I Texted My Dad One Word The World Burned novel Chapter 21

Chapter 1

On the very day I went with my boyfriend to City Hall to get our marriage license, the dazzling million–dollar diamond ring he vowed to give me had turned into nothing but a crumpled soda can tab.

I broke up with him on the spot.

Panic flickered across Daniel Brooks’s face as he scrambled to show the purchase record.

“The real ring is at home–I just forgot to bring it. If it really bothers you, I’ll run back and get it right now.”

Before I could respond, my gaze shifted toward the figure sprinting toward us. My voice turned cold.

“No need. Your little follower already brought it for you.”

Emily Sanders stumbled up to us, eyes red and swollen, and on her hand–a finger now puffed and purple–was a diamond the size of a – pigeon’s egg, jammed tight around her knuckle.

She stammered, tears brimming.

“Daniel, I only wanted to help Miss Green try the ring for size, but now I can’t get it off…”

Daniel’s face darkened instantly, his voice sharp as a whip.

“Who gave you permission to touch it? That ring is for Charlotte!”

He twisted her hand roughly, yanking at the jewel, but the band refused to budge.

Arms crossed, I leaned back and watched the farce unfold. A laugh slipped past my lips.

“So simple. If it won’t come off, just cut the whole finger, problem solved.”

Daniel froze for a moment, then swung on Emily, fury pouring out.

“Emily, look at the mess you’ve made! If that ring can’t be taken back, then don’t bother showing up at work tomorrow!” Tears welled in her eyes again, but instead of begging him for forgiveness, she bowed deeply–again and again–toward me.

The exaggerated motions drew the attention of the bystanders inside City Hall.

“Miss Green, it was my fault. Please, I’m begging you, don’t fire me. I can’t afford to lose this job.”

Before I could answer, she suddenly yanked at her own finger with a desperate twist, the angle so violent it made the onlookers wince.

Daniel’s brows snapped together. He caught her wrist at once.

“Are you out of your mind? You even take Charlotte’s angry words seriously?”

He pulled out his car keys, dragging her toward the exit. His tone was commanding, no room for discussion.

“Get in the car. We’re going to St. Mary’s Hospital now. That ring is coming off today, no matter what.”

Through all of this, Daniel didn’t spare me a single glance.

Inside City Hall, people looked at me with pity.

But I remained perfectly calm.

After all, I had seen this act replayed a hundred times and grown used to it.

Everything had changed since a party a year earlier.

That night, I had been ready to announce my engagement. Chasker T

But a waitress stumbled, dropping a bottle of Champagne that shattered across the floor.

She staggered straight toward Daniel, eyes lighting up with recognition.

“Daniel–it’s been so long! You’re getting engaged?”

The familiarity in her tone left no doubt: she wasn’t a stranger.

Yet after five years with Daniel, I knew his entire social circle, and I had never once seen her before.

Daniel, usually calm and even–tempered, shocked me by lashing out in anger for the first time in front of me.

“Emily, do you have any idea that bottle you just broke was worth six figures?”

Verify captcha to read the contentVerify