Chapter 2

My ears rang violently. Clutching my split lip, I looked down—and froze.

On Marcus Cole's thumb rested a jade signet ring.

My family heirloom. An antique passed down through six generations of my family.

"Chloe, are you insane?!" Clara yelled, rolling up her sleeves to jump in.

I quickly grabbed Clara's arm, my voice trembling as I whispered, "Stay calm. Please."

I was a chief engineer hired by Foster Industries, having worked at the family plant for years. Clara had recently graduated and was interning under me.

Maybe we had gotten along too well at work, which gave someone the excuse to report me anonymously.

Wiping the blood from my mouth, I stepped back in front of Chloe. I stared at the face I had loved for so many years.

Love makes a man humble. Even after all this, I hated myself for still feeling that lingering attachment.

Our daughter Lily was terrified, trembling like a frightened bird. Fearing her condition would worsen, I gently pulled her into my arms and rubbed her back.

"Chloe, I know you're just not thinking straight right now. Cool off. I'll take Lily home and wait for you."

Seeing that I was still speaking gently, a flicker of guilt crossed Chloe's face. She reached out, tugging on my sleeve as if she wanted to take it back.

"Ethan, drop the nice guy act," Marcus chimed in, curling his lip. "You must've committed too many sins in your past life to end up with a retarded kid like this!"

The second he said that, I clamped my hands over Lily's ears, ready to tear him apart. But before I could, Chloe violently shoved Marcus back.

Seeing the raw fury on her face, Marcus realized he had crossed a line and stammered out an apology.

Chloe ignored him. Shaking him off, she took my hand and quietly followed me home.

Back at the house, I tucked Lily into bed. Chloe immediately threw her arms around my neck, acting as if she were the victim.

"Ethan, I was just mad earlier. I didn't mean those awful things. Don't be mad at me."

She smiled warmly in my embrace, but all I could see was Marcus strutting around with my family heirloom on his finger.

"Chloe, why is the ring I trusted you with on Marcus's hand?"

The smile froze on her face. A second later, she pouted and let out an annoyed huff.

"I saw how close you and that bitch Clara were getting! I got jealous, and I wanted to make you jealous, so I lent it to him!"

She leaned in, batting her lashes. "If you hate it that much, I'll take it back tomorrow. Don't be so grumpy with me!"

I knew she was lying. Even though my heart was being ripped to shreds, I didn't have the strength to call her out.

"Daddy... Grandpa... hungry. Food."

Lily had woken up from our voices. She tugged at the corner of my shirt, pointing toward the small bedroom down the hall.

My mother died when I was young. When I was sixteen, my father fell down a flight of stairs and ended up paralyzed and mute. I had taken care of him ever since.

"Ethan, go sit down. I'll go feed Dad," Chloe offered, letting go of me and walking toward the room, likely trying to ease her guilty conscience.

The next second, Lily darted over and blocked the door.

My daughter was always quiet and withdrawn. She rarely showed such strong resistance. Chloe blinked in surprise, her patience clearly wearing thin.

"Don't worry about it, Chloe," I said quietly. "You've been out all day. I'll cook. Just stay here and keep Lily company."

Chloe never touched household chores. Usually, when I said this, she would happily agree. But tonight, she snapped.

With a sudden sweep of her arm, she sent the plates and bowls crashing off the table. Porcelain shattered across the floor. Before I could react, she seized my collar.

"Ethan Vance, you don't trust me! You look down on me because I'm not the real heiress, don't you?!"

Her screeching voice made my head throb. I winced, and taking that as a sign of guilt, she shoved me back with all her might.

I stumbled back. A sharp piece of broken porcelain sliced deep into the sole of my foot. Lily rushed forward, wrapping her tiny hands around my leg to hold me up.

"Now that you have Clara the college graduate hanging on you, you don't want a high school dropout like me! Don't play dumb with me, Ethan. You'll never get rid of me!"

Throbbing pain shot up from my foot, making my vision swim.

I shook my head, trying to deny her ridiculous accusations, but an overwhelming wave of exhaustion washed over me.

"I bet you don't give a damn about me anymore! All you care about is that whore Clara and your stupid piece of junk heirloom—"

The jade ring and the jade bracelet were passed down together through generations, carved from the same stone to symbolize lifelong fidelity.

On our wedding day, I had gently slipped the bracelet onto Chloe's wrist.

Now, I watched with wide eyes as she ripped it off.

*Smash!*

She hurled the bracelet onto the floor. It exploded into pieces, mingling with the shattered porcelain.

"You care about this garbage so much, Ethan? I'm breaking it right in front of your face! I want you to know—I don't give a single damn about your family!"

I slowly knelt down, picking through the shards of jade one by one, as if piecing together my own shattered heart.

I no longer knew what love meant. And I didn't know if this marriage was worth saving anymore.

"Chloe... if you hate me this much, let's just get a divorce."