I Returned My Fiancée’s Engagement Ring

As the wedding approached and gold prices skyrocketed, I didn’t want to disappoint my fiancée, so I gave her all my savings—$28,000—to buy the wedding jewelry set.

On the eve of our engagement, Lily secretly bought me a gold engagement ring as a surprise.

“Babe, I know it’s not easy for you to earn money, so I bought your engagement ring myself!”

“It’s pure gold!”

I was deeply moved. Quietly, I took the ring to the jewelry store, planning to return it and add some money to get her a bracelet instead.

“This ring is a free gift. If you want to return it, you’ll have to bring back the $28,000 diamond ring as well.”

The sales clerk smirked as he pushed the ring back to me. I froze, staring at the receipt in his hand.

The next second, I saw Jason’s post on his social media feed showing off a diamond ring.

Being a best friend beats being a boyfriend.

Only when you don’t love someone do you worry about whether a diamond ring holds its value. My girl loves me the most!

As I read Jason’s post, my eyes stung with tears. Rage clouded my mind.

I grabbed my phone and called Lily. Every single call was rejected.

Moments later, Jason sent me a video and a location.

In the video, I saw Lily—who had lied about attending a work dinner—drunk and calling Jason’s name.

In that moment, the last taut string in my chest snapped.

Lily drank a little too much. Come pick her up.

A sentence that used to seem so ordinary now felt like a sharp knife.

I rushed over in a cab.

The nightclub lounge was loud and chaotic, making my head spin. When I pushed the door open, I saw more than a dozen men and women entangled with one another.

And there was Lily, her face flushed, clinging tightly to Jason’s waist as if glued to him.

“Well, look who’s here! The jealous boyfriend checking in!”

“They’re not even married yet and he’s already policing her!”

“Guess we won’t be hanging out with her anymore!”

The teasing and laughter were relentless. My eyes locked on the diamond ring on Jason’s hand, and I trembled with fury. But I knew this wasn’t the time to ask questions.

“Lily, come home with me.”

I reached out to pull her, but Lily batted my hand away, her expression dazed.

“Why would I go home with you? Wherever Jason is—that’s my home.”

Her slurred words ignited the fire in my chest. Around us, people watched with mocking eyes, making it unbearable to stand there.

“Ethan, don’t take it to heart. Lily’s drunk. She doesn’t mean what she’s saying.”

Jason gave me an apologetic look, then lowered his head to comfort the woman in his arms.

“Lily, Lily, wake up. It’s Ethan.”

The way he held her so tenderly, anyone would think they were a couple.

Suddenly Lily shot to her feet, swaying as she pointed at my face.

“Ethan? You mean my idiot of a boyfriend?”

“Jason, do you know, when I gave him that plain gold ring, he was so happy he looked like a fool?”

Laughter erupted around us, stabbing at my chest like fire.

“Jason, I know you’re upset that I’m getting married. But I promise you, I’ll still buy you gifts for every holiday, just like before. Okay?”

“Look, these sneakers I bought for you—they’ll arrive tomorrow.”

Lily pulled out her phone to show him, and I caught sight of the $4,500 sneakers.

Eight years together, and she’d never given me a single gift. Yet for another man, she bought presents every holiday.

And now she was buying him $4,500 shoes?