Chapter 3

The next morning, I went to my jewelry design studio.

I'm a jewelry designer.

But in these five years of marriage, my work had become increasingly scarce, and my style more and more monotonous.

All minimalist, simple, lifeless lines.

As soon as I walked into the studio, Mia, my assistant, rushed over.

"Summer, this is bad!"

"Mr. Stone canceled the media pre-interview for the international jewelry exhibition next month!"

I stopped abruptly.

"Why?"

Mia's face was grim.

"Mr. Stone's secretary called to say you don't like being in the limelight, don't like being surrounded by too many people."

"He said such noisy occasions weren't suitable for you, and asked the organizers to withdraw your name."

I stood there, my fingertips digging deep into my palms.

That was the big exhibition I'd been preparing for an entire year!

I'd pulled countless all-nighters for this exhibition, designing a collection of colored gemstones.

I wanted to use this opportunity to rediscover the radiant person I once was.

But Ethan Stone, based on a single line in his notes app — "She's afraid of noise" — had casually crushed all my hard work.

He didn't just want to control my life; he wanted to strangle my career.

Just then, the studio door opened.

Ethan walked in.

Beside him was Sophia Grey, dressed in a simple white dress, looking delicate and fragile.

The atmosphere in the studio instantly dropped to freezing point.

Mia and the other employees exchanged glances, not daring to breathe.

Ethan surveyed my studio, a slight frown on his face.

"Why is this place such a mess?"

He turned to Sophia, his voice immediately softening.

"Sophia, you've just returned. You want to open an art gallery, and I think this location is perfect."

"Summer doesn't really need this much space anyway. Why don't we just give half of it to you?"

I stared at Ethan in disbelief.

This was my studio!

It was a place I'd saved up for and bought myself before we got married!

How dare he decide, with a single sentence, to give half of it to his first love?

Sophia gently tugged on Ethan's sleeve, smiling graciously.

"Ethan, let's not. Don't make Summer feel awkward."

As she spoke, she browsed the display cabinets.

Suddenly, her gaze stopped at a glass case.

Inside was the centerpiece of my recently completed colored gemstone collection — an exaggerated, wildly styled ring set with a top-grade pigeon blood ruby.

Sophia's eyes lit up.

"Ethan, this ring is so unique."

Ethan walked over, glanced at it, and his frown deepened.

"The color is too intense. It doesn't suit your delicate style."

Sophia bit her lip, looking a little hurt.

"But I really like it."

Ethan turned to me and said in a condescending tone:

"Summer, wrap this ring up and give it to Sophia as a welcome-back gift."

"Your overly flamboyant designs don't sell anyway. You might as well do someone a favor."

I stood there, feeling all the blood rush to my head.

"No."

I coldly spat out the single word.

Ethan's face instantly darkened.

"Summer, don't be so petty."

"Sophia isn't feeling well. Can't you just indulge her a little?"

I walked to the display cabinet and locked the glass cover.

"Ethan Stone, this is my passion project. It's not a prop for you to use to flatter other people."

"Want to give a gift? Go buy one yourself!"

Sophia's eyes instantly welled up, tears streaming down her face.

"I'm sorry, Summer. I didn't know this ring was so important to you."

"Ethan, let's go. I don't want it anymore."

Ethan protectively put his arm around Sophia's shoulder.

He turned to me, his eyes filled with utter disgust.

"Summer Lynn, why have you become so petty and mean-spirited?"

"You truly disappoint me."

With that, he shielded Sophia and walked out of the studio without looking back.

I watched their retreating backs and suddenly burst out laughing.

Laughing until tears streamed down my face.

Petty and mean-spirited?

For him, I had turned myself into a soulless puppet.

In the end, in his eyes, I was just a jealous woman who wouldn't even give a ring to his first love.