Chapter 4

Adrian wasn't in his office.

But Ella was there. When she saw me, her eyes showed no surprise.

As if she had expected I would come demand an explanation.

Ella kept fiddling with the ring on her finger, occasionally pouting.

"Sister, what do you think of the ring Adrian gave me?"

She shook her head as she spoke.

"I think it's ugly as sin, but since Adrian gave it to me, I love it."

"I love anything he gives me."

Hearing her words, I couldn't help but clench my fists.

"Sister, do you think if I wear this ring to your wedding, I'll steal your spotlight?"

"After all, the diamond Adrian gave me is definitely bigger than whatever ring you'll have."

Something snapped in my mind. I rushed forward to grab the ring from her hand.

So Ella and I ended up in a tussle.

The moment I got the ring off her finger, I felt a sharp blow to my waist.

Someone kicked me hard, sending me sprawling on the ground in pain so intense I could barely breathe.

Tears leaked from the corners of my eyes as I stubbornly turned my head, gritting my teeth as I glared at the petite woman now cradled in Adrian's arms.

"You crazy woman, how dare you lay hands on Ella? Don't you know her health is fragile?"

The pain spreading up from my waist was nothing compared to the ache in my heart.

Adrian didn't bother scolding me further, focused on comforting the distraught Ella.

"Adrian, I can't believe it. If you hadn't arrived in time, would my sister have beaten me to death?"

His gaze fell on Ella as he gently wiped away her tears, his movements tender and attentive.

Adrian's brows were tightly furrowed, his eyes rimmed with red.

"Ella, don't worry. I won't let that crazy woman near you alone again."

"I won't allow anyone to hurt you. Even if it's the Wilson family's daughter, I'll turn against them if they so much as touch a hair on your head."

Adrian really went to extremes for Ella's sake.

Many people at Johnson Group knew me, including his secretary.

The secretary helped me up, but Adrian angrily berated her.

"Who said you could help her? Go to accounting and get your final paycheck. Don't come in tomorrow."

The secretary stood there stunned before reluctantly leaving the office.

I clutched my waist, my face flushed red. Just thinking about this humiliating situation made me want to cry.

I laughed mockingly at myself. Each laugh blurred my vision a little more with unshed tears.

He fired his secretary who helped me without a second thought.

Did Adrian really hate me to this extent?

"Crazy woman, you still have the nerve to laugh?"

Adrian demanded: "I told you I would never like you. So why do you keep hurting the person I love?"

I stubbornly refused to back down: "Are you blind? She's the one who stole my things!"

Adrian hesitated for a moment, but after glancing at Ella's pitiful expression, he impatiently scolded me:

"It's just a ring. It was meant for me anyway. What's wrong with her having it since it was meant for me!"

I sneered: "You must not have a mirror, or even a puddle to look in. Check yourself - your ego is way too big!"

I almost blurted out that the ring was meant for Ethan.

But I suddenly remembered Ethan would be back tonight.

I would thoroughly humiliate Adrian at the family dinner.

I pressed a hand to my waist, each step difficult and painful.

His voice came from behind me: "Come to the family dinner on your own tonight. I don't have time to pick you up."

I left the office without looking back, a faint smile still on my lips.

Laughing at his conceit, and even more at my own pathetic state.

It's fine. I don't need him to pick me up.

He'll understand soon enough that my life will have nothing to do with him from now on.