TrueLove isn’t just any jewelry store—it’s the prestigious spot everyone knows for engagement rings and wedding pieces. Julie Morgan still remembered vividly when she’d visited its flagship downtown Manhattan store as a kid, right after she’d moved in with the Taylor family. Back then, she’d pressed her nose flat to the storefront glass, completely mesmerized by the glittering diamond sets glowing inside.
Cameron Taylor, who was a few years older than her, had wandered over, laced his fingers through hers, and tugged her away. “What’s so interesting about that anyway?” he’d asked, thick with impatience.
"You’re gonna buy all of it for me someday!" Back then, she’d been young, bold, and didn’t hold anything back.
"Fine." He never even turned to look at her, but the tips of his ears had flushed soft pink.
For years after that, every time Julie passed TrueLove’s flagship store, she couldn’t stop a smile from tugging at her lips. She’d think of his promise, and that faint pink blush on his ears. Even when Cameron grew colder and more distant, even when he barely acknowledged her anymore, she’d clung to that memory like a lifeline.
She never once imagined that the woman walking into the store with him wouldn’t be her.
The sharp trill of her phone cut through the quiet. Julie fumbled it out, mumbled a quick apology to anyone nearby, and answered.
"You’ve been gone half an hour," Cameron’s voice came out ice-cold.
"Oh," Julie answered, totally unbothered.
"What the hell are you doing?" Cameron nearly growled the words.
Julie stepped into a quiet, out-of-the-way corner to make sure no one could overhear. "Just reminiscing about your very sweet romantic history."
Dead silence stretched over the line. "Julie, do you even hear what you’re saying?"
Julie knew she’d gotten under his skin. A day ago, this would’ve had her scared, twisting with anxiety. But now her chest felt empty, like a snow-covered wilderness—frozen, but holding the quiet promise of sunshine once the snow melts.
"If that’s all, I’m hanging up. Oh… congratulations on finding your new love today, Cameron."
After she ended the call, Julie blocked his number. That still didn’t feel like enough, so she turned her phone completely off.
When she stepped out of Khloe Boyd’s office building, the sky stretched overhead pale and soft blue.
"Make sure you rest when you get home, but keep your phone on—we need to be able to reach you," Khloe Boyd advised. After pulling an all-nighter working side-by-side with Julie, the whole team had grown to respect how sharp she was.
Khloe leaned into that familiar mentoring tone she used. "Sophie Chavez’s position probably isn’t gonna shift much anytime soon, but we need to be ready for anything that pops up."
Julie doubted there would be any surprises. As long as the Taylor family gave their blessing, Cameron and Sophie could walk down the aisle tomorrow. She was actually grateful for everything she’d learned the night before—it had cut through the last frayed threads of attachment and resentment she’d still been holding onto.
A sleek silver-gray Maserati purred to a stop at the curb. The window rolled down, and Silas Olson’s handsome face came into view.
"Where you staying now?" he asked.
"I’m… at a hotel temporarily," Julie answered.
"Hop in. I’ll give you a ride," Silas said, his voice gentle but unarguable.
Julie hesitated for just a second. A stream of her colleagues poured out of the building, still buzzing from the all-nighter. Worried one of them would spot her, she slipped into the passenger seat fast.
"This job’s brutal, huh? Swapping days for nights nonstop," Silas remarked, handing her a warm paper cup.
To her surprise, it was hot coffee—her go-to. Julie smiled. "I’m used to it."
"You’re the most talented journalist I’ve ever worked with," Silas said, grinning. "Remember seven years ago, when we were stateside together…"
"Silas!" Julie cut him off quickly.
Silas’s expression dimmed a little, turning somber.
"He never found out, did he?" Silas’s grip on the steering wheel tightened. "All you gave up, everything you invested…"
"It’s all in the past," Julie said softly. "Thanks for keeping my secret."
From the time she was little, she’d told herself love wasn’t about favors, or charity, and it was never coercion. Pure feelings don’t need outside pressure to grow.
She couldn’t blame anyone for how things ended with Cameron.
The car fell quiet. Julie turned her phone back on, and was flooded with dozens of missed calls—all from numbers she’d already blocked. There was one unlabeled text, but Julie recognized the number instantly.
*Julie Morgan, you better never pick up that phone for me again.*
That was all Cameron wrote. Julie added his number to her blocked list for good measure.
Silas didn’t press her for her address, just dropped her off at a five-star hotel downtown.
Julie glanced up at the glittering facade and laughed softly. "Silas, this place is way too fancy. Can we go somewhere cheaper?"
She couldn’t afford a place like this right now, not after leaving the way she did.
"The firm’s covering it, just go on in," Silas assured her. He’d already checked her in, and handed her the key card. "I’ll leave you to rest. Take two days off, yeah?"
As he pulled away, his smile faded, his expression tightening just a little.
Julie didn’t have any luggage with her. She’d left the Taylor house completely empty-handed—didn’t even take any of her own money when she walked out.
Cameron certainly knew how to end things cold. No loose ends, no mercy.
Julie swiped into her room, and found Silas had booked her a deluxe river-view suite. Sunlight glinted off the water, pouring through the window and warming the toes of her shoes.
When she pressed the button to close the curtains, the last sliver of sunlight faded from view. Finally, she could let her guard down, and let the last of that old sadness melt away.
A few days back, Julie had gone to visit Maryam in the hospital. While she was gone, Sophie had snuck into Julie’s villa and swiped the most expensive butterfly brooch right out of her jewelry box, no permission asked.
Sophie had been too arrogant to cover her tracks, and Julie noticed the second she got home.
She heard Sophie was at Cameron’s office, so Julie hurried straight over.
Outside his office door, they’d screamed at each other. Julie slapped Sophie hard, sending her tumbling to the ground.
That was when Cameron walked out.
Sophie clung to him, sobbing hard. "Cameron, Julie says I stole her jewelry, but I didn’t. She won’t believe me… you saw it, she hit me for no reason…"
Julie bit her lip until it stung. "Cameron, it’s the butterfly brooch—she took it—"
"I don’t care about your stupid brooch," Cameron cut her off cooly, glowering at her. "Even if someone took your stuff, that’s no excuse to hit anyone. Julie Morgan, you’re far too spoiled."
Looking back, Julie guessed he was right. She had been spoiled. The Taylor family had spoiled her rotten, given her endless confidence that made her act like she could have anything she wanted. And that brooch mattered more to her than anything, so she’d lashed out.
In the heat of the moment, she’d shot back at him: "I already hit her. What are you gonna do about it?"
If Sophie didn’t give that brooch back, Julie would call her out every single time she saw her.
They stared each other down for a long moment, then Cameron’s face went frosty. "Apologize, and I’ll give you one last chance. If you don’t, you’ll never be a Taylor, never be my wife."
Suddenly, ice washed right through Julie’s veins. She heard herself ask him, calm as anything: "If I refuse to apologize, then what?"
"We call off the engagement," Cameron answered, his eyes completely empty of any warmth.
"Apologize, or we break up. Your choice."
