I hated Julian, but I knew he was under no obligation to save me. I had no right to blame him.

But I couldn't help it. He was my fiancé. We were about to announce our engagement. He could have given me three seconds to speak instead of cutting me off with a clipped, "I'm busy." Or called back when he realized I never came home. I had never stayed out all night. He had to know something was wrong.

He knew exactly where I was; I'd told him I was on my way to pick up a custom-cut gemstone.

The shredded paper scattered across the floor was a monument to my own foolishness. My persistence was a joke.

When I was young, I insisted on studying jewelry design. No one took me seriously, so I carved out a path for myself, eventually making a small name.

But fate had played a cruel joke. Everything I'd built was temporary, and now it was all gone.

I tossed my design tools into the trash and stuffed the few remaining drawings into a portfolio, planning to discard them the next day.

That night, a well-connected friend sent me a message. Julian had hinted at an engagement at the party.

He probably didn't know about my hand yet.

What future did I have if I couldn't hold a carving knife?

He had celebrated his victory and announced his engagement, but he hadn't named his bride. Everyone was congratulating him, but all eyes were on Genevieve Lancaster, who stood glowing by his side. They looked like a perfect power couple.

And I sat in my little studio, surrounded by the paper ruins of my own folly.

The next day, news of the impending union between the Valerius and Lancaster families was the talk of the city.

"Valerius Heir to Marry Genevieve Lancaster, Uniting East Coast Powerhouses."

Every comment below the headline was congratulatory.

That afternoon, Julian came to my studio. It was the first time he had ever set foot in it.

Just as well. We needed to set things straight.

I opened the door. When he saw the mess inside, he froze. "What happened to all your work?"

"I can't design anymore."

"What? Are you kidding me? What happened? Why did you block me?" He stared at me, his displeasure obvious, scolding me as if I were a misbehaving pet. "Stop fooling around, Ava. Our engagement ceremony is next month."

"I know I've neglected you lately, but you need to be more mature. Pull yourself together and come home with me."

He acted like this was all just another one of my little dramas.

I laughed, and tears immediately welled in my eyes. "Home? What home? The one you share with Genevieve Lancaster? The news of your engagement is plastered everywhere. Why would I go there?"

He frowned, his eyes turning cold and distant. "I announced our engagement last night. It was supposed to be a surprise for you. You weren't feeling well, you left early… so of course people misunderstood. I admit I handled it badly, but I'm fixing it. This has nothing to do with Genevieve. She's a victim here too."