Engraved with the Wrong Name
At the lavish Family dinner, Griffin Thorne dropped to one knee before me, presenting a glittering diamond ring.
The bustling hall fell silent, everyone waiting for the romantic climax.
But as he looked into my eyes, the name he spoke wasn't mine.
"Jade Vance, will you marry me?"
During the three years I was bound to Griffin, our relationship was supposed to be a strategic alliance.
I was leading a massive port project for the Family, biding my time to reclaim the assets that rightfully belonged to me.
In the early days, he treated me with the respect of a partner.
Only rarely, in moments of distraction, would he slip and call me by his ex-girlfriend's name.
But everything changed a few months ago when his old flame, Jade, returned to Chicago seeking the Family's protection.
Suddenly, his "mistakes" became overwhelmingly frequent.
When he’d pour me a whiskey, he would murmur, "Jade, come try my latest private stash."
When he gave me an antique necklace for my birthday, the note inside the box read, "To my dearest Jade, Happy Birthday."
During our most intimate moments, he’d whisper in my ear, "Jade, should I be gentler?"
Even the limited-edition sports car delivered to the Family headquarters on Valentine's Day was addressed to Jade.
And now, he had just proposed to another woman's name while kneeling in front of me.
The words "I do" caught in my throat.
All my excitement vanished, replaced by a sudden, icy clarity.
Since the port project was finally in my grasp, I no longer needed to play this game.
I looked down at the man who couldn't even remember who I was.
This engagement, the position this Family gave me, and my own name—I was going to take them all back.