Chapter 1

The moment I pushed open the doors to the industry conference, everyone inside turned to look at me.

Every major figure in the jewelry industry had come to today’s conference, and rumors were flying that the legendary top jewelry designer known as “Sage,” who had never shown her face in public, would be making her first appearance.

When they saw me stride inside with my head held high, people quickly began whispering among themselves.

“How could a plagiarist be invited to such an important event?”

“Exactly. This is a conference for original designers. Having a stain like him here is such bad luck!”

“Who can blame them? He was born to a rich father. Haven’t you heard? Money can make anything happen.”

Their voices were loud enough for every word to reach my ears, and they did not care in the slightest about my feelings.

After I was reported for plagiarizing Adrian’s design, I became a thorn in the side of every original designer in the industry.

Not one of them bothered to have a professional organization verify the truth, because the person who reported me was my wife—the woman who slept beside me every night!

Claire was incredibly talented. At twenty-three, she had already won the national gold medal.

She also had a solid reputation in the industry.

As for me, in their eyes, I was a useless rich heir who had no talent aside from relying on my father.

They believed I not only looked down on Adrian, but had also used his work to achieve a little success in the design world.

And they thought I had done it because my wife had once been Adrian’s girlfriend, and jealousy had blinded me.

I had supposedly tried to suppress Adrian at every turn so he would never rise above the rest.

Faced with everyone’s ridicule, I clenched my fingertips and was just about to argue back when I caught sight of Claire walking toward me with her hand wrapped around Adrian’s wrist.

Adrian glanced at me, a smug smile in his eyes.

He suddenly stopped in front of me, reached out, and patted my shoulder before explaining, “Evan only took such a desperate step because he wanted to become worthy of Claire. He was trying to make a name for himself in the design world. Since he likes that ring so much, consider it a gift from me. Please don’t embarrass him over this in the future.”

His words sounded like he was explaining things on my behalf, but in reality, he was showing off his generosity while confirming that I had plagiarized his work.

Claire’s expression turned awkward. “Adrian, I know you’re sacrificing your pride for my sake, but wrong is wrong. You don’t need to make excuses for him. If everyone in the design industry acted like him, where would that leave us?”

The moment Claire finished speaking, my heart sank into an icy abyss.

But she did not care at all. She angrily said, “Evan, you did something this shameless, and instead of apologizing publicly, you came here to embarrass yourself. You really have no shame!”

“Do you have any idea how much your mess has dragged me into it?”

“I must have been blind to marry you!”

Every word Claire said felt like a blade carving into my heart. I had never imagined that the person I loved most would hurt me so deeply for the sake of another man.

I could ignore everyone else when they insulted me or pointed fingers at me.

But I could never ignore Claire.

When I met her, she was only nineteen. I had stayed by her side as she went from completely unknown to dazzlingly successful, using my family’s money to help her along the way.

But she had climbed too high.

She had already forgotten the promise she once made to spend the rest of her life with me.

My tightly clenched hand slowly loosened, and in that moment, I felt utterly ridiculous.

Just as I was about to leave this place of heartbreak, Claire suddenly called out from behind me, “Evan, since you’re already here, apologize while everyone’s watching.”

“Adrian may not care, but I won’t let him be mistreated!”

She wouldn’t let Adrian be mistreated?

Then what was I to her? Was I the only one who could be mistreated?

I looked at her in despair. At that moment, I wished more than anything that she would stand beside me and silence everyone’s accusations.

But when I saw her clinging tightly to Adrian’s wrist, I understood.

In her heart, I would never be more important than her childhood friend.

If she loved him so much, why had she married me in the first place?

I couldn’t understand it. I suddenly grabbed her by the shoulders. “Claire, why… why don’t you believe me?”

“That’s enough!” She shook my hands off in disgust. “Evan, just because you have a rich father doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want!”

“If you don’t apologize to Adrian today, we’re getting divorced.”

Her tone was firm, as if she would not let this go unless I gave Adrian an explanation.

“That ring took Adrian three years to design. You stole someone else’s work and used it to win an award. That’s disgusting. The fact that you haven’t been formally charged with theft is already more than generous!”

Formally charged?

A formal investigation would mean uncovering the truth. Would Adrian dare go through with that?

Since she wanted me to apologize so badly…

I glanced at the host onstage, strode up, and snatched the microphone from her hand.

“Evan has finally realized his mistake and decided to give the original designer justice.”

“Exactly. Justice may be delayed, but it will never be denied.”

“Once he apologizes, Evan’s reputation will be ruined forever.”

I tightened my grip on the microphone and spoke clearly and loudly. “Ladies and gentlemen, today, in front of all of you, I want to clarify one thing.”

“I have been the only designer of that ring from beginning to end. Adrian is the thief!”