Chapter 3

The next morning, I went to the office as usual.

Some loose ends still needed tying up.

The moment I stepped through the glass doors, I saw Mia behind the front desk.

She was wearing a pristine white sundress today, her hair pulled up into a messy bun, looking utterly innocent and youthful.

Catching sight of me, she deliberately raised her left hand.

The diamond ring on her ring finger flashed blindingly under the fluorescent lights.

I kept walking without batting an eye, but she hurried out from behind the desk, blocking my path.

"Chloe, good morning!"

She smiled brightly, waving her hand right in front of my face.

"Isn't it gorgeous? Brandon picked it out himself. A full carat."

She tilted her head, her tone sickeningly sweet.

"You were with Brandon for ten years... did he ever buy you a diamond ring like this?"

I glanced down at the rock on her finger.

"I have dozens of rings that size sitting in my jewelry box."

I smiled calmly.

"Every single one of them is bigger than yours. I usually just pair them with casual outfits. I never thought a tiny rock was something worth bragging about."

Her smile instantly froze.

I brushed past her and walked straight toward my desk in the finance department.

I opened my cabinets and began clearing out my personal items.

Truthfully, there wasn't much to take.

I began packing my few belongings into a cardboard box.

As I was packing, Mia hovered over again, peering down into the box.

"Are you sure those aren't company property? You can't just take whatever you want, you know."

She pointed at a thick leather binder.

I flipped it open for her to see.

"These are my personal working notes. Private property."

She scoffed, rolling her eyes.

I ignored her and pulled out several branded executive pens, desk organizers, and custom planners Brandon had gifted me over the years, setting them on the desk.

"Actually, you're right. These things really aren't worth taking."

I looked straight at her.

"I was going to toss them in the dumpster outside so building maintenance wouldn't have to deal with them."

Her expression twisted.

"Excuse me?"

"I said, they're useless trash. I was just going to throw them away."

I pushed the pile toward her chest.

"Since you care so much about Brandon's leftovers, you can throw them out for me."

She gritted her teeth, about to snap, when footsteps sounded at the door.

Brandon walked in.

Seeing the cardboard box in my hands and Mia's furious face, his brow furrowed.

"Mia, give us a minute. Go back to your desk."

Mia parted her lips, clearly unhappy, but seeing Brandon’s stern expression, she turned and stormed out.

Not before shooting me a venomous glare.

Brandon walked over and reached for the box.

"Let me help you carry it."

I didn't fight him, leaning against the desk as I watched him pack.

He pulled open my bottom drawer, revealing a neat stack of client files.

As he moved them, his hands suddenly froze.

Tucked between the folders was a framed photo taken during our very first year together.

In the picture, I was nineteen, sporting a ponytail, laughing into the camera with wild, carefree abandon.

He stared at that photograph for a very long time.

"Chloe."

His voice was barely above a whisper.

"When I loved you... I truly did."

I listened quietly.

"I honestly thought we were going to get married."

He placed the photo gently into the box.

"But after meeting Mia, I realized..."

He stopped, unable to finish the sentence.

"You realized what?"

I finished it for him, completely detached.

"You realized that the woman you wanted by your side wasn't me anymore. It was her."

He stayed silent, which was an admission in itself.

I picked up the box.

"Brandon, you don't need to explain anything."

I looked at him, feeling an unprecedented wave of peace wash over my heart.

"Because the truth is, I don't love you anymore either."