Chapter 91 Cutting All Ties
Sonya’s face burned with shame and fury as she exclaimed, “Chloe, everyone knows I’m the one who saved Curtis! You can’t just tarnish my reputation like this!”
“Tarnish your reputation? Please. You’re not even worth the effort,” Chloe shot back, yanking Sonya toward the shore before shoving her hard.
Sonya tumbled onto the sand, her body, face, and hair instantly coated in sand. Her drenched clothes clung to her pitifully, making her look utterly disheveled.
Chloe’s clothes were damp as well, yet she remained perfectly calm and composed, showing not the slightest trace of unease.
“It’s no use, Chloe. Curtis believes me!” Sonya shot to her feet, turning toward him. “Curtis, tell her! Am I right?”
Curtis blinked as if snapping out of a daze. Meeting Sonya’s hopeful gaze, he clenched his jaw and said firmly, “Yes. I believe Sonya.”
Hadn’t he already decided to trust her long ago?
Relief washed over Sonya, and she smirked at Chloe. “See? Curtis is on my side. All you’ve done is make a fool of yourself. Now, hand back my emerald ring. Stop acting like some petty thief who takes what doesn’t belong to her!”
“Curtis bought this ring with our shared marital assets. So, tell me, who’s the real thief here?” Chloe sneered. “Sonya, let me make this clear! From now on, anything Curtis bought you during our marriage without my consent, I’ll take back the moment I see it.”
Sonya was stunned. She never expected Chloe to say something like that. After their last clash, everyone knew Chloe meant exactly what she said.
Sonya wanted to fire back, but the sight of onlookers whispering and pointing at her forced her into silence.
After all, every piece of jewelry Curtis had given her while still married belonged to Chloe by right, and no matter how she spun it, she was in the wrong.
Chloe approached Curtis with a calm expression. “You said you wanted to end things with me. So where’s the wedding ring?”
Curtis was taken aback. Slowly, he opened his hand to reveal the two cheap wedding bands he had been clutching all along.
Chloe glanced at them and let out a soft laugh. She laughed at her own foolishness for ever mistaking Curtis for a good man. She laughed at herself for giving so much to someone who had never truly trusted her.
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Taking the rings from his hand, she hurled them into the sea. It was swift and decisive.
The rings disappeared beneath the surface, carried away by the restless waves.
“You!” Curtis was stunned to see Chloe toss the rings away without a shred of hesitation, as though she were throwing out nothing more than garbage.
He couldn’t help but wonder what it had all meant, all the time he had spent carrying those rings with him.
Just then, Chloe’s voice brushed against his ear. “Curtis, this is it. We’re done.”
He looked up sharply, his eyes blank as they fixed on her.
Without hesitation, Chloe turned to leave, not sparing him a single glance.
Curtis instinctively reached out to stop her, but Brian swatted his hand aside.
“You don’t have that right anymore,” he said, following after Chloe.
Curtis watched them disappear into the distance. His gaze dropped to his empty hand.
The rings that had once rested in his palm were gone. A hollow ache coursed through him, making it clear that what he had lost was more than just rings.
Since her clothes were damp, Chloe went to the lounge to change. Fortunately, she had brought a spare outfit, so it didn’t take long.
When she stepped back out, she found Brian still waiting by the door.
“Why are you-”
“I’m waiting for you.” His simple reply said it all.
“We’ve already lost some time. The groundbreaking ceremony is about to begin. Let’s head over.”
Brian nodded, and together they made their way to the ceremony.
Along the way, he asked, “Are you really done with Curtis?”
“What else would I be?” Chloe replied. “Honestly, whether I threw those rings away or not, I was already done with him.”
The moment she had left the rings on the nightstand when moving out of the villa, it had been clear. She no longer needed the rings and no longer held onto their marriage. She just never expected Curtis to bring them here.
“Is that so? That’s good then,” Brian said, a faint smile flickering in his eyes, softening their usual coldness.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Sonya showered and changed, still caught in a storm of distress. When she
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Chapter 91 Cutting All Ties
stepped out of the bathroom, she found Curtis sitting on the sofa, staring intently at his palm.
“Curtis, what are you thinking about?” Sonya asked.
“Oh, nothing!” Curtis snapped back to his senses, quickly tucking his hand away. Looking at her with concern, he asked, “Are you alright?”
“This is all Chloe’s fault. She practically wants me dead! Stealing my necklace was one thing, but now she’s after the ring you gave me too!” Sonya said bitterly.
“I’ll buy you a better one in the future,” Curtis promised.
Sonya’s expression softened a little.
Then he suddenly asked, “Sonya, why did you panic in the ocean earlier? I thought you were a strong
swimmer.”
After all, she had managed to pull a grown man like him out of a river years ago.
A flicker of unease crossed Sonya’s face. “Are you saying you don’t believe me? Do you think I wasn’t the one who saved you back then?”
“No, I’m not doubting you. I’m just confused, that’s all.” Curtis replied quickly.
“It all happened so suddenly, and I haven’t swum much since going abroad. I just couldn’t react in time,” Sonya said, irritation clear in her voice. “If you really doubt me, then don’t treat me like your savior. I told you from the very start, I didn’t expect anything in return, especially when you had nothing back then.”
Curtis‘ face burned with guilt.
What was wrong with him? How could he let the memory of Chloe pushing Sonya into the sea shake his trust in her?
He had told Sonya he wasn’t doubting her, but in truth, he was.
“I’m sorry,” Curtis said.
“It’s fine,” Sonya replied with feigned generosity. “You were just misled by Chloe. For now, let’s focus on why we really came to this island.
“I heard from the Quall family that the government is very interested in your drone proposal and will likely partner with your company. You’re so capable. You’re thriving without Chloe!”
Curtis uncomfortably pursed his lips. The drone proposal he had submitted to the government was
actually the one Chloe had left behind at the company, and the patents tied to it were all ones she had registered after their marriage.
It felt as though he had stolen every one of her accomplishments.
