The One That Got Away

Just as Justin proposed to me, a phone call interrupted him. Standing close by, I clearly heard the voice on the other end of the line. "Justin, I'm hurt. My leg hurts so much!" Justin snapped the ring box shut and looked at me. "Alice is injured. I'll have to do this another time." With those words, he sprinted away, leaving everyone around us staring in astonishment. I had never met Alice, but her presence lingered in every corner of our lives. At meals, Justin would mention her fondness for sweet desserts. When I dressed, I came to know her love for soft lavender hues. I argued, I wept, I lashed out, but Justin always countered with the same line. "You're so jealous. Everyone has their first love. She's my past, but you're my future." So, I turned to a man who had once called me his first love—Quentin—and made a bold proposition. "Let's get married."

The One That Got Away

Just as Justin proposed to me, a phone call interrupted him. Standing close by, I clearly heard the voice on the other end of the line. "Justin, I'm hurt. My leg hurts so much!" Justin snapped the ring box shut and looked at me. "Alice is injured. I'll have to do this another time." With those words, he sprinted away, leaving everyone around us staring in astonishment. I had never met Alice, but her presence lingered in every corner of our lives. At meals, Justin would mention her fondness for sweet desserts. When I dressed, I came to know her love for soft lavender hues. I argued, I wept, I lashed out, but Justin always countered with the same line. "You're so jealous. Everyone has their first love. She's my past, but you're my future." So, I turned to a man who had once called me his first love—Quentin—and made a bold proposition. "Let's get married."

Chapter 1 Chapter 1

Quentin Langley flew to my side that very night. “Did you really agree? You’re not teasing me, are you? When I first proposed the union of the Smiths and Langleys, you immediately ran off to Marina Sands, and the matter was left unresolved.” Looking at the man before me, whose cheeks were flushed with nervous excitement, I gently patted his hand and smiled faintly. “That one is an important matter. Prepare well for it. Once I’ve finished dealing with things in Marina Sands, I’ll return to Arcania to reunite with you.”“Thank you for giving me another chance. I thought you wouldn’t come back after leaving.” His eyes glistened, like those of a stray puppy longing for a home. After parting with Quentin, I immediately called a moving company to pack my belongings. Halfway through packing, Justin Nolan returned. He walked into the chaotic apartment, his voice low and angry. “What are you doing, Viola?” I set down the suitcase in my hands and gazed at the face that had captivated me for three years. “I’ve decided to return to Arcania,” I said. As though hearing the most absurd joke, Justin sneered dismissively. “Is this because I interrupted the proposal? Do you even realize Alice fell down the stairs in her rush to reach my proposal? She’s a dancer! Her legs mean everything to her.”“How is her injury?” I asked calmly. “She’s got a large bruise. She has a performance in a few days, and I hope it won’t affect her. This is all because of my proposal to you.” I laughed. “She called you away from your own proposal over a bruise? Is she some princess from a land far, far away?” Justin became furious at my words. “It was only a proposal. She might lose out on a flawless performance! She’s not like you—she’s a privileged heiress, an esteemed dancer. Stop making a scene and just wait obediently for the next proposal!” Wait obediently? Was I his pet? “There’s no need for another proposal right now. I want to go to Arcania and clear my head!” With that, I dragged my suitcase and headed straight for the door but Justin grabbed my hand firmly. “You’re not going back this time. You must accompany me to Alice’s performance.”“I’m not going.”“If you don’t, don’t expect to see your cats and dogs again.” After graduation, I had planned to open a veterinary clinic and had taken in many stray cats and dogs. To show his support, Justin had contributed half the investment. I didn’t need that half, but I didn’t want to reject his goodwill at the time. Who would’ve thought that what once symbolized love had become a tool to threaten me? Fearing he might give away my rescues, I reluctantly agreed. It was just a few more days, surely I could endure it for a little longer.

Chapter 2 Chapter 2

Alice Hunt’s performance was flawless. With her elegant grace, Alice resembled a white swan, and Justin’s gaze never left her. Quentin sent me a message: [Bring your little babies back to Arcania too. I’ll help you take care of them.] Tears welled up in my eyes. I hadn’t shed a tear even when Justin had called off his proposal. How wonderful it felt to be truly loved. After the performance came another celebration. By the third round of drinks, Collin Campbell, a mutual friend of Justin and myself, sighed quietly. “Even though Justin left to find his first love on the day of his proposal, I’m sure it was just a moment of confusion. He loves you, Viola. You should wait for him.” I slammed my glass down and fixed Justin with a sharp glare. “Even a meal can’t shut you up, can it? I’m done waiting.” As I watched Justin and Alice whispering sweetly in the distance, a bittersweet realization settled over me. How had I missed his true feelings during our three years together? Love couldn’t be hidden. He loved Alice. “I’m so sorry about what happened last time, Viola. I never intended to trouble Justin,” Alice said as she approached me. Her long black hair cascaded down her shoulders and back, and her lavender dress accentuated her ethereal appearance. She looked every bit like the quintessential first love of a romance trope. “It’s fine. As long as you’re happy,” I replied with a polite smile. After all, it would all be over soon. My indifferent response caused a subtle crack in Alice’s composed expression. Her face dimmed momentarily before brightening again. Finally, she raised her champagne glass to toast me, her slender, pale fingers adorned with none other than my engagement ring. “You!” I hissed, my chest tightening painfully. “Oh, this ring?” Alice laughed boldly, her voice filled with pride. “It’s a gift from Justin to celebrate my perfect performance. Isn’t it beautiful?”“Take it off! I searched high and low for that gemstone in Avani before I found it!” I had always loved the rich orange-pink hues of a fiery sunset. That love led me to Avani where I discovered the perfect gem and asked Justin to use it in his proposal. It symbolized purity and that purity was now ruined. “Yours? Did you engrave your name on the stone?” she asked, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “Viola,” Justin interjected, his tailored suit immaculate, hands casually tucked into his pockets. Bathed in the opulent glow of the crystal chandelier, he looked like a figure from a dream. “Alice really likes the ring, so I decided to give it to her. You don’t mind, do you?” The atmosphere turned cold instantly and the room plunged into silence. Our friends lowered their gazes, unwilling to meet mine. “You gave my engagement ring to another woman. How can I not mind it?” I asked, my voice sharp with restrained anger. “The gemstone isn’t worth that much. Next time, I’ll propose with a three-carat diamond,” he replied dismissively. “Return the stone to me. I paid for it myself. Then I’m going back to Arcania,” I said firmly. “Are you serious?” Justin’s tone turned cold as he straightened, the last hint of amusement fading from his face. “The Nolans are among the most prominent in Marina Sands. Where will you find a man better than me?” I rewarded him with a dramatic roll of my eyes. “If you insist on leaving, then I’m pulling my investment,” he said, his voice steely, his gaze condescending. “Without my money, let’s see how you’ll manage with all those animals you’ve taken in.”

Chapter 3 Chapter 3

This must be the difference between love and apathy, I thought to myself. Quentin had made arrangements to care for the cats and dogs I rescued, while Justin used their lives to threaten me. In Marina Sands, I had lived as an ordinary person. I had planned to wait for Justin’s proposal before revealing the truth to him. Losing half of an investment would spell disaster for anyone starting a business. Justin gently took Alice’s hand, his eyes filled with tenderness. “A gem this beautiful deserves to adorn the graceful hand of an artist. Look at your hands—short, stubby, and constantly in surgeries. “Who knows how much blood, waste, and filth they’ve touched? I can hardly stand holding them most of the time.” Unable to watch any longer, Collin stepped forward to mediate. “Those are hands that save lives. They’re the most beautiful of hands. Let’s step outside for a smoke, Justin.” As he left, Justin turned back to look at me. “Don’t overplay the hard-to-get act, Viola, or it’ll stop being fun.” Once they had gone, Alice ripped the ring off her finger and flung it to the ground with a loud clink. I hurriedly bent down to pick it up. Alice stood over me with an air of superiority. “You’re just a girl from a working-class family, Viola. In your lifetime, you never would’ve come into contact with people of our class. “Justin only noticed you because you look like me. Now that I’m giving him back to you, you’d better cherish him.” I straightened and studied her features carefully. She wasn’t wrong—we did look somewhat alike. So Justin’s attraction to me was because of this. “Let me guess,” she said, her voice trembling slightly. “Your favorite restaurant is The Chuchoter, your go-to walking spot is Coastal Lane, and the jewelry he buys for you is always from Tiffany’s, right?” Not a single detail was off. A sharp pain ran through my body. “How… how did you know?” I stuttered. Though I had already guessed the answer, I needed to hear it confirmed. “Because those are all the things I like,” Alice replied with a faint, mocking smile. “He’s only looking for glimpses of me in you.”“If you two like each other so much, then why aren’t you together?” I asked, bitterness creeping into my tone. Alice looked at me pitifully, her voice laden with feigned melancholy. “The Hunts are relocating to Arcania for business. To secure our position, I must marry into a prominent family there. My father has already chosen my match—the Langleys’ heir.”“Quentin Langley?” I asked. Alice’s gaze swept over me, cold and disdainful. “You seem to know a lot. But for someone like you, landing Justin is already a miracle in itself. “As for Quentin? That’s someone you could only dream of meeting.”

Chapter 4 Chapter 4

I had no words to respond to Alice’s statement. As we stood there, locked in a tense stalemate, my phone rang. It was Quentin. “Viola,” he said, his voice calm and reassuring. “All the rescues you adopted have safely arrived in Arcania. I plan to keep them at my estate for now. “Once you return, we can arrange for their permanent homes. By the way, is there anything I need to be aware of?”“Already?” I asked slightly in awe. “Heh, I had them flown in on my private jet.”“Marina Sands is warmer than Arcania. Make sure they stay warm so they don’t catch a cold.”“Understood!” Quentin chirped. That night, Justin’s attention was fully on Alice, so naturally, he did not care about the situation at the veterinary clinic. It was why I had asked Quentin to take all the rescues away that very evening. With them safely out of reach, there was no longer any need for me to pretend. I placed my glass down and was about to leave when Alice suddenly grabbed my hand. Then she raised her voice, “Oh, Viola, if you like the ring so much, I’ll take it off for you. There’s no need to try to pull it off! My hand hurts so much.” Her delicate brows furrowed, and her face flushed bright red, as though she had been deeply wronged. Justin, who had been outside the door, rushed over at the sound of the commotion. He looked at Alice and then at the ring in my hand. “How could you be so shameless, Viola?” he yelled in front of everyone. “You’re basically robbing someone right now! You really have no class. If you keep behaving like this, I’ll break up with you!” All eyes in the room turned to me—confusion, disdain, disgust — like sharp daggers, each one digging deep into my heart. I had lost the last shred of dignity I shared with Justin. I gazed at the man I had loved for so long, tears streaming down my face. How much better would it have been if I had just started dating Quentin from the beginning? How could I have wasted my youth on such a scumbag? Collin, who had always played the peacemaker, fell silent. He gently patted my back and handed me a tissue to wipe away my tears. I smiled at him gratefully. We were not very close, but I knew he wouldn’t treat me the way Justin did. “We’ve been together for three years, and in your eyes, I’m just a shameless woman who steals rings?” I asked, my voice shaking. “Why don’t you trust me? Why do you only listen to her?” Justin studied my expression closely as if trying to uncover the truth. “Alice is different from you. She’s from a prestigious family, the daughter of a wealthy family. You’re from an ordinary background—” What a laughable worldview. “So, are rich people always good and poor people always bad? How ridiculous! You’re a joke! Everything about you!” I exploded. “You waver in your feelings and have no clear understanding of the world. Without your looks and wealth, you’re nothing but a fool!”“Shut up!” Justin shouted, taken aback by my words. He had turned red with anger and glared at me fiercely. I held back my tears, trying to speak as calmly as possible. “The gemstone on this ring is mine, and I want it back. You can keep the band.” Justin turned his head away with a cold grunt. “Fine.”“Great, I’ll contact the jeweler.” I immediately reached out to the jeweler and explained the situation. He replied almost instantly. “On my way. I’ll be there within 30 minutes.” After a moment’s thought, I added, “And bring the design sketches for my ring too.”

Chapter 5 Chapter 5

After I agreed to marry Quentin, the first thing he did upon arriving in Marina Sands was to find me. The second thing was to track down the most famous jewelry designer in the country to custom-make a ring for me. To facilitate the communication, the designer and I exchanged phone numbers. During the wait, Justin tenderly blew on Alice's hand as he comforted her. “That worthless stone of hers doesn’t matter. If you wear it, you’ll only lower your status. Don’t worry, I’ll go to Tiffany's and bid on a bespoke gemstone for you.” Then Justin glanced at me with disdain. “Poor people are just pathetic, never having seen anything of value. They treat trash as treasure, with no class at all,” he said sarcastically. I wasn’t about to back down. “Yes, you’re right. I’ve had bad taste, mistaking trash for treasure. But now, I see things clearly. Trash belongs in the trash can, surrounded by other trash, so it doesn’t stink up the place.”“You!” Justin heard the underlying meaning in my words and pointed at me, warning me to shut up. I smiled. “Oh Justin, I’m talking about trash, not you. Don’t take it so personally.” Before things could escalate again, Collin stepped in. “Everyone’s watching. If someone records this and posts it online, it won’t be good for any of us.” Only then did Justin reign in his anger before turning around to soothe Alice. The jeweler arrived quickly. He opened his toolkit and, with expert precision, separated my gemstone from its band in just a few swift moves. “Here, your band. We’re even now.” I tossed the ring to Justin. He didn’t catch it and let it fall to the floor. Grinding his teeth, he said, “You’ve gone too far. Since you’ve taken this ring apart, I won’t prepare another one for you. Next time I propose, I’ll use a pull tab from a soda can instead.” The jeweler, having a good feel of the situation, turned to me. “Miss Viola, I’ve finished the conceptual drawing of your ring. Please take a look and see if there’s anything you’d like to modify.” He pulled out a hand-drawn sketch from his toolkit. The ring in the drawing sparkled brilliantly, clearly a piece of great value. Justin noticed the drawing and immediately snapped at me. “You have no shame! You dared to design such an expensive ring for yourself. Let me make it clear: I won’t waste money on such a thing for you. After your behavior today, you don’t deserve anything of such value!” Alice walked over to the drawing and lifted it delicately to examine it. She then turned to the jeweler. “This is a beautiful design. Can you make it for me? Justin, would you buy it for me as a gift?”“Of course. You’re my goddess. You deserve it,” Justin answered with a mocking smile, still looking at me. The jeweler awkwardly scratched his head. “I’m sorry, this design was custom-made for Miss Viola. It’s not available for anyone else to purchase.”“Custom-made? You’ve been deceived. She’s just a poor woman who clawed her way up to the Nolans’ young heir. “Now that Justin doesn’t want to buy it for her, you’ve wasted your effort designing it for nothing. Why not give it to me instead?” The jeweler furrowed his brows in confusion as he looked at her. “Mr. Langley has already paid me in full. There’s no question of being deceived.”“Mr. Langley? What are you up to, Viola?” Justin asked in confusion. “Mr. Quentin Langley, the heir of Langley Corporation.”“Ah, the Langley Corporation,” Justin echoed as he let out a sigh of relief. “Well mister, you’ve really been deceived. My girlfriend is a nobody. How could she possibly be in contact with someone from the Langleys? Please be careful with this one.” The jeweler didn’t respond. Instead, he lowered his head and quietly tapped his phone. Others in the room began to whisper among themselves. “The Langley Corporation? She doesn’t even try to hide her lies. She doesn't know her place, and now she’s dragging the Langleys into this.” Alice covered her mouth and smiled slyly. “Quentin Langley is my future husband. If you somehow bagged him, Viola, I’ll jump off this balcony.” The jeweler raised his head and displayed his phone screen to the crowd. “Miss Viola is not lying. The money has already been transferred to my account—five million in total. The bank can’t be lying too, can it?” The amount shown in his banking account was difficult to falsify, and the room immediately went quiet. I decided it was time to stop pretending. With a bright smile, I announced, “As you can see, on the 15th of this month, I will be hosting an engagement ceremony with Quentin Langley in Arcania. “You’re all welcome to attend. We will provide access to a private jet and wine.”“You’ve got balls, Viola. What are you playing at? I don’t know how you’re faking this, but by coincidence, Alice has a ball in the capital on the 15th. “We’ll drop by to see if you’re really getting engaged to Quentin Langley,” Justin said. He still doubted her. That evening, before Justin returned, I quickly packed up my things and moved into a hotel.