Chapter 1

Seven years together. At our engagement gala for the company's anniversary, my fiancé Ethan Brown put that priceless ten-million-dollar heirloom pink diamond on my best friend Chloe's finger---right in front of all the city's elite.

He said it matter-of-factly: "Chloe's depression is acting up. She feels insecure. It's just a ring. Be reasonable and I'll buy you another one next time."

My best friend hid in his arms, her smile openly mocking.

Looking at this pair of shameless scumbags, I didn't compromise like I used to.

I calmly took the microphone and publicly announced the cancellation of our engagement. Then I turned and walked toward his most formidable rival seated below---the powerful mogul Ethan Brown feared most, Xavier Holt.

"Mr. Holt, need a Mrs. Holt? How about me?"

Ethan Brown, since you gave the ring to someone else, my groom should change too.

The tenth anniversary gala of Brown Corporation was also the day Ethan Brown would publicly announce our engagement.

I wore a starry evening gown I'd spent half a month designing myself, standing on stage with a heart full of joy, waiting for the man I'd loved for seven years to put the wedding ring on my finger.

But when the attendant carried that rare pink diamond onto the stage, Ethan walked right past me.

He went straight to Chloe, who stood at the edge of the stage clutching her chest, swaying as if about to collapse.

Before all the guests' shocked eyes, Ethan didn't hesitate to take Chloe's hand and slip that pink diamond---the symbol of the Brown family matriarch's status---onto her ring finger.

The hall fell deathly silent.

I stood frozen, feeling like all the blood in my body was flowing backward.

Ethan turned his head, lowering his voice with his usual tone of entitlement: "Summer, Chloe almost fainted backstage just now. The doctor said she has severe depression and desperately needs security right now."

"She was crying, saying no one loves her, no one cares about her, that she can't go on living. How could I just stand by and watch her suffer?"

"Today's just a ceremony. Be the bigger person and don't throw a tantrum. It's just a ring. Tomorrow I'll have my assistant take you to pick out a bigger one."

Chloe leaned against Ethan's shoulder, tears still clinging to the corners of her eyes, but her lips curved into a smug arc.

In a voice only the three of us could hear, she cooed: "Summer, if you really feel you can't save face, that valet at the door is pretty cute. Want me to have him play along with you? You're not picky anyway."

Looking at this disgustingly coordinated pair, I suddenly felt nauseated.

I remembered seven years ago, when Ethan had just started his business and was so poor he couldn't afford to eat.

I gave him all my living expenses. I survived on crackers for a month and ended up in the hospital with a bleeding ulcer.

He sat by my hospital bed with red-rimmed eyes and swore: "Summer, if I, Ethan Brown, ever let you suffer even the slightest grievance, may I die a horrible death!"

But now, the person humiliating me most, trampling my dignity into the ground, was him.

I took a deep breath and met Ethan's warning gaze.

"Didn't you say it yourself? It's just a ceremony."

Ethan's brow furrowed tightly as he grabbed my wrist: "Summer Lynn, what are you trying to do? I'm warning you, there are lots of media here today. Don't you dare embarrass me!"

"Embarrass you?" I couldn't help but laugh coldly.

Who exactly was the one being embarrassing?

Seeing this, Chloe immediately tugged timidly at Ethan's sleeve: "Ethan, this is all my fault. I shouldn't have been scared. Summer has every right to be angry. Go comfort her. I'll just give the ring back to her..."

As she spoke, she pretended to remove the ring, but "accidentally" her eyes reddened.

Ethan immediately pulled her protectively behind him, his eyes full of heartache. When he looked at me again, his gaze held only disappointment and disgust.

"Summer, Chloe is already this sick, and you have to make a scene with her today of all days? Where's your kindness?"

Watching him shield Chloe, that part of my heart that once burned hot for him turned completely cold.

I didn't lose it. I didn't become hysterical.

I simply shook off his hand calmly and walked toward center stage.