Chapter 3

The shower stopped.

Julian walked out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist.

I looked at his bare fingers and asked, "Where’s your ring?"

Julian seemed to just realize it was gone.

He casually shook the water droplets from his hair.

He walked over, wrapping his arms around me from behind, and chuckled. "I probably left it in the office. I took it off when I was signing some documents today. It must be on my desk."

I looked at his handsome face.

His bedroom eyes were incredibly charming, the kind that could easily steal any woman's heart.

He was no longer the bright, golden boy of our college years. Since taking over the Sterling Group, he had become more mature, powerful, and arrogant.

"You used to care about that ring more than anything," I said.

Julian turned me around, pressing his nose affectionately against mine. "Are you mad? I didn’t mean to. I’ll bring it back tomorrow. Why are you suddenly paying attention to this today?"

I dodged his kiss and turned my back to him. "Nothing. Just noticed it and wanted to ask."

Julian used to treat that ring like a sacred relic.

Once, when he was swimming, the ring slipped off into the pool. He jumped in frantically and searched for an entire afternoon, finally dragging himself onto the deck, completely exhausted.

I had rushed over, hitting his chest in anger and worry.

What did I say back then?

"It’s just a cheap ring. It’s just an object. We can always buy another one."

But Julian had looked at me with a bright smile. "No way. That’s the ring you wore when you first accepted my proposal on that street in Paris. Even if it’s worthless, I’m going to wear it for the rest of my life."

Yes. Back then, Julian didn’t even know if I would say yes. He had bought a cheap souvenir ring from a street vendor and jokingly asked me to marry him.

But I had smiled and nodded immediately.

He was stunned for a second, then spun me around in his arms, laughing like a lunatic.

Now, looking at his empty finger.

There was a faint white mark where the ring used to sit.

Seven years of marriage had left a deep imprint on his skin.

Even if he took it off, it would take a long time for that mark to fade.

What I didn’t expect was that Daisy would ask to meet me.