Chapter 3

After coming home early yesterday, I spent the whole night sorting through everything.

What belonged to me went into the suitcase.

Everything Russell had ever given me went into the trash.

I had just slipped the engagement ring off my finger, about to set it in the jewelry box, when I heard the door open and close.

Russell saw the suitcase, paused for a moment, then came and stood in front of me.

"Are you angry with me?"

He put the suitcase away and smoothed a hand over the top of my head.

"I just wanted you to calm down. We're getting married tomorrow. I don't want you making an ugly scene in front of everyone."

He set my things back where they'd been, then turned and disappeared into the kitchen.

Before long, a bowl of pasta was pushed in front of me.

"Eat it while it's hot. It's good for your stomach."

Two eggs, fresh baby greens, and a few shrimp on the side.

Seven years ago, when we'd first started the company, we lived in the office to save money.

On my birthday, Russell had cooked me pasta too.

A thin broth with no richness to it, one egg split between the two of us.

"Eleanor, once the company's stable, once I have money, I'll give you a home. I promise."

"I'll never let you struggle alongside me again."

Looking at this generous bowl of spaghetti with meat sauce, I had no appetite at all.

He handed me the schedule for tomorrow's wedding, his voice going soft.

"I promised you. Seven days, and I'd marry you."

"Today's the last day. There's one more thing I need to ask of you."

His eyes moved over both of my hands.

"Where's your ring?"

I pointed to the jewelry box on the vanity.

That was the diamond ring he'd used to propose to me, in front of all our family and friends.

The vow from that day still seemed to sound in my ears.

"Eleanor, marry me. I'll protect you for the rest of my life, and I'll never change."

But in the next breath, he said to me:

"Crystal wants me to propose to her before her free days run out."

"There's no time to have a ring made. Eleanor, lend me yours for one day. I'll return it tomorrow."

I tossed our wedding schedule aside and didn't touch the bowl of spaghetti.

"No."

Russell got flustered, and as he leaned toward me he knocked over the bowl, splashing broth across the back of my hand.

My arm went red and swollen at once, but he still wouldn't give up.

"It's just borrowed to propose and take a few photos. You know it's all fake anyway."

"Tomorrow I'm marrying you. Once we sign the papers, we'll be the real husband and wife."

I held to my decision, and the phone in his pocket suddenly let out the sound of crying.

"I knew Eleanor wouldn't lend it."

"Russell, let's just forget it. I'll leave tomorrow instead."

Russell pulled out his phone, coaxing her patiently.

"Seven days means seven days. Not one day less!"

"I'll take care of this. Just wait for my proposal."

The moment the call ended, he rushed straight to the vanity, trying to snatch the jewelry box.

"I bought the ring. I'm only borrowing it."

"Besides, if I don't show up tomorrow, this wedding won't happen at all."

"So there's no point in you clinging to that engagement ring."

Seven years of dating, and I'd waited year after year for his proposal.

But this time, I wasn't going to wait for him anymore.

"Take the ring. I don't want it."

Russell got what he came for and drove off in a hurry.

I printed several copies of all the documents and put them into the hands of every shareholder.

Several of the major stakeholders wrote back, one after another.

【For tomorrow's meeting, we fully support replacing the head of the company.】