Chapter 3

Someone in the room noticed me and gasped, "Ethan? How did you find this place?"

Summer turned her head, looking at me with pure disdain.

She probably assumed I was there to beg for her forgiveness like before.

Julian smirked, narrowing his eyes. "Ethan! You're finally here to apologize to Summer? The guys and I have been trying to cheer her up all night."

I marched straight over, grabbed his wrist, and tried to wrench the ring off his finger.

Summer reacted instantly, kicking me hard in the ribs.

"Ethan! Nobody invited you! Don't you dare lay a finger on Julian!"

I clutched my burning ribs and forced myself to stand.

"Give it back! Give me my grandmother's ring!"

"Summer! Since we're getting a divorce, everything that belongs to me comes back to me!"

The moment the word 'divorce' dropped, the room fell dead silent.

A flicker of panic flashed across Summer's eyes.

Julian immediately put on a choked-up voice. "Ethan, don't take it out on Summer. She only gave it to me because she saw how much I loved it. How can you be so cruel to her?"

He yanked violently at the ring, pretending to take it off, but deliberately flung it across the room.

The ring hit the marble floor with a sickening clatter.

The delicate jade centerpiece shattered into a dozen sharp fragments.

Julian gasped with mock horror. "Ethan! You saw it flying—why didn't you catch it? If you weren't badgering me like a madman, such a precious ring wouldn't be destroyed!"

Staring at his vile, theatrical face, a vein throbbed violently in my temple.

I stepped forward and slapped him across the face with everything I had.

Julian crashed to the floor, blood dripping from the corner of his split lip.

Summer threw herself over him, glaring daggers at me. "Ethan Vance! As the woman who saved your damn life, I order you: don't you touch Julian!"

"Remember that hit-and-run car crash? Remember how you spent years searching for the stranger who dragged you out of the burning wreckage? It was ME!"

"I vanished for a whole year because I was in rehab! My leg was crushed and crippled for the rest of my life just to save yours!"

"I gave Grandma's ring to Julian because he truly cherished it. I had no idea you'd turn into a psycho! If it's broken, blame me!"

"If you're still not satisfied, go ahead—break my other leg! Take my life if that's what it takes to make us even! Is that enough for you?!"

"Would you really lay a hand on your savior? If you did, how could you ever look your grandmother in the eye when you die?!"

The blazing rage inside me suddenly froze into a cold silence.

Years ago, during the busiest season of my career, my brakes failed on my drive home after a late-night corporate dinner. The crash was brutal. In my fading consciousness, a shadowy figure dragged me from the crushed vehicle and called the paramedics.

For years, I had searched high and low for that Good Samaritan, desperate to repay them with everything I had.

And now Summer was claiming she was that savior?

I didn't believe a single word.

If Summer were ever capable of risking her life to save someone, that person would only ever be Julian.

Summer gently helped a "trembling" Julian up, whispering sweet reassurances into his ear.

Watching Julian play the fragile, innocent victim, my sanity slowly reclaimed control.

Her friends crowded around me, demanding I apologize to both Summer and Julian.

Some outright branded me an ungrateful bastard, accusing me of ruining Summer's leg and then tormenting her instead of treating her like a queen.

Swallowing the bitter taste in my mouth, I knelt down, picked up the scattered fragments of jade, and slipped them into my breast pocket.

Everything my family and I had sacrificed for Summer had been given freely out of love. But even the strongest heart turns to stone when battered by endless betrayal.

I used to lower my head and endure it all just to honor my vows. But my patience only made them bolder, greedier, and more vicious.

Once my evidence was airtight, their little paradise would crumble into ashes.

I turned to leave.

Summer blocked my path, her expression complicated. "Grandma's ring was just a material object, Ethan. It's broken, but we're still here. As long as we live well, Grandma won't hold a grudge."

I stared at her in silence. I had never felt such complete detachment from another human being.

The moment I stepped out of the lounge, I made up my mind to end this nightmare once and for all.

I called my assistant. "Look into my car accident from years ago. Dig deep."

"If that crash wasn't an accident, someone is going to spend the rest of their life behind bars."

The next afternoon, my assistant's call came through.

"Mr. Vance, I found crucial evidence."

"The car crash was completely premeditated. And I also discovered the real reason behind Summer's crippled leg."