Chapter 5
At lunch, I returned to pack up my desk.[]
The small planetary paperweight sitting there was a graduation gift from Ryan. He’d told me I was his entire universe when he gave it to me []
I laughed bitterly at the memory but took it anyway.[]
As I was about to leave with my box of belongings, Chloe rushed in, looking distressed.[]
“I’m so sorry to interrupt, everyone, but my diamond necklace has gone missing. Would you all mind if security does a quick check?”
The office immediately buzzed with gossip.
“I saw that necklace this morning–that diamond was huge!“]]
“Someone probably saw it and got greedy. We might have a thief among us!“]
No wonder my snacks keep disappearing from my desk!“||
Ryan appeared with security guards who blocked the exits. They began searching everyone’s belongings one by one.
When my turn came, I set down my box and cooperated. Ryan immediately spotted the planetary paperweight on top. He hesitated for a second, then ordered security to dump out all my things.
Everything crashed to the floor. The paperweight shattered completely–just like our six–year relationship.
As security rummaged through my scattered belongings, Chloe suddenly gasped, “My necklace!“[]
All eyes turned toward me as whispers filled the room.
“Can you believe it? Evelyn stole the new director’s necklace!“]
“If Ryan hadn’t blocked the exits, she would’ve gotten away with it!“]
“I always thought she was sketchy. Talk about petty revenge for losing a promotion!“]
My face went pale. I hadn’t touched Chloe’s necklace–someone must have planted it among my things while I was submitting my resignation.[]
Ryan’s face turned stony as he picked up the diamond necklace from the pile of my belongings.
He looked at me with utter disappointment. “Evelyn-“]]
He shouted my name while standing on my scattered possessions, deliberately grinding the fragments of the paperweight under his heel.]
Before I could speak, Ryan slapped me hard across the face. “Apologize to Chloe! Why would you steal her necklace?“[]
In that moment, something inside me died completely.
There he stood, holding a necklace worth thousands that he’d given Chloe, while crushing underfoot a cheap trinket he’d once given me.]
Tears sprang to my eyes–not from the public humiliation, but from the realization that after six years together, Ryan wouldn’t even give me the benefit of the doubt.
He didn’t believe me.
When I remained silent, he dragged me like garbage in front of Chloe, demanding, “I said apologize! Explain why you stole it!”
Chloe’s eyes flashed with triumph before she quickly furrowed her brow in mock concern, reaching down as if to help me up.
I pushed her hand away and stood on my own, tears streaming down my face but spine straight.
“I didn’t take it,” I said firmly. “Check the security cameras. I want to clear my name.“[]
I looked Chloe directly in the eyes. “Besides, a freakin‘ diamond necklace? As if I’d give a damn about that!“[]
