Chapter 4 She avoided my eyes , still pretending not to understand . " What are you talking about ? " " The ring I designed . Give it back . Or I'll break your finger . " I grabbed a bottle from the table and smashed it on the floor , my eyes fierce . Darian's friends quickly slipped out . Yvette was scared , tears in her eyes . She tried to pull the ring off , her hands trembling . " Here , take it . " But the ring was stuck . She went to the restroom to use soap to slide it off . " I'm sorry ... " She always loved playing the victim . Just as I reached for it , she suddenly let out a little " oops " and let go . The ring slid straight down the drain . I stood there frozen , staring at the drain . Darian finally sobered up . He pulled Yvette behind him , his voice panicked . " Roxie , it was an accident ... She didn't mean to . " Furious , I slapped Yvette hard across the face . " That was my ring ! Who said you could take it ? Who said you could throw it away ?! " That ring held all my dreams about love . It carried my whole youth . And just like that , she destroyed it . Before Yvette could even speak , Darian shoved me hard to the floor . " It's just a stupid ring ! It's gone , but so what ? Why did you hit her ? " I'll buy you ten rings to make up for it , okay ? Now get out of here !" 08:42 Chapter 4 288 Vouchers I lay there in shock , pain burning across my back . Tears slipped down my cheeks before I even realized . He was right about one thing - Yvette wasn't the problem . The real betrayal had always been Darian . He basked in my love , yet could never choose me over her . And now , I was the one left broken , humiliated , discarded , All those years , all those memories , every dream tied to that ring - just illusions . And now even my last illusion was gone . When Darian reached out , whispering , " Roxie , I went too far . Don't cry , I'll get the ring back , " I shoved his hand away . Slowly , I rose to my feet , my tears finally gone . I looked straight at Yvette , who was smiling like she had already won . My voice was calm , razor- sharp . " Keep it . I don't want it anymore . " Then I turned my back on them . In the rearview mirror , I saw what I needed to see - Darian holding her close , kissing her like I'd never existed . That was the moment I let go . I went home , hugged my parents goodbye , and carried my luggage to the airport . With ten minutes left until the wedding that would never be , I boarded my flight . As the plane climbed higher , Darian's call lit up my phone . His voice was full of warmth and promises . " Roxie , don't be mad . Tomorrow you'll be my beautiful bride . I'll only love you from now on . I'll take you abroad . We'll be happy , I swear- ' I didn't answer . I just hung up . " From this moment on , Darian ... " I whispered , staring out at the clouds . " We're strangers . "