Chapter 3
The air in the study turned to ice.
I slowly turned around, my gaze sweeping past Vanessa’s smug face and landing squarely on Julian Sterling.
“This is your decision?”
He stood there, his expression shifting uneasily.
His lashes quivered. His eyes started to drift.
And then… he looked away.
That moment of silence said more than any words ever could.
Mr. Sterling suddenly slammed the desk with a loud crack. “Enough of this nonsense! Noelle’s lived with us for twenty
years. Even if she’s not your wife, she’s still part of this family!”
“Dad!” Julian finally spoke. “Vanessa’s right. Since we’ve made a choice, it’s only fair to make a clean break.”
I looked at him-and smiled.
That calm, unfazed smile made Julian visibly flinch.
“Mr. Sterling,” I said, my voice cool and composed, “if that’s Julian’s decision, I’ll respect it.”
I looked around the room, slowly meeting everyone’s eyes, and landed back on him.
Julian instinctively turned his head away. His fingers twisted at the hem of his sleeve, nervous and agitated.
“In that case,” I said quietly, “there are some things we should clear up.”
The study fell dead silent.
“I started managing the jewelry division when I was eighteen. It’s been five full years now.”
Vanessa scoffed.
Julian silenced her with a single glare.
“In the first year, I designed a national award-winning collection. Revenue hit $60 million. Net profit: $8 million.”
“In the second year, we won international acclaim. Revenue: $100 million. Net profit: $12 million.”
“In the third year, I led Sterling Jewelry into the North American markets…”
I listed each milestone, one by one. And with every figure, Mr. Sterling’s face grew darker and more grim.
“All told, in five years, I brought in over $200 million in net profit for the Sterling family.”
Julian bit down on his lower lip.
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Of course he knew what those numbers meant.
Sterling Group had only climbed into the ranks of New York’s elite because of those projects I built from the ground up.
“You took me in for twenty years. I gave you back $200 million.”
My voice never once wavered. “I’d say we’re even.”
“You owe me nothing, and I owe you nothing.”
“I’m leaving with nothing. From this moment on, we’re done.”
Vanessa suddenly let out a mocking laugh. “Oh, please. You call this leaving with nothing?”
She marched up to me and yanked at the hem of my dress.
“This custom couture alone is worth six figures, isn’t it?”
She grabbed my sleeve and pulled, revealing my Richard Mille watch.
Tsk tsk. This watch? Easily one figures.”
Then she dug into my purse and pulled out my car keys.
“And let’s not forget the limited edition sports car-what, one million dollars?”
“Every single thing on you was paid for with Sterling money.”
I didn’t resist her rough hands or the humiliation.
I only stared at Julian.
His fingernails dug deep into his palms, but he said nothing.
“Julian,” I asked softly, “did our years together mean absolutely nothing to you?”
His lashes trembled. He opened his mouth.
But nothing came out.
I thought, after living a second life, I would’ve let it all go.
But in this moment, it still felt like someone had carved a chunk out of my heart-raw, aching, unbearable.
I took a deep breath and began unbuckling the watch from my wrist.
The click of the metal clasp echoed sharply in the dead silence of the room.
“Noelle!” Mr. Sterling bolted upright. “You don’t have to do this!”
“Mr. Sterling,” I said gently, cutting him off.
“A rule is a rule.”
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My bag. My watch. My heels.
One by one, I removed them and folded them neatly on the floor.
Even the stockings came off. I stood barefoot on the cold marble tiles, spine straight.
Vanessa’s face gleamed with the thrill of victory.
Julian looked pale.
When I started unfastening the buttons on my dress, he finally flinched and turned away.
“That’s enough!” Mr. Sterling shouted, his voice hoarse with fury.
“Noelle, stop!”
I calmly folded the dress and placed it on top of my bag.
“From now on, I’m just me.”
“My name is Noelle Hart. And I am no longer the Sterling family’s little orphan bride.”
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