In our circle, Bob Bright and I were the golden couple, the one everyone knew was meant to be. But one month before our wedding, he called it off. He was going to marry Amy Reed, a scholarship student my parents had sponsored. When I confronted him, his excuse was pathetic. “If I don’t marry her, she’ll be forced to marry that paraplegic her family arranged for her.” He had the audacity to look at me with pleading eyes. “Sienna, you’ve always been the kindest person I know. You understand, don’t you?” “Fine,” I said, my voice flat. “I agree.” Relief washed over his face. Bob leaned in and pressed a kiss to my cheek, then pulled me into a hug. “I knew you would. Don’t worry, Sienna. As soon as this is all over, I’ll divorce her and come back to you.” I gently pushed him away, wiping the lingering dampness from my skin, and pulled an invitation from my pocket. He took it, his smile bright until he read the names engraved on the card. Then, his face froze. 1. “Sienna Williams… what… what is this?” “It’s written right there,” I said, my expression unreadable. I offered no explanation. He flipped the invitation over and over, his confusion turning to a cold sneer. “Is this a joke, Sienna? It’s not funny.” “Very convincing performance,” he continued, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Scheduling your fake wedding for the same day as mine. And to Damian Thorne, of all people.” “I know you’re still angry with me, but I’ve been perfectly clear. I’m just helping Amy out of a jam, and then it’s over. Is it really so hard for you to show a little understanding?” Just as he finished his rant, a soft knock came at the door. Amy entered, her eyes red and puffy from crying. “Bob,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “Maybe… maybe we should just forget it. It’s okay if I have to marry him… It’s just that… I…” A wave of pity crossed Bob’s face. He moved to her side, patting her back gently. “Don’t even think that,” he soothed, his voice impossibly tender. “I promised I would help you, and I will.” I had no interest in watching this melodrama unfold. I had delivered the invitation, but I had one last piece of business at his company. I walked around them and out of the office. “Sienna, where are you going?” Bob called after me. I didn’t answer. I could hear Amy’s soft, wounded voice behind me, followed by Bob’s hushed murmurs of comfort. He wasn’t coming after me. Even though I had already made my decision to let him go, the reality of it still stung. Bob and I had grown up together, our friendship seamlessly blossoming into love. Our families were close, and they had started planning our wedding the moment we were old enough. But Bob was fiercely ambitious. For years, he’d used his company’s growth as an excuse to postpone our marriage. At first, I was his biggest supporter. I even put my own family’s business on the back burner to come and help him build his empire. Everyone in our circle envied us. We were the couple they all wanted to be. Until Amy showed up. My parents had sponsored her after a near-accident on the way to the airport. They saw how hardworking and honest she seemed, and her family was genuinely struggling. They never imagined they were funding a viper. After graduating, she got a job at Bob’s company. They didn’t interact much at first, not until she came to our house one evening to borrow money from my parents. Her father, she claimed, had a medical emergency. Bob overheard and, without a second thought, gave her the cash. Soon after, he promoted her to be his personal secretary. As they spent more time together, I noticed their relationship growing closer, more intimate. They started spending time alone, without me. I remember at the company’s annual gala not long ago, Amy was plastered to Bob’s side, laughing at something he’d said. I stepped in. “We’re engaged, Bob,” I reminded him quietly. “If people see you this close to Amy, the gossip will make it impossible for her to find a boyfriend later on.” Amy looked up at me, her face a mask of wounded innocence. “Sienna, I know you’re Bob’s fiancée. But I’m his secretary. We have a purely professional, friendly relationship. How could you think something so… sordid?” Purely friendly? Anyone with eyes could see she was playing a game. But Bob, instead of creating distance, turned on me. “Sienna, why do you always have to make things so ugly?” he snapped. “Do you have any idea how hard Amy has been working? She just got this promotion, and people are already trying to sabotage her. I was just offering some support. Is that a problem?” He shot me a look of pure annoyance. “If our families hadn't arranged our engagement, did you really think I would have chosen to marry you?” I froze, watching them walk away together. In that moment, I knew it was over. The sweet nothings he used to whisper in my ear were just echoes now. The adoration that once filled his eyes was now reserved for someone else. I could hear the whispers of the other guests. “What’s Bob Bright doing with that little secretary? Isn’t he about to marry Sienna Williams?” “Are you blind? Who could put up with Sienna’s temper? The secretary is so sweet and gentle.” “But their engagement is public knowledge. The Williams family promised an entire subsidiary company as a dowry.” “If he calls it off, the Williams will be completely humiliated.” Even strangers could see the writing on the wall. I’m sure Bob could too. The simple truth was, he didn’t love me anymore. And now, I was fine with that. I dropped off my resignation letter with HR and headed for the elevator. As I passed the emergency exit, I heard voices from behind the door. Through the small glass window, I saw them. Amy was nestled in Bob’s arms, gazing at him with pure adoration. The look he gave her back was anything but innocent. She tilted her head up, offering her lips. Bob’s eyes glazed over. For a second, a flicker of reason seemed to hold him back, and he pushed her away slightly. “Amy, we can’t… we…” But before he could finish, her mouth was on his. He resisted for a moment, then melted into the kiss, pulling her closer. They clung to each other like two parched travelers finding an oasis. “Oh, Bob,” she breathed, “I’m sorry, I just can’t control myself. I love you so much. I only wish I’d met you sooner.” “Amy, I…” I didn’t need to hear the rest. I glanced down at the ring on my finger, the one Bob had made himself when he proposed on my eighteenth birthday. It meant nothing now. I slipped it off and dropped it into the trash can by the elevator. The doors opened, and I turned to find Bob standing there, his eyes blazing with anger. “Sienna, did you just quit?” I shot him a sidelong glance and jabbed the ‘close door’ button. He lunged forward, squeezing in just before the doors shut. “The company is in a critical growth phase! It’s almost the end of the year, where am I supposed to find a replacement on such short notice?” “You have Amy, don’t you?” I said coolly. He had praised her work ethic to me more than once. Now was her chance to shine. An uncomfortable look flashed across his face. “Amy’s capable, yes, but the company still needs you,” he said after a pause. “Are you still mad? Sienna, I’ve told you a dozen times, I’m only marrying her to fool her parents. I swear, the moment it’s resolved, I’ll divorce her.” I was tired of hearing it. Ding. The elevator arrived at the underground parking garage. I strode out, quickening my pace. Bob hurried after me, but I was faster. I reached my car, unlocked it, and slid inside, pulling away just as he reached for the handle. “Sienna Williams, you’ll regret this!” he shouted after me. “Do you think the Williams family can maintain its standing without me?” My parents had worked themselves to the bone for years, but now they were older, and the company was struggling. Bob had been using that as leverage, holding it over my head again and again. He seemed to forget that if I hadn’t joined his company to save it from the brink of collapse, I would have taken over my own family’s business years ago. It was the Bright Corporation that had been failing before I stepped in. After I officially took over Williams Industries, I was busier than ever, with no time to even think about Bob. Until a party brought us all back into the same room. I rarely attended such events, but as the new CEO, I needed to network. Unsurprisingly, Bob and Amy were there. While Bob was busy charming some heiresses, Amy sidled up to me. “So what if you grew up with him, Sienna?” she sneered. “In the end, he’s marrying me.” With that, she "tripped," sending her glass of red wine splashing all over her own dress. The glass shattered on the floor. Right on cue, Bob appeared, gently brushing shards of glass from her clothes. Amy shot me a triumphant look before turning her tear-filled eyes to Bob. “Bob, don’t blame Sienna. I’m sure she didn’t mean to do it.” Bob glared at me, his face a mask of fury. “Haven’t you had enough, Sienna? Are you still playing these childish games? Do you think this is going to win me back? I’m warning you, if you ever lay a hand on Amy again, I won’t care about the history between our families.” I laughed. I walked toward them, my eyes locked on his. “Lay a hand on her?” I said, my voice dangerously low as I stopped in front of Amy. “Watch closely. This is laying a hand on her.” I raised my hand and slapped her, hard, across the face. “Do you see the difference now?” I asked, my voice ringing with cold finality. “Consider that my wedding gift. A long and happy life to you both.” Bob stood there, stunned into silence, long after I had walked away. The next day, I went directly to the city’s most exclusive bridal couture and jewelry designer. Because Bob had always been “too busy,” I had handled all the wedding preparations myself. To protect his fragile ego, I had even commissioned a magnificent heirloom-style tiara. And because I had a fondness for historical fashion, I had a custom, hand-embroidered gown made. Now that the wedding was off, I was here to reclaim my things. The boutique owner looked deeply uncomfortable. “Mr. Bright already picked up the gown and the tiara,” she stammered. “He had the order form… we assumed you were too busy and had sent him…” Of course. He chose this exact moment to collect them. His intentions were obvious. I could write off the gown as a loss, but the tiara was non-negotiable. It was set with a priceless, heirloom Williams family sapphire, a stone that was literally irreplaceable. I called him. His response was a thinly veiled threat. “You want the tiara back? Fine. But you know that project your parents just partnered with us on? There seem to be some… complications.” He was threatening me. I let out a cold laugh. His tone softened. “Sienna, it’s not like you need this one tiara. When we get married, I’ll have a new one made for you. Just let Amy have this one. I just want her to have a respectable wedding.” This time, his sheer nerve actually made me laugh out loud. Hearing my silence, he pressed on. “Sienna, our wedding is just around the corner. If you’d like to come…” “No, thank you,” I cut in. “I don’t think I’ll have the time.” “Busy with what?” he asked, a hint of confusion in his voice. “My parents are planning my wedding,” I said calmly. “Oh. I see. Well, that’s for the best,” he said, misinterpreting completely. “You always were the thoughtful one. Okay, I’ll adjust the wedding schedule accordingly.” Before I could correct him, he hung up. It didn’t matter. There was only one thing on my mind: getting that sapphire back. And I knew just the people to handle it. Our weddings were set for the same day. Early that morning, a procession of hundreds of luxury cars snaked through the city streets, heading for my family’s estate. The route took us directly past the hotel where Bob and Amy were getting married. As our fleet of Rolls-Royces and Bentleys glided by, I saw her. Amy, stepping out of her wedding car, wearing my custom gown and… my family’s sapphire tiara. She was nestled against Bob’s side, beaming, soaking in the envy of the crowd. But in the next second, the triumphant smiles on both their faces froze.
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