Chapter 1

After seven years of dating, my fiancé gave his family heirloom bracelet to his first love as a birthday gift. He said, "This jade bracelet has always been reserved for you. Only you deserve to wear it."

The first love shyly accepted it.

I immediately took off the engagement ring on my finger and placed it on her hand, "This ring suits you best too. Wishing you a lifetime of happiness and many children."

——

After chasing after Cody Mitchell for seven years, I've decided to give up now. I turned and walked out of the private room.

Just last night, when I learned Cody had taken the family heirloom bracelet symbolizing the identity of a daughter-in-law from his mother, I was so excited that I couldn't sleep.

I kept wondering when he planned to give it to me. Would it be a surprise?

But today, reality gave me a harsh slap. I'm truly tired of this relationship.

I took out my phone and called my manager, "Mr. Brooks, the opportunity you mentioned before about going overseas for advanced training, does it still available?"

Hearing my intent, Mr. Brooks sounded excited, "Of course, Elise. You have great talent in design. If you go overseas for training, you'll come back as at least a design director."

I said, "Mr. Brooks, I've made up my mind. I'll go with you."

"That's great! But what about your fiancé? Aren't you worried about a long-distance relationship?" Mr. Brooks asked.

I replied, "I've already decided to break up with him. I think it's time to focus on my career."

After hanging up, I immediately took off the uncomfortable high heels I was wearing and threw them into the trash.

Honestly, I never liked wearing high heels, but Cody did. He said women walking in high heels looked graceful and sexy.

Because of that one sentence, I wore high heels for seven years. I learned to cook for him, wore tight skirts he liked and kept my hair in long curls he admired. But starting today, I'll be myself.

I bought some casual clothes I liked and put them on, then got a fresh short haircut.

At that moment, Cody called me. He sounded unsteady as he said, "Where are you … Come back and make me some hangover soup … I feel awful …"

I snapped, "Why call me when you feel awful? Go find your side chick, Brittany!"

Cody couldn't hold his liquor well and always felt headache and uncomfortable after drinking. Because of this, I had specifically learned online how to make hangover soup. Whenever he came back drunk and had a bowl, he would feel much better.

I hung up the phone immediately and went to a hotel to have a good sleep. The next day, I returned home refreshed.

Since I'd already decided to break up, I thought it'd be better to talk face-to-face. When I opened the door, I saw Cody and Brittany eating breakfast sweetly together.

Even the ketchup on Brittany's lips was wiped off by him and sent into his own mouth. Yet when I was with him, if I accidentally used his fork, he would scold me harshly.

Seeing me, Cody frowned first, looking displeased and said, "Elise, who let you cut your hair? It looks so ugly."

"Is it that I became ugly after cutting my hair, or that I no longer look like a certain someone after cutting it?" I replied back.

Brittany Aston had long curls, tight skirts and high heels, a standard look. For years, Cody had treated me as Brittany's stand-in.

And I accepted it willingly, thinking that one day, I'd replace her in his heart. Now I finally understood that no matter how well I did or how closely I mimicked her, a stand-in would always be a stand-in.

As soon as the original returned, I immediately lost completely.

Chapter 2

Cody's tone faltered, with a hint of guilt, "What nonsense are you talking about now? Just treat it as nonsense."

Since I was about to leave anyway, I didn't want to engage in meaningless arguments with him. I grabbed my bag of clothes and walked past them straight into the house.

Barely two seconds after entering, Cody burst in angrily, "Elise, do you have any manners? Don't you see Brittany is here? Last night, when you didn't come home, it was Brittany who took care of me all night."

I looked at him with a faint smile. "You've already given her the family heirloom bracelet meant for a daughter-in-law, so of course, it's only right she takes care of you."

Cody grabbed my arm and started dragging me outside, "I haven't even settled the matter with you about Brittany's birthday party! Hurry up and apologize to her properly!"

He twisted my arm as he dragged me into the living room. Brittany's gaze fell on me, her eyes carrying a hint of triumph.

Releasing my arm, Cody turned to Brittany, his tone gentle, "Brittany, thank you for taking care of me last night. Elise is here specifically to apologize to you for what happened yesterday."

I glanced at her and asked calmly, "What exactly do I need to apologize for?"

Cody's expression darkened further. "Elise, you're truly unrepentant. Last night, at Brittany's birthday party, you gave her a cheap ring as a gift, who were you trying to disgust?"

I chuckled lightly, "Oh, so you also know that ring is cheap? That's the engagement ring you gave me. Did you forget?"

Cody paused and asked, "Engagement ring? I remember the ring I gave you wasn't this style."

I sneered, "Well, you should ask yourself where you bought a ring that changes color."

This ring was something Cody had purchased for 9.9 dollars with free shipping from a cheap shopping platform. A week after his proposal, I discovered the ring had started to discolor, so I asked him about it.

He told me bluntly, "This ring is from a cheap platform. It's a temporary compromise. When we're better off financially, I'll get you a big diamond ring."

I wore this 9.9 dollars ring year after year. Now, I realized how foolish I'd been to naively believe his words.

Perhaps recalling the origin of the ring, a trace of awkwardness flashed across Cody's face and even his anger subsided a bit.

But Brittany, standing by the side, spoke up, "Elise, the value of this ring isn't something that can be measured by its price. It's your engagement ring with Cody. How could you just give it away to someone else?"

As she spoke, Brittany placed the ring back in my hand. "You should keep it safe in the future and cherish Cody's gesture."

Cody's tone turned cold, "Exactly. No matter how cheap it is, it's the engagement ring I gave you. How could you give it away so casually?"

I sneered and retorted, "You could give away the family heirloom bracelet to someone else. Compared to that, what's an engagement ring?"

It was as if I'd hit a nerve. Cody immediately shouted at me, "Elise, why are you always fixated on other people's things? That's my bracelet. I can give it to whoever I want!"

Brittany looked aggrieved and said, "Cody, I told you that giving me this bracelet would upset Elise. Let me return it to you now."

She raised her hand to remove the bracelet, but Cody quickly grabbed her wrist to stop her, his voice as gentle as ever, "Brittany, I told you seven years ago that this bracelet was meant for you. Now, it's finally back where it belongs."

Chapter 3

I hurled the ring in my hand at Cody with force. "Then this ring is also back where it belongs."

Cody caught the ring with an unpleasant expression, "Elise, don't regret this later."

"I'll only regret not waking up sooner," I replied coldly.

Not wanting to stay and face them any longer, I walked out of the house with my phone in hand. Behind me, I heard Brittany's deliberate tone, "Cody, Elise is upset. You should go after her!"

Cody sneered, "Go after her? What a joke! She'll come crawling back to me in less than two days."

That was how it used to be. Every time Cody and I argued, I was always the one to compromise. But this time, I wouldn't turn back.

Seven days flew by. During this time, I was busy handling work transitions. Life felt fulfilling and hectic. Cody sent me two messages asking when I'd return, but I ignored them completely.

Just as I was eagerly planning for my overseas training, I discovered I was pregnant.

After the examination, the doctor cautioned me, "The fetus is not stable and there are signs of bleeding. I'll prescribe some medication to help you maintain the pregnancy. You need to rest and avoid overexertion."

I placed my hand on my abdomen, overwhelmed by a surge of emotions. Why did this have to happen now? If I'd found out about the pregnancy a week earlier, I would have been ecstatic.

I had always dreamed of having a child with Cody, someone who shared our blood, making us a real family. But now, I wasn't sure if I should keep the child or not.

At that moment, Cody called me, "Today is your birthday. I've arranged a party for you at the Orchard Hotel. Come and have dinner with me. Let's put the past behind us."

My heart wavered slightly. For the sake of the baby in my belly, I decided to give him one last chance. It was raining and the roads were congested, so I arrived a bit late.

I found the room number Cody had given me. As I pushed open the door, lively chatter reached my ears. Most of the people in the room were his friends, the same group that had attended Brittany's birthday party.

They had already started eating and even the cake on the side had a piece taken out of it. When they saw me standing at the door, everyone's attention turned to me and the atmosphere froze for a moment.

Cody frowned and said, "Why are you still standing there? Everyone's been waiting for you for ages."

I looked at him and sneered, "Waiting while eating already?"

Brittany chimed in gently, "I have a weak stomach and can't go hungry, so Cody let everyone have a few bites first."

I walked over, glanced at the table full of leftovers and said with a mocking tone, "A few bites? You sure have big appetites."

Catching the sarcasm in my words, Cody immediately showed his displeasure, "Elise, everyone went to great lengths to come here for your birthday. What's wrong with having a few bites of food? Who asked you to act so high and mighty, showing up so late!"

"I was late because …" Before I could finish, Cody interrupted. "Forget it. It's your birthday today and I don't feel like arguing with you."

He then tossed a box in front of me. "Here, your birthday gift. I spent ten thousand on it."

I opened the box to find a jade bracelet inside, but its quality and appearance were far inferior to the family heirloom bracelet he gave to Brittany.

But what mattered wasn't the bracelet itself, it was the meaning it carried.

Chapter 4

Seeing me remain silent, Cody assumed I was pleased. In his mind, someone like me, who wore a 9.9 dollars engagement ring for three years, should be content with a jade bracelet worth ten thousand.

Cody poured a glass of white liquor and handed it to me, "Drink this and it'll count as your apology to Brittany. We'll consider your rude behavior at her birthday party resolved." So, this was what he meant by letting it go?

The last shred of hope I had for him completely crumbled. I raised my hand and knocked the glass out of his hand, looking at him coldly, "Apologize to Brittany? Don't even think about it. Cody, we're done."

His friends, eager to fan the flames, chimed in, "Cody, you can't spoil her. Give her an inch and she'll forget who she is."

"Exactly! She used to follow you around like a lapdog. Today, you're throwing her a birthday party and giving her gifts and she dares to threaten you with a breakup?"

"Cody, if you don't put her in her place today, she'll walk all over you in the future."

Provoked by their words, Cody grabbed a bottle of white liquor from the table and strode toward me.

An uneasy feeling crept into my heart and I instinctively stepped back, "Cody, what are you doing?"

He reached me in a few steps, gripping my chin tightly. His voice was vicious, "Elise, you're drinking this whether you like it or not!"

"No, I …" The fiery liquor was forced into my mouth. I struggled desperately, but I couldn't fight his strength.

The liquor I couldn't swallow dripped down my chin and soaked into my clothes. Only when the entire bottle was emptied did he release me. I collapsed to the ground, disheveled and humiliated.

Cody glanced at me indifferently and said, "Elise, stop pretending. I know one bottle of liquor is nothing to you."

I looked at him with hatred. A sharp pain radiated from my lower abdomen, so intense I couldn't form a coherent sentence.

Suddenly, someone nearby screamed, "Blood! She's bleeding!"

Warm blood seeped from beneath me and I could feel the life inside me slipping away.

Cody finally realized I wasn't faking. In panic, he picked me up and asked, "Elise, what's wrong? Why are you bleeding so much all of a sudden?"

Using the last of my strength, I said, "Cody … you … killed … your own … child …"