Chapter 2Marry Rich? Nah. Get Rich.

I continued, "It was wishful thinking of me to believe we'd be together for life.

"But I've finally figured it out. I'm tired, and I don't want to spend the rest of my life being tested just because I grew up poor.

"Let's break up. You can find someone who doesn't need to prove her feelings are real, and I'll find someone who doesn't need to test mine.

"It works out for both of us."

Julian's frown deepened the more I talked. When he saw me yanking the diamond ring off my finger, he looked outright stunned.

He reached out to stop me, but it was too late. I'd already pulled off the ring that had chained me down for far too long and thrown it back at his chest.

I gave a careless wave goodbye.

"Julian and Debbie, goodbye.

"I hope I never see either of you again. May the two of you, a bitch and a fool, live happily ever after."

…

I walked straight to the door and stepped out into the fresh air. That was when I finally felt like I'd been reborn.

Behind me, Julian came running after me, out of breath, the ring clutched in his hand. He caught my sleeve.

He looked up at me with those wide, innocent eyes.

"Katie, don't go. Our wedding is tomorrow.

"Whatever you're upset about, now isn't the time for it. Stop being ridiculous and take the ring back.

"As for Debs, if you really don't like her, fine, I won't let her be your bridesmaid. Is that better?"

I used to be completely in love with those clear, innocent eyes of his. Now, all I saw looking into them was an endless stretch of suffocating darkness.

Disgusted, I wrenched my hand free.

"No. Debbie is going to be your bridesmaid. Not mine. I just told you clearly, we're done. The wedding is off. Everything about your wedding has nothing to do with me anymore."

Caught off guard by how hard I'd pulled away, Julian fumbled and lost his grip. The ring, worth a fortune, rolled across the ground and dropped straight into a black storm drain.

Debbie, who'd caught up right behind him, saw the whole thing happen. She planted her hands on her hips and glared at me.

"Well, look at that, Katie. You lost the three-million-dollar diamond ring Julian bought at auction. If you can't pay for it, you can rot in prison!"

But Debbie hadn't counted on me being faster than her. I already had my phone out, dialing for help.

"Hello, 911? I need to report a crime. Someone's trying to scam me by claiming a cubic zirconia ring is worth three million dollars.

"Yes, they're trying to extort three million dollars out of me as compensation. The address is... please send someone as soon as you can."

Julian broke into a cold sweat and tried to grab the phone out of my hand, talking fast.

"Katie, Debs was just joking around with you. There's no need to waste the police's time.

"That ring was yours anyway. Since it fell down the drain, I'll just buy you another one. There's no reason to make such a big deal out of this."

Debbie shut her mouth at that, her face turning bright red. After a long pause, she finally choked out, "Julian's right. I was just messing around."

I held up my phone and played back the recording I'd just made, looping Debbie's own words for everyone to hear. The two of them, guilty written all over their faces, both spoke up at once.

"Right, well, I don't like people joking around with my innocence.

"If it really was a diamond ring, I'll pay for exactly what it's worth. But if it wasn't, then congratulations, you've earned yourself a few free years in prison for extortion and fraud.

"The police are already here. Might as well let them sort it out at the station."

Julian watched the sound of the sirens grow closer and closer. Finally, he made up his mind, snatched the phone out of my hand, and smashed it on the ground.