In her haste, the ring box slipped from her grasp, tumbling to the floor before rolling to a stop at my feet.
I bent down and picked it up.
The pink diamond, the size of a pigeon egg, gleamed under the light, a gem I had personally flown overseas to bid for at an auction. The design alone had taken painstaking effort and the production had stretched over three long years.
Yet, despite everything, she never cherished it.
Just like how she had trampled my love beneath her feet without a second thought.
Without hesitation, I tossed the ring into the trash, along with the last remnants of affection I had for her.
Before leaving, I contacted the company’s legal team and had them draft a contract to formally dissolve our engagement.
With everything settled, I walked out of the house I had spent years in, never once looking back.
That evening, a friend sent me a message inviting me to a gathering.
I accepted without a second thought.
In the past, I had never bothered socializing, always reserving my time for her. But whenever River called, she would drop everything and leave without hesitation.
Now, I no longer had to consider her.
The gathering was in full swing, the air thick with laughter and conversation. Amid the lively crowd, Claudette Graham caught sight of me and raised a brow in surprise.
"You’re not with your fiancée tonight?"
I shook my head, my tone light. "No, we broke up."
My words sent a ripple through the crowd, curiosity flickering in their eyes. I knew what they were thinking.
For years, my love for Eulalie had been no secret. We had finally gotten engaged, only to have it all fall apart so suddenly.
Who wouldn’t be shocked?
But Claudette was quick to recover. Without missing a beat, she poured me a drink, her lips curling into a smirk.
"Forget it, then! If it’s over, it’s over. I have no doubt you’ll find someone even better."
Laughter and chatter soon resumed, the tension dissolving as the atmosphere turned lively again. Perhaps they feared I would linger on heartbreak, wallowing in regret.
But I simply smiled. I wasn’t grieving.
After a few rounds of drinks, I stood up, heading for a short break in the restroom.
Yet, just as I reached the doorway, I froze.
Standing right there, so close I could hear her breath hitch, was Eulalie.
And leaning heavily against her, his face flushed as red as a ripe apple, was River.
She simply smiled indulgently and patted his head as if soothing a child.
I had no intention of lingering. I was about to turn away when River suddenly called out my name.
"President Everly, what are you doing here?"
His voice wavered and the moment the words left his lips, he shrank back timidly.
"Eulalie has been out socializing all night. How do you have time to be here enjoying yourself?"
Just like that, the air tensed. Eulalie’s face darkened in an instant.
"I told you to stay home and rest! Why did you follow me here?"
A rest day. No business obligations.
Who exactly was so important that she needed to spend the night drinking with them?
I didn’t even need to think about it.
It was just another excuse.
My gaze flicked between them, the way he leaned into her, how she held him so naturally.
The sight was enough.
A cold laugh escaped my lips as I turned away, unwilling to waste another second on them.
I had barely taken a step when Eulalie’s voice rang out, sharp and commanding.
"Who said you could leave? Come back here!"
Before I could even acknowledge her, the private room door swung open.
Claudette stepped out.
Her gaze flickered from me to them and a knowing glint flashed in her eyes.
She leaned in slightly, her voice carrying an amused lilt.
"Why are you still standing here?" she teased. "I’m drunk already."
Even as a joke, she kept a respectful distance, something neither of them seemed capable of.
A small smile tugged at my lips. "It’s fine, I’m coming back now."
It was a simple exchange. Nothing more. Yet, in the next instant, Eulalie’s expression twisted with fury.
"Larkin! Who is she?"
