabrina’s head. My brows furrowed instinctively.
Reid's expression faltered for a moment before he rushed to explain, voice light but uneasy.
“Today’s Sabrina’s birthday banquet. She didn’t have any suitable jewelry, so I lent her this crown for the evening.”
Sabrina’s almond-shaped eyes lifted as she let out a soft giggle, covering her lips like it was all too amusing.
“Reid was so thoughtful. He noticed I didn’t have anything valuable to wear, so he rushed over with this crown.”
“Don’t worry, Brielle. I’ll return it just as it is after tonight.”
Their fingers remained entwined, glowing pale and intimate under the afternoon sun.
The sight pierced through my chest like a hundred needles; every breath I took felt like it scraped against raw skin.
Ever since I got out of prison, Reid had never let me appear at any events, not even by his side.
He always said it was to protect me from rumors and gossip.
And I, like a fool, believed he truly had my best interests at heart.
But now, the truth was cruelly clear. He simply didn’t want to be seen with a convict.
When I stayed silent, Reid went on, “This crown would only gather dust if you kept it. Why not let Sabrina have it? She needs pieces like this to elevate her image right now.”
“Reid, do you even hear yourself?”
That crown had been custom-designed by a world-renowned jeweler for our wedding.
Back then, it caused a sensation, gracing the pages of every major fashion magazine.
I wore it only once, on the day we exchanged vows. Ever since, I have kept it behind glass, preserving it with care like a sacred memory.
This crown symbolized the status of the Ashford family’s matriarch.
He gave it to Sabrina, so what did that make me, his lawful wife?
Noticing the color drain from my face, Reid quickly tried to steer the moment elsewhere.
“Come on, it’s just a piece of jewelry, no need to get so worked up.”
“Today is Sabrina’s birthday banquet. Why don’t you come along too?”
Wesley tugged at my hand sweetly, “Mom, come with us. It’s been so long since we went out together.”
But the images from yesterday’s video flashed coldly through my mind.
A chill settled deep in my chest, though my gaze stayed as calm as still water.
“I’m just a convict. If I go, I’ll only ruin your image.”
