Chapter 3

I took the transfer notice to HR.

The HR manager flipped through it and simply said this was a temporary arrangement issued by Ethan.

"Nora, Ethan said with the wedding approaching, you needed a lighter workload."

"My wedding has been cancelled."

The manager's face grew awkward.

"The system hasn't received any formal confirmation."

I called the wedding planner right there.

But the person on the other end hesitated.

"Nora, Ethan paid the balance last night. The wedding is still on. He said you were just having a mood swing and told us to ignore the cancellation."

Ethan was always like this.

I said no; he changed it to yes.

I said it was over; he explained it away as a tantrum.

As if every word out of my mouth needed his approval to count.

That afternoon, Ethan's mother called and asked me to come to the wedding venue for a menu tasting.

I meant to refuse, but she said my mother was already there.

When I arrived, the private room was packed with Ethan's crew.

Chloe was wearing the rehearsal dinner gown I'd ordered, standing in front of the mirror while everyone snapped photos.

Someone was teasing them.

"Ethan, the two of you standing together—still as good-looking as before."

Ethan tied the ribbon at her back casually.

"Her dress got dirty. She's just borrowing Nora's for a bit."

My mother sat in the corner, gripping an empty jewelry box, her face pale.

I walked over.

"Mom, what is it?"

She glanced at Chloe and asked in a low voice,

"That magnolia brooch—wasn't that the piece your grandmother left for your dowry?"

I looked up.

The brooch was pinned on Chloe's collar.

My grandmother had placed it in my hand before she died. My childhood nickname was engraved on the back.

Chloe touched the brooch and rushed to explain.

"Mrs. Sinclair, please don't be upset. Ethan's mother told me to wear it. She said with so many people here today, my outfit was too plain and needed a little cheer."

Ethan's mother smiled to smooth things over.

"What's the harm in family sharing? Chloe just got out of a marriage. We should look out for her. Nora won't be petty about it."

I walked up to Chloe and held out my hand.

"Take it off."

She looked at Ethan.

Ethan was holding a wine glass, his brow furrowed slightly.

"The food hasn't arrived. Don't make a scene in front of everyone."

"I'll only say this once. Take it off."

Chloe's eyes reddened at once.

"Nora, I didn't know it meant so much. Don't be mad at Ethan. I'll give it back right now."

She lifted her hand to remove it, but the pin caught on the sheer fabric.

There was a snap. The brooch fell to the floor.

The magnolia petals broke in two.

The room went silent.

I crouched down to pick up the pieces. A shard cut a thin line across my fingertip.

Chloe covered her mouth.

"I'm sorry, I really didn't mean to."

Ethan grabbed a tissue and pressed it against my finger.

"It's just an old brooch. I'll have someone repair it. It's the engagement dinner. Don't sulk."

My mother shot to her feet.

"That was her grandmother's keepsake. It isn't just some old thing."

The smile faded from Ethan's mother's face.

"Mrs. Sinclair, the child didn't know any better. She's already apologized. It wouldn't be right to make everyone uncomfortable over a piece of jewelry, would it?"

Ethan gripped my wrist.

"Sit down first."

I pulled my hand back and placed the broken brooch into the box.

"There's no wedding. Today is not an engagement dinner."

Ethan's crew exchanged glances. One of them tried to break the tension with a laugh.

"Nora's serious again. She can stay mad three days over one appointment. Ethan, how many dinners are you going to have to buy this time?"

Another chimed in.

"I bet she cools off by tonight."

Ethan shot them a cold glance.

"Shut up."

But it was too late.

My mother had understood. Her voice trembled.

"They bet on you often?"

I didn't answer. I helped her to her feet and led her out.

Ethan caught up in the corridor, blocking the elevator.

"You'd really embarrass both of our mothers?"

"Who's the one being embarrassed?"

"Chloe broke it. I'll pay for it. You wouldn't cooperate with the presentation, and I let it slide. Nora Sinclair, I've backed down plenty."

I looked at him.

"What you call backing down is letting me absorb the consequences of what you do."

The elevator doors opened. I led my mother inside.

Ethan didn't follow. He only warned me in a low voice,

"Tomorrow morning is the final review. You've been transferred out. Without my signature, you won't even get into the conference room."

Just before the doors closed, I received an email from Corporate Compliance.

Your complaint has been accepted. Please appear tomorrow morning at the group boardroom with the original proposal and copyright documentation for a formal statement.

The next message came from the project secretary.

Nora, your original proposal on the cloud drive was just permanently deleted.