Chapter 2

The ring had never fit me properly. It was too tight.

After wearing it for so long, it had left a bright red mark around my finger.

Ava took it and held it tightly, looking momentarily stunned.

Then she gave a cold laugh and tossed it to the boy beside her.

“Fine. You’re really something now.”

“A three-million-dollar one-of-a-kind ring, and you can just throw it away?”

The boy bit his lip hesitantly.

“…Ethan, the ring you’re so quick to discard is something I’ve never even dared to dream of.”

He carefully cradled it in his palm. His sparkling eyes met Ava’s.

“I’ll treasure it.”

Ava gazed at his face with tender affection. She took his hand and naturally slid the ring onto his finger.

The boy looked overwhelmed by the honor.

“Get out, Ethan. What are you still standing here for?”

She shot me a mocking glance.

“Where can you go without me? What are you without me?”

The boy immediately chimed in. He obediently moved closer to Ava.

“Ava, everything Ethan has comes from you… How dare he speak to you like that? That’s completely out of line.”

Ava became even angrier.

I gave her one last disappointed look.

I looked at the woman who had captivated me for more than a decade.

Then I turned and walked away.

There weren’t many things of mine in the mansion.

A few changes of clothes. Some toiletries. Nothing else.

That was how it had always been.

As if I had been a stranger who didn’t matter from the very beginning.

I had once considered turning the mansion into a cozy home for the two of us.

I bought a cute cat and a dog, but Ava complained that they were too much trouble and had them sent away right in front of me.

I followed an online tutorial and knitted her a scarf by hand.

She looked at it with disgust.

“How am I supposed to wear this cheap thing in public? Ethan, can you stop wasting your time on stuff like this?”

We had been married for three years.

In reality, Ava and I had never even obtained a marriage certificate.

On the day we were supposed to register our marriage, I was so excited that I couldn’t sleep.

I got up early, showered, and prepared everything.

But something suddenly happened on Ava’s end.

A boy she had recently met had cut his wrists and threatened to kill himself.

After answering the call, Ava’s expression turned cold. She immediately headed for the door.

“I have something to deal with. Go wait for me at City Hall.”

I grabbed her arm and asked when she would be back.

We were going to get our marriage certificate eventually.

I thought she would only be gone for a little while.

But that day, I waited outside City Hall for a very, very long time.

I waited until the employees went home.

I watched thirty-seven newlywed couples leave with wide smiles after registering their marriages.

Ava never appeared.

I had imagined us just like them, eagerly planning our future together.

Reality gave me a brutal slap instead.

Ava took that boy to watch fireworks across the city, creating a romantic display meant only for him.

Everyone knew about it except me.

I only found out when someone accidentally mentioned it during a conversation.

When Ava finally came home, I complained about how unhappy I was.

I asked why she had disappeared for so long without saying a word.

Ava smiled and spread her hands. Then she apologized.

“Ethan, I’ve already cut things off with him. I won’t contact him again. Can you forgive me this once?”

I pulled her into my arms, feeling our hearts beating close together.

I nodded.

“Okay.”

After that, however, Ava never mentioned getting our marriage certificate again.

We had held a wedding ceremony. In everyone’s eyes, we were already husband and wife.

Looking back now, that marriage had been full of carelessness and indifference.

I had offered it my whole heart, only to become a joke.

“Mr. Carter, after all…”

The butler hesitated, as if he wanted to stop me.

Ava stopped him.

With one arm around the young man, she ordered, “No one is allowed to bring Ethan back without my permission.”

Then Ava declared, “I want Ethan to beg me to take him back!”