Rosamond's throat felt stuffed with cotton, dry and raw.

Her fingers curled slowly into her palms, and her chest seized as though something had clamped down around her heart, squeezing until the air refused to come.

After a long silence, she looked at Bryce and Garrett, her voice low and steady:

"Fine. I'll resign from the firm."

She wanted to see exactly how far the firm would get without her.

Bryce visibly relaxed when she agreed.

He reached for her hand:

"Rosa, don't worry. Even if you're not practicing law anymore, I can take care of you."

Rosamond's expression didn't change. She sidestepped his hand, swallowing the pain, her tone flat:

"I don't need you to take care of me."

He'd already made his choice. There was no point pretending to care now.

Bryce's throat bobbed. He stared at Rosamond, dazed. The love that once filled her eyes had been replaced by something vast and empty, and it stung like looking into the sun.

His chest tightened with a dull, suffocating ache.

Why? He'd always loved Olympia, hadn't he? He'd only married Rosamond on impulse, out of spite.

Now Olympia had achieved her dream. She'd gotten what she wanted, taken Rosamond's place. He should be happy.

So why did the look of disappointment in Rosamond's eyes cut so deep?

It was probably just responsibility.

That was how Bryce consoled himself.

Right. Responsibility. He had married her, after all. Helping Olympia scheme against her like this was, admittedly, unfair.

But it didn't matter. They were still husband and wife. He'd make it up to her later.

The thought loosened the knot in his chest for a moment. He was about to say something when Olympia cut in:

"Bryce, come shopping with me."

"I'm about to get promoted, so I should pick up some gifts for my team."

Bryce glanced at Rosamond:

"Rosa, Olympia's still new in town. I need to look after her."

Rosamond's voice was even, the sorrow in her eyes fading into something blank:

"It's fine. Go."

Bryce blinked. Normally, whenever he mentioned spending time with Olympia, Rosamond would argue with him.

No matter how many times he insisted they were just friends, she never believed him.

Why was she so agreeable today?

He looked into her calm, unreadable eyes, and an inexplicable unease crept through him.

He started to explain without thinking:

"Don't worry, I'll come straight home after we're done. I won't be long—"

Before he could finish, Olympia turned to him with a wounded expression:

"Bryce, I know you're worried Attorney Henson will get the wrong idea. It's okay, I can go by myself."

She managed a tight, brave smile:

"I'm used to being alone."

She turned and walked out, leaving behind a lonely silhouette.

Bryce's face crumpled with sympathy, and he hurried after her.

In his mind, Rosamond was the wife who would always forgive him. Whenever they fought, she'd find her own way to let it go without him having to lift a finger.

Olympia was different. She was high-maintenance. One wrong move and she'd sulk for days, exhausting everyone around her.

So he'd rather disappoint Rosamond than risk upsetting Olympia.

Rosamond stood rooted to the spot, motionless. Her entire body had gone rigid and cold. Sweat beaded along her spine. She bit down hard on her lip, but it did nothing to stop the chill spreading through her.

She watched the two of them leave and let out a bitter, quiet laugh.

She must have been blind all these years, believing Bryce actually loved her.

How had she forgotten? Every single time she and Olympia clashed, Bryce had taken Olympia's side. Every single time.

She cast a cool glance at Garrett and said quietly:

"You've wanted me out of this firm for a long time, haven't you?"

Guilt flickered across Garrett's face. Before he could respond, Rosamond cut him off:

"You got what you wanted."

"I hope you won't regret today's decision."

Without waiting for an answer, she walked to HR alone to process her resignation.

When they learned she was leaving, the HR staff were stunned. They'd watched Rosamond pour years of her life into this firm. No one expected her to leave so suddenly.

But given the rumors circulating the past two days, the shock faded quickly, replaced by quiet sympathy as they looked at her.

Rosamond clenched her fists, forcing herself to ignore the pitying glances. Once the paperwork was done, she walked out of the firm for the last time.

Back home, she called Martha Henson first:

"Mom, I've decided. I'm emigrating to the States with you and Dad."

Martha Henson paused for a beat, then her voice brightened:

"Really? You've finally come to your senses. Your father and I were so afraid you'd be stubborn and insist on staying."

"Don't worry, sweetheart. You can still practice law overseas. You don't have to chain yourself to one firm."

"What about Bryce? Is he coming with you, or staying behind for now?"

Rosamond's voice dropped:

"Mom, I think I need to get a divorce first."

"Could you and Dad help me with the immigration paperwork?"

"And Bryce's company... have Henson Group pull its investment. Once the divorce is final, I won't have anything to do with Delgado Group."

Bryce had always believed he'd built Delgado Group on talent alone. Fine. She'd let him prove it. Without Henson money behind him, she'd see how long his empire lasted.

Martha was surprised, but she'd always respected her daughter's decisions. She didn't press for details, only offered careful reminders:

"Your marriage is your own business. Your father and I won't interfere. We'll have our lawyers handle the investment withdrawal."

"If anything comes up that you can't handle, tell us."

Her mother's words thawed something in Rosamond's frozen chest, just slightly.

She nodded:

"Don't worry, Mom. I'll take care of it."

She'd barely hung up when a message came through from a colleague:

"Attorney Henson, we want to thank you for everything you've done for us over the years, so we'd like to throw you a farewell party."

"We've booked a villa on the south side of town for tonight. We're planning a get-together, maybe stay the night. Are you free?"

Rosamond had planned to slip away quietly, but these colleagues had always been good to her. After tonight, she might never see them again. She couldn't bring herself to refuse.

After a long moment of thought, she agreed.

She packed up a few things at home and rushed to the villa.

What she hadn't expected was Olympia.

Olympia stood in the center of the crowd, her fingers laced through Bryce's, her gaze landing on Rosamond with a glint of smug provocation:

"Attorney Henson, I never thought you'd actually show up to my promotion party."

"I knew Bryce wouldn't lie to me."

Rosamond instinctively looked toward the colleague who had sent her the message, only to find the woman staring at Bryce with guilt written all over her face.

That told her everything she needed to know.

Bryce had actually gone this far for Olympia. The man who had always been too proud for deception had learned to lie.

The grief in her chest was a steel needle, piercing her heart one slow millimeter at a time.

Bryce walked up to Rosamond, his voice low and flat.

"Today is Olympia's promotion banquet. She's still young, and some people at the firm might not respect her authority. You're here to lend her credibility."

Rosamond swallowed the bitterness rising in her throat, gave him one look, and turned to leave. But Bryce seized her arm.

"Rosamond, what do you think you're doing? If you walk out now, where does that leave Olympia?"

"You're her sister-in-law, for God's sake. Would it kill you to show a little generosity?"

Sister-in-law?

That was the exact excuse Bryce had used to force her into hiring Olympia at the firm in the first place.

Whenever Rosamond clashed with Olympia, he dragged out the same line, insisting she was the elder, the one who should yield.

Even now, he still hadn't exhausted that card.

Rosamond couldn't take it anymore. She wrenched her arm free.

"I'm no sister-in-law of hers!"

"Have you forgotten? Not once, from the very beginning, has she ever called me that."

She turned to leave without waiting for his reaction, but something caught her eye: the bracelet on Olympia's wrist.

Rosamond's heart slammed against her ribs.

That bracelet was part of her dowry from her mother, the only keepsake her late grandmother had left behind.

Rosamond closed the distance to Olympia in three strides and grabbed her arm.

"Where did you get this bracelet?"

Olympia let out a shriek, struggling wildly.

"Attorney Henson, what are you doing? Let go of me!"

Rosamond's voice was ice, her entire body radiating cold fury.

"I asked you a question. Why is this bracelet on your wrist?"

Before the words had fully left her mouth, a hard shove hit her between the shoulder blades, and a sharp pain tore through her arm.

She lost her grip on Olympia and went tumbling down the steps.

Bryce had Olympia in his arms, his frigid gaze fixed on Rosamond where she lay.

"Rosa, don't push it. I gave that bracelet to Olympia."

Rosamond's leg had struck the edge of a step. The pain was blinding, as if the bone had cracked.

Hearing those words, she forced herself upright, both hands pressed hard against her chest, and every humiliation she had swallowed over the years finally erupted.

"That was my mother's dowry to me! What right do you have to give it away? Give it back!"

Irritation creased Bryce's brow.

"It's just a bracelet. Olympia liked it, so I let her have it. What's the big deal, Rosamond? You're being incredibly petty."

Olympia put on a wounded expression.

"Bryce, since Attorney Henson doesn't want me to have it, I'll just give it back. Please don't fight over me."

Bryce stroked Olympia's hair, his voice soft with affection.

"Don't worry about it. I gave it to you, so it's yours. She's always been stingy. Just ignore her."

Rosamond's eyes were bloodshot.

"Stingy? Do you honestly think I don't know how much you've given her over the years?"

"I let everything else slide, but not this bracelet. If you won't return it, I'll call the police. It's my dowry. You had no right to dispose of it."

Bryce hadn't expected a reaction this fierce. For a moment, he just stood there.

Olympia had taken a liking to Rosamond's jewelry before, and every time he had simply let her have it.

Rosamond had never once made a scene. Why was this time different?

Seeing the dark resolve on her face, he finally relented.

"Fine. Stay and see Olympia through the rest of her promotion banquet, and I'll give the bracelet back."

Rosamond looked into his unyielding eyes and accepted, because she had no other choice.

She knew Bryce. Once he set a condition, he never went back on it.

The fact that he was willing to return the bracelet at all was already a concession.

When Olympia realized Bryce truly intended to give the bracelet back, a flash of venom crossed her eyes as she looked at Rosamond.

So Bryce still had some feelings for Rosamond after all. She would have to find a way to make him despise her completely.

The party began. Rosamond sat and watched as Bryce attended to Olympia's every need at the table.

Picking out the best dishes for her. Peeling shrimp for her.

Refilling her tea. Pouring her water.

A bitter ache spread through Rosamond's chest.

He had never done any of those things for her. Not once.

She had always assumed it was simply his nature, that he was too proud to bother with small gestures like these.

Now she understood. She simply wasn't worth the effort.

It didn't matter anymore. She had made her peace with it.

All she had to do was endure until the banquet ended, take back her grandmother's bracelet, and walk away, leaving Bryce to Olympia for good.

She would never insert herself between them again.

After a few rounds of drinks, the air inside felt suffocating. Rosamond slipped out alone to clear her head.

She had barely reached the pool when a hand closed around her arm.

Olympia stood there with a half-smile that wasn't quite a smile.

"What's Attorney Henson doing out here instead of inside? Couldn't stand watching me and Bryce together? Thinking of running?"

"I suppose it makes sense. You only got him because I went abroad. Now that you see how devoted he is to me, it must be unbearable."

"You really are shameless, you know that? He obviously doesn't love you, yet you cling to him like a barnacle. If I were you, I'd have been gone a long time ago."

Rosamond glanced at her, expression blank.

"I am leaving. Just not yet."

"I'm still waiting for you to return my bracelet."

Olympia ran her fingers along the jade on her wrist, a glint of malice in her eyes.

"And what if I said I have no intention of giving it back?"

Rosamond's voice was ice-cold.

"Then I'll have no choice but to call the police."

Olympia laughed, sliding the bracelet off her wrist as she did.

"Oh, right. How could I forget? You're the famous Attorney Henson. Getting a little bracelet back can't be that hard for you."

"But then again..."

She glanced at Rosamond, then slowly extended the hand holding the bracelet out over the swimming pool.

"What if this bracelet just... disappeared? Calling the police wouldn't do you much good then, would it?"

Rosamond's eyes locked onto Olympia's hand, every muscle in her face pulled taut.

"You wouldn't dare."

Olympia's expression twisted with malice.

"Wouldn't I? It's just a bracelet. Your own husband gave it to me. Even if I accidentally broke it, what are they going to do, throw me in jail?"

Her fingers began to loosen.

Rosamond lunged forward and grabbed her arm.

"Don't!"

"Whatever you want, I'll give it to you. Just give me the bracelet back!"

It was the last thing she had of her grandmother's. She would not stand by and watch it be destroyed.

Olympia's smile widened, bright and vicious.

"That's more like it. When you're begging someone, you should act like it."

"Now get on your knees. Maybe if I'm in a good mood, I'll give it back."

Rosamond stared at her, stunned. She hadn't imagined Olympia would stoop to this.

When Rosamond didn't move, Olympia raised the bracelet over the water again.

"I'll count to three. If you're not on your knees, it goes in."

"Three!"

"Two!"

"One!"

"I'll kneel!"

Rosamond clenched her jaw, stripped herself of every shred of dignity, and sank to her knees on the cold tile.

Olympia burst out laughing.

"Oh my God, I never thought I'd see the day. The great Attorney Henson, so proud, so untouchable, kneeling at my feet like a dog."

"Rosamond, I told you a long time ago. I'd take everything from you. Do you believe me now?"

"Your husband, your career, all mine. And now your dignity is under my heel. What do you have left to be proud of?"

"If you know what's good for you, you'll crawl away from Bryce and never come back. Otherwise, I'll make things so much worse."

Grief, humiliation, and fury crashed through Rosamond all at once. She forced herself to hold still, to not fight back.

"Fine. Now can I have the bracelet?"

Olympia held the bracelet out to Rosamond with a careless flick of her wrist.

Rosamond's eyes lit up. She reached for it.

The next second, Olympia yanked her hand back and flung the bracelet into the pool.

It hit the water with a small splash, sending ripples fanning outward.

Rosamond froze for half a heartbeat, then threw herself in after it.

She'd forgotten she couldn't swim.

Olympia watched Rosamond thrashing in the water and turned to leave.

But a shout rang out from somewhere behind her. Her eyes darted, calculating, and she jumped in after her.

The freezing water swallowed Rosamond inch by inch. Just as her lungs were about to give out, someone hauled her to the surface.

She barely had time to gasp before Bryce's palm cracked across her face.

"Rosamond, you've gone too far! You know Olympia can't swim, and you pushed her in? Are you trying to kill her?!"

Olympia sobbed in Bryce's arms, her voice thin and trembling.

"Bryce, please don't blame Attorney Henson. It's my fault. I shouldn't have shown my face around her and upset her..."

Cold seeped through every cell in Rosamond's body. She was shaking so hard she could barely form words.

"I didn't push her. She threw my grandmother's bracelet into the pool. I went in to find it."

"I don't know why she ended up in the water."

Before she could finish, Olympia cut in.

"Attorney Henson, I know you don't like me, but you can't just make things up like this."

"Bryce already promised to return the bracelet to you. Why would I throw it away right in front of you?"

The crowd was buying every word. Rosamond pressed on, desperate.

"She really threw it in. Send someone down to look. If it's not there, I'll apologize to her on the spot."

She turned to find a staff member.

Bryce stopped her.

"Rosamond, when did you become such a liar?"

Something cracked inside her. Even someone as strong as Rosamond felt the sting of being accused again and again of things she hadn't done.

"Bryce, I have never lied. If you don't believe me, just wait until I get the bracelet out of the water..."

The words died on her lips. She stood frozen, staring, the shock plain on her face.

Because Bryce had just pulled her grandmother's bracelet from his jacket pocket.

He looked at her, his expression heavy with disgust.

"This is your grandmother's bracelet, isn't it?"

"Olympia gave it to me before the party even started. Asked me to return it to you. I didn't think I'd need it as evidence."

"Rosamond, you keep saying your grandmother loved you more than anyone. But now you're using her bracelet as a prop to frame Olympia."

"You are a complete disappointment. Since you care so little about this bracelet, let's put it out of its misery. At least then you can't use it to hurt anyone else."

Something dark and final crossed his face. He hurled the bracelet at the ground.

It shattered into pieces, just like her heart.

"No!"

Rosamond dropped to her knees, scrambling across the ground like a woman possessed, gathering every fragment she could find.

Bryce glanced down at her with flat, empty eyes.

"Pathetic."

Then he gathered Olympia in his arms and walked away.

Rosamond clutched the broken pieces to her chest and wept. She wept until she couldn't breathe, couldn't see, couldn't feel the shards slicing her palms open, blood running between her fingers.

"I'm sorry, Grandma. I'm so sorry..."

"It's all my fault. I couldn't even protect the one thing you left me..."

In the darkness, her phone screen flickered to life. A message from her mother.

Rosamond, your immigration paperwork is finalized. Your father and I will be waiting for you at the airport the morning after next.

Something stirred in the numb wasteland of her chest.

She could finally leave.