The Stolen Heart

David returned from his business trip and slid a velvet box across the marble table.
Inside nestled a pink diamond.
My fingertips trembled slightly, but I kept my voice casual. Youve always only bid on top-tier Pigeon Blood rubies. Since when did you develop a taste for pink diamonds?
The hand loosening his tie froze. He snatched the box back, forcing a laugh. "Wrong one. Thats for Phillip. He asked me to pick up an engagement ring for his girlfriend."
He leaned down, pressing a kiss to my forehead, his tone dripping with practiced tenderness. "Only the finest rubies are worthy of you, Evelyn. Ill make it up to you next time."
A knot of unease tightened in my stomach.
The next day, I bumped into Phillips girlfriend at a charity gala. Feigning casual conversation, I smiled. "Congratulations, I hear bells are ringing. You must save me a glass of champagne at the wedding."
She froze, her face draining of color.
"Evelyn... Phillip and I broke up five months ago."

1
The smile on my face stiffened into a mask. My heart missed a beat.
I was reaching for my phone to demand an explanation from David when a girl in a simple white cotton dress walked into the high-end restaurant. She looked woefully out of place among the designer suits and silk gowns, her voice barely a whisper.
"Hello, Im here to pick up Mr. Sterlings lunch order."
Mr. Sterling. David.
I instinctively looked over.
Our eyes met, and panic flashed through hers. She quickly averted her gaze and stammered to the waiter, "Actually, never mind. Im the new intern at Sterling Corp. Mr. Sterling just messaged me with another task. Please deliver the lunch directly to the office tower."
Clutching her phone like a lifeline, she turned and hurried toward the exit.
I stared at her retreating figure.
She was quick on her feet, Ill give her that. Claiming to be an intern.
But she made a fatal mistake. David never hired female secretaries or personal assistants. And why would a regular intern be picking up his personal lunch?
More importantlywhy did she look at me with recognition?
Realization hit me cold and hard. I grabbed my bag and followed her.
She sensed me behind her, her pace quickening to a near run.
Luck wasn't on her side; not a single taxi was stopping.
I stood right behind her, watching the sweat mat the baby hairs at her temples. finally, she couldn't take the pressure. She spun around, biting her lip.
"Excuse me, do you need a cab too? If youre in a rush, you can take the first one."
She couldn't even meet my eyes.
I curved my lips into a faint smile, my gaze dropping to her hand.
There it was. A top-tier Pigeon Blood ruby ring, a vintage design from the British Royal collection. It was exactly my taste.
Back in university, David had sworn he would buy every ruby in the world for me. He said I was his sun, the most vibrant treasure in his life.
And this girl? There was no way she could afford a piece like that on an intern's salary.
Noticing my stare, she hid her hand behind her back.
"Staring is rude. If you don't stop, I'll call the police!"
She was trying to muster anger to cover her fear.
I laughed softly. "My apologies. I just have a weakness for rubies. Seeing a Royal collection piece in the wild... I got mesmerized."
I stepped closer. "I followed you because I recognized that ring from a recent London auction. Which family are you from? I dont recall seeing you at the debutante balls."
She forced a smile that looked more like a grimace. "I am... I..."
She couldn't get the words out.
"I'm Evelyn Sterling. David Sterling's wife. I'd love to make a new friend."
I extended my hand.
Cornered, she had no choice. Her hand trembled as she took mine. "Daisy. Daisy Brooks."
Got her.
I nodded politely, turned on my heel, and hailed the black town car that had just pulled up.
The moment the heavy door clicked shut, my face dropped. I dialed my best friend, Harper.
"I need a background check. Name is Daisy Brooks. Likely a fresh college grad."
"Also, pull Davids credit card statements from his trip to London. I want to know exactly what he bought at that charity auction."
Harper sounded groggy on the other end, woken from her beauty sleep. "Evie? What happened?"
I pressed my lips together, tasting bitterness. "I think David is keeping a pet student on the side."
Two hours later, the dossier landed in my inbox.
Davids paper trail was meticulous.
Daisy Brooks was a scholarship student funded by my charity foundation. David had invested in a "startup studio" for her. Every penny went through corporate accounts, handled by the foundation's staff.
On paper, they had zero contact. Just a benevolent donor and a lucky recipient.
And the ruby ring? The records showed it was won by a foreign buyer, not David.
But my grip on the phone tightened until my knuckles turned white.
The one thing she lied about was being a Sterling Corp intern.
I texted Harper again: Check the annual investment amount. And find out if she has any other sponsors.
I stared out the window at the concrete jungle of New York.
There are no coincidences in this world.
David, if I find out youve actually betrayed me...
I will take fifteen years of history and five years of marriage and grind them into dust with my own hands.

2
That evening, David came home with my favorite strawberry tart from the French bakery downtown.
He pulled me into a hug, burying his face in my neck.
"Darling, staying up late working on designs again? You work too hard. Maybe you should skip the competition this year."
He sounded so genuinely concerned.
But as he kissed my hair, I caught his eyes drifting toward my computer screen.
My heart plummeted.
"Why?" I looked up, feigning innocence, my finger tracing the innovative setting on the digital blueprint. "The 'Solaris' collection has been my baby for six months. You used to say I was radiant as the dawn. This collection is my fifth-anniversary gift to you."
Davids arm tightened around me. "Im just worried about your health. You've been feeling under the weather lately. Awards don't matter. You matter."
He kissed my forehead. His breath was warm, but beneath his expensive cologne, I caught itthe faint, cloying scent of gardenias.
The same cheap perfume Daisy wore.
Worried about my health? Bullshit.
I gently pushed him away, picking up a spoon. The sweet cream tasted like ash in my mouth.
"Well, if you're that worried... I suppose I don't have to enter under my own name..."
He missed the sarcasm entirely. His eyes lit up with relief.
"Exactly. Once you're rested, we can try for a baby. Evelyn, we've been married five years. It's time we had a family."
He glanced at my screen one last time before heading to the shower.
I stared at the single bite taken out of the tart, a dull ache spreading through my chest.
The next morning, Harper sent another file.
Daisy has no other backers. Sterling Corp gives her a stipend of 0-050k a year.
But heres the kicker: Shes registered for the 'A-List Design Awards.' Her studio doesn't have the capital or resources to produce a full high-jewelry set. If something fishy is going on, David will make a move soon.
I put a tracker on Davids movements.
Three days later, during his lunch break, he went to my private vault where I stored my raw gemstones. Then, he drove straight to Daisys shabby studio apartment.
When I checked the vault later, a raw, uncut ruby the size of an infant's fist was gone. Along with a set of rare yellow diamonds.
He wasn't just giving her the ring that was meant for me. He was tearing up the pavement of my road to pave hers.
The last shred of hope in my heart withered and died.
I sent the photos to Harper and told her to prep the lawyers.
Harper was livid. "That little rat. She can't design to save her lifeI've seen her portfolio. It's trash compared to yours. Evie, we are going to destroy her at the awards. Well make sure she never works in this town again."
A sudden, sickening thought struck me.
I stood up so fast my chair tipped over. I grabbed my keys and raced home.
The villa was silent. I crept toward my home office.
The door was ajar. No one was there.
My computer was cold, but the ergonomic chair was adjusted to a different height. I sat down and booted up the system.
Ruby and yellow diamonds...
Exact matches for the materials needed for the first piece in my "Solaris" collection.
I frowned. Was I being paranoid?
Then my eyes swept across the desk and locked onto something that made my blood freeze.
The silver frame holding a photo of David and me had been knocked face down.
And right there, on the polished mahogany desk where the frame used to stand, was a smudge. A handprint.
Small. Delicate. Fingers curled inward, as if gripping the edge of the desk in... ecstasy.
I stared at the mark. I scrubbed at it with my sleeve, but it felt like it was burned into the wood.
They were here.
On my desk.
Stealing my designs, laughing at me, faking love, and fucking right on top of my work.
My stomach violently rebelled. I stumbled into the en-suite bathroom, collapsing in front of the toilet, heaving until there was nothing left but bitter bile.
I splashed freezing water on my face, staring at the ghost in the mirror, forcing myself to wake up.

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