Chapter 2
I held up my hand, displaying my ring. “Besides, I’m already married.”
After a brief stunned silence, the room exploded with laughter.
Ronan arched an eyebrow. “Married? To what–the janitor or the mail guy?”
“Are you seriously thinking this sad little lie would make me jealous? What’s wrong with you?”
He grabbed my wrist and, before I could pull away, yanked the ring right off my finger.
I winced at the pain, about to protest, when Sylvia burst out laughing. “Oh my God, Ronan! Isn’t that the ‘Eternal Love‘ ring your uncle Calix dropped two hundred million on at that Sotheby’s auction in London five years ago?”
“My darling sister must be trying to tell us she married your Uncle Calix and became your auntie!” she mocked.
This sent everyone into hysterics.
Everyone in our circles knew Calix Quinn now ran the Quinn family empire. Though barely five years older than Ronan, he commanded instant respect wherever he went.
Being handsome and loaded was one thing, but his legendary devotion to his wife was another story entirely.
In five years of marriage, nobody–absolutely nobody–had seen his wife or daughter. He kept them completely shielded from the public eye.
“Sister dear, are you actually suggesting you’re Uncle Calix’s secret wife he’s been hiding all this time?” Sylvia pressed, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Blake turned the ring over in his hands. “I’ve got to hand it to you, this is a pretty convincing fake. Must have set you back a few grand. You really pulled out all the stops to fool Ronan, didn’t you?”
Faced with their mockery, I tried to explain, “It’s not a fake. This ring is actually—”
A vicious slap cut me off mid–sentence, the sting spreading across my cheek like wildfire.
“Have you completely lost your mind?” Ronan snarled. “Of all the people to lie about, you picked my uncle? Everyone knows he’s crazy about his wife. Why would he settle for my leftovers? Take a good look in the mirror! I can’t stand pathetic liars who make up stories just to make their exes jealous. I must have been out of my mind to
ever date someone like you. You’re nothing.”
I slowly turned my face back toward him, my hand still on my stinging cheek.
Something in my calm gaze must have rattled him, because Ronan suddenly looked away.
Sylvia couldn’t resist twisting the knife. “Sister, Ronan’s offering to keep you as his mistress even though he doesn’t remember you. Instead of showing some gratitude, you’re trying to hurt him? Everyone knows Uncle Calix worships
10:27
Addio To The Stand–In Past. This Time I Chose To Reclaim My Own Life
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Chapter 2
the ground his wife walks on. Pretending to be her is just asking for trouble. How desperate and spiteful can you get?”
Sylvia was my stepfather’s daughter. The day we buried my father, my mother forced me–right in front of his grave–to accept this girl just a year younger than me as my sister.
She was like a parasite who couldn’t stand seeing any happiness in my life.
What she could take, she took. What she couldn’t take, she destroyed.
Five years ago, Ronan had stood before me like a shield, coldly putting Sylvia in her place whenever she tried to
hurt me.
Now, that same man stood protecting Sylvia, contemptuously throwing a stack of bills at my feet,
“This is what you’re really after, isn’t it? Go ahead, pick it up.”
The sharp edge of one of the bills sliced my forehead.
A tiny bead of blood appeared, but I didn’t wipe it away. I caught a flicker of unease cross Ronan’s face.
The next moment, I bent down.
He immediately relaxed, smirking. “That’s more like it. Someone like you should know your-”
From the scattered pile of cash, I picked up only the ring that had been tossed aside.
Ronan stared at me in disbelief, a flicker of panic crossing his features.
As I turned to leave, he grabbed my wrist. “Still playing your little game? Isn’t there enough money there to buy yourself another knockoff?”
I couldn’t understand why he was suddenly so rattled. “Let go of me.”
He glared at me, jaw clenched. “You really don’t know when to quit, do you? Fine. Sylvia and I are getting married next week. My uncle happens to be in New York that day. Why don’t you come to the wedding? Let him personally see what a pathetic, desperate woman I threw away.”
At the mention of marriage, Sylvia couldn’t hide her delight. “Sister, you’re not afraid of being exposed in front of
everyone, are you?”
I carefully tucked the ring away and replied coolly, “I’ll be there. Just don’t regret inviting me.”
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