Chapter 2 A Ring Doesn't Fix Everything

Piper Redding His Leaning casually against my car, arms crossed, head tilted back like he owns the damn place. How did he find me? Of course—how could I forget that his uncle is a detective? My breath catches in my throat, and for a moment, my feet refuse to move. Even in the dim light of the parking lot, he looks as maddeningly good as ever—broad shoulders, messy hair that somehow falls perfectly, and that stupid smirk that once made my knees weak. “Breathe,” I whisper to myself. My fingers curl tighter around the strap of my purse, and I force myself to keep walking. My heart pounds so loudly I swear he can hear it, but I steel my spine and lift my chin. “What the hell are you doing here?” I glare. He straightens up, shoving his hands into his pockets as he watches me approach. “I came to see you,” he says, his voice smooth like he’s still the guy I used to know. Like nothing’s changed.“ “You’re not supposed to be here,” I snap. “I told you to stay out of my life.” “How can I not?” His voice dips low, smooth like honey, and it irritates the hell out of me. “You’re the air I breathe, baby.” I roll my eyes so hard it’s a miracle they don’t get stuck. “Cut the crap, Adam. What do you want?” “I want you back,” he says, stepping closer. His eyes lock onto mine, and I hate how my stomach flips despite myself. “I’ve changed.” “Oh, have you?” I scoff, folding my arms. “Let me guess, you’re a new man now? You suddenly realised cheating isn’t a normal part of relationships?” His jaw tightens, but he doesn’t falter. “I messed up. I know that. But I’ve been doing a lot of thinking, and—” “I don’t care what you’ve been thinking,” I cut him off, my voice trembling with anger. “You broke me, Adam. And you don’t get to waltz back into my life just because you feel like it.” He hesitates, his gaze flickering to the building behind me. A slow, knowing smirk spreads across his face, and my stomach drops. “This where you’ve been hiding?” he asks, gesturing toward the therapist’s office. “You loved me that much, huh? Needed a whole therapist to get over me?” My cheeks burn, and my grip tightens on my purse. “Screw you,” I spit, taking a step forward. “You don’t get to mock me for trying to heal from the shit you put me through.” He raises his hands in mock surrender. “I’m not mocking you, babe. I’m just saying… you don’t need to get over me.” “Excuse me?” “Because I’m not going anywhere,” he says, dropping to one knee. I blink, my brain stalling as he pulls out a ring box from his pocket. My jaw drops as he flips it open, revealing a sparkling diamond. “Piper, I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life making it up to you. Will you marry me?” I stare at him, stunned, before a bitter laugh escapes my lips. “You really think a ring fixes everything?” “Say yes, Piper,” he pleads desperately. “Let’s have the Christmas wedding you always dreamed of.” His audacity is something that should be studied, and all I can think about is how he truly puts the "EX" in Xmas. If Adam had proposed to me a day before I caught him cheating, I would have gladly accepted the ring. Christmas was the day I always dreamed of for my wedding—the twinkling lights, the snow falling gently, the warmth of love filling the air. But that dream died the moment I found him in bed with someone else. And now, here he is, daring to bring it up like none of it ever happened. "I know you want this wedding badly, just like me," Adam says, his voice low and coaxing. "You can stop fighting your heart to get it." I glare at him, the words sparking a fury deep inside me. "You’re unbelievable." He smirks, as if he knows he’s got me cornered. "What would your parents say, Piper? Huh? Your younger sister’s getting married soon, and you know how disappointed they’ll be if she beats you to the altar. You don’t want to be the family failure, do you? The one who couldn’t keep a man?" My hands tremble, a mix of anger and heartbreak making it hard to breathe. How dare he bring my family into this? How dare he try to use my insecurities against me? "You think you can manipulate me into saying yes?" I hiss, stepping closer. "You’re more pathetic than I thought." Adam’s face falters for a second before he plasters that smug grin back on. "I’m just saying, you’ll regret this. We both know you still love me." For a moment, I pretend to waver. My fingers twitch as if reaching for the ring, and his smirk widens. "Fine," I mutter, my voice low. "Give it to me." He’s too eager to believe I’ve caved. He lifts the ring, ready to slide it onto my finger, but I snatch it out of his hand. Without hesitation, I shove it into his mouth with a force that makes him gag. "Choke on that, Adam," I snap, flipping him the middle finger before storming off. I don’t stop until I’m in my car, slamming the door shut and gripping the steering wheel like it’s the only thing keeping me together. My breathing is ragged, my pulse racing. I was supposed to go to work today to stand in front of a room full of kids, dancing and singing with the kind of energy they love. It’s something I’ve mastered over the years, something I’m proud of. But today, I can’t fake a smile. I can’t face the world. Instead, I drive to my best friend’s house. Anna and Clara are nurses, and thankfully, they’re both on morning shifts this week. They’ll be home. By the time I pull into their driveway, the tears I’ve been holding back threaten to spill. I knock on the door, and Anna opens it, her face lighting up with surprise and then concern. "Piper? What’s wrong?" "Adam," I manage to choke out as she pulls me inside. Clara joins us in the living room, her dark curls tied back in a messy bun, and I recount everything—the parking lot, the proposal, the blackmail. By the time I finish, I’m shaking with anger all over again. Anna lets out a low whistle. "You shoved the ring in his mouth? Damn, girl. That’s iconic." Clara, however, shakes her head, a sly grin on her face. "You made a mistake, though." I frown. "What do you mean?" "You should have accepted the ring," Clara says, leaning back on the couch. "Think about it. You say yes, plan the whole thing with his hard-earned money, and then stand him up at the altar. That’s the kind of revenge that’ll stick with him forever." Anna laughs, but there’s a glint of agreement in her eyes. "She’s not wrong. Imagine the humiliation." I sigh, slumping against the cushions. "Maybe. But I don’t think I could’ve played along without losing my mind." "Fair," Anna concedes. "But still, what a missed opportunity." We talk for hours, their laughter and banter slowly easing the weight on my chest. By the time night falls, I’ve decided to spend the night at their place. Going back to my apartment, where every corner reminds me of Adam, is out of the question. As I lie on the couch, wrapped in a blanket, my phone buzzes. I almost ignore it, but something makes me glance at the screen. It’s a text from my mother: "Piper, your father and I need you back home. We need to talk. Make sure to call us tomorrow. We want you to leave that disgusting low-paying job and come home for dinner. Also, pack some bags and clothes for the night. We have an announcement to make. See you tomorrow." I stare at the message, my stomach twisting into knots. What could the announcement be? I know it’s not going to be something good, something that favors me. I reply, "Okay, Mum. Sweet dreams." Of course, she doesn’t respond. I set the phone down and turn my face into the pillow. Whatever they have to say can wait. For now, I need to sleep. Tomorrow, I’ll figure out how to handle them—and everything else.