Chapter 1
- 1.
I couldn’t believe it. Company Christmas party,
and I won the grand prize–a diamond ring,
handpicked by Chad Sterling himself!
But when I got up there, trying not to cry from
happiness, Chad gave me this stone–cold look.
“Sarah Miller, this is a rigged drawing.”
“Consider yourself fired for theft. If you value
your reputation, resign.”
He took the ring right off the stage, in front of
everyone, and then… handed it to his assistant,
standing to the side.
“Tiffany, I know you’ve been wanting this ring. I
never would have let someone like her have it.”
I’d worked my butt off for two and a half years. Chad had probably even forgotten that I wasn’t just some worker ant he could boss around.
I was his freaking wife.
When the MC announced I’d won the big prize, my heart practically leapt out of my chest.
Standing on the stage, holding that blinding diamond ring, I couldn’t help but tear up.
It was the company Christmas party, but also our third wedding anniversary with Chad.
When Chad first took over the company, he was dirt poor. I hid the fact that I was his wife, and came in as a senior manager – to avoid
accusations of nepotism and so I could support
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his endeavors.
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Now, after all the struggles, I was finally getting
the kind of reward that a wife deserves.
Tears blurring my vision, I looked over at Chad,
sitting in the front row.
But he didn’t look happy. His face was all
scrunched up. He waved at the MC to shut it
down, and then, looking disgusted, said,
“Enough, Sarah! I trusted you to plan this
party.”
“But you decided to steal an award for yourself,
right in front of my face. This is ridiculous. I’m
appalled.”
His words were ice–cold, dousing the joy that
had just been bubbling up inside me.
I just stood there, stunned.
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Chad lost his patience. He jumped up, strode
onto the stage, and snatched the ring box out
of my hand. It felt like he ripped the strength
right out of my body, too.
I stumbled and nearly fell.
The room, which had been quiet, erupted again
with whispers.
“Rigged the drawing? I can’t believe Sarah
would do that!”
“Serves her right! Everyone knows Chad put so
much thought into picking out that ring. It’s got
meaning. I wouldn’t even want it, but Sarah?
How could she?”
“Ugh, Chad is so hot and rich and thoughtful! Whoever marries him is one lucky girl.”
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My coworkers were all buzzing about the drama
unfolding in front of them, and I was, without a
doubt, the biggest joke of the night.
Every single snide comment stung. Chad just
stood there looking down at me, his brow
furrowed even deeper. No pity, no guilt.
He smirked at my outstretched hand, then
turned away and walked off the stage.
“This is so disgusting. Look at the
embarrassment this pig caused.”
The tears I’d been holding back finally spilled
over.
The noise from the crowd just got louder.
“Wait, is she trying to get Chad to help her up? Seriously? Who does she think she is?”
“Yeah, and she’s crying? What a drama queen.
<
Sarah’s the worst.”
Their words just kept stabbing at my already-
bleeding heart. I sat there, feeling utterly numb,
unable to move.
Seeing that I wasn’t going anywhere, the MC
kicked me a couple of times in the back.
“Get up, you loser. Who do you think you are?
Acting like you deserve Chad’s ring. Look at
yourself in the mirror, you’re nothing.”
Her nasty words made the crowd even worse, full of jeers and laughter.
I struggled to my feet, but the MC stepped on
my dress, and I went down again.
The laughter grew, and even Chad cracked a
painful smile.
く
My tear ducts were about to explode. Carefully
holding onto the last shreds of my dignity, I
limped backstage to the bathroom and let
myself cry.
