Chapter 3

Dominic didn't call me that night. He clearly intended to let me stew, thinking a night away would teach me my place.

The next morning, the first thing I did at the office was draft my resignation letter.

Before I could hit print, my assistant rushed over in a panic.

"Nora, Miss Ward just walked into your workspace and took the bespoke ring you finished yesterday."

"She said Mr. Sterling personally authorized it."

My hands paused over the keyboard.

A petty punishment from Dominic, right on schedule.

That ring was my masterpiece.

From hand-selecting the center sapphire to refining the platinum band, I had overseen every fraction of a millimeter.

Because we never had proper wedding bands, I had secretly designed that piece after he proposed the bridal photoshoot.

I wanted to surprise him during the shoot.

A closure to our rushed beginning, a quiet symbol of a fresh start.

And he had handed it to Vivian like a party favor.

I calmed my assistant down and took the elevator up to the executive suite.

Dominic was in a meeting. His secretary stopped me at the reception desk, asking me to wait.

Moments later, Vivian strutted in.

Catching sight of me, her smile dripped with mockery.

"Waiting outside, Nora? Want me to go in and ask Dominic to let you through?"

I didn't dignify her with a response. Unbothered, she clicked her heels and pushed straight into the CEO's office.

I glanced at the secretary, who averted her eyes awkwardly.

"Mr. Sterling gave standing orders that Miss Ward never needs an appointment."

I let out a bitter chuckle. The double standard was comical.

An hour later, Dominic's meeting concluded.

Inside the office, Vivian was lounging on the leather sofa like she owned the place.

I stood by the mahogany desk, looking like an unwelcome intruder.

I looked at Dominic. "Why did you give Vivian the ring I designed?"

Dominic didn't even look up from his tablet.

"She liked it."

"You're a designer. Just make another one."

My fingernails dug into my palms.

"That was meant for our wedding shoot."

"I spent months on it. Every single detail was personalized."

Hearing my persistence, Vivian rolled her eyes.

"Nora, are you really throwing a tantrum over a piece of jewelry? Dominic already said you can just make another one."

I kept my eyes glued to Dominic.

"Does it really mean nothing to you?"

Dominic pinched the bridge of his nose, annoyance creeping into his voice.

"I said make another one. Are you done making a scene?"

So that was that. I had played the fool all along.

The last trace of warmth in my chest died.

I didn't argue. I turned on my heel, walked back down to my office, and finished the final sentence of my resignation.

Click. Sent.

Given my title, my resignation didn't technically require Dominic's personal sign-off.

I had been qualified for Design Director months ago, but Dominic had shelved my promotion because Vivian complained it would look like nepotism.

Still, HR knew I was the CEO's wife. Nobody dared to process it without checking upstairs.

After dragging their feet all afternoon, HR finally sent an intern up to the executive floor to test the waters.

At that moment, Vivian was pestering Dominic to take her to an early movie. Dominic had stepped into his private dressing room to change out of his suit.

When the HR intern arrived, only Vivian was in the room.

Hearing that I was resigning, Vivian's eyes lit up. She pretended to go into the back room to check with Dominic.

Two seconds later, she walked back out with a cheerful smile.

"Dominic says go ahead. Approve it immediately."