The Ring That Sank, The Love That Drowned Chapter 05
Spencer’s hand went still.
The Vaughn matriarch snapped, “Stop her! Don’t
let her leave!”
I released the last burning corner of the
agreement.
A draft from the chapel doors lifted the ash and
scattered it across Spencer’s cuff.
I took the silver bracelet off my wrist and placed it
in front of the padded kneeler.
Spencer had given it to me when he was eighteen.
I had worn it for ten years, leaving a faint pale.
mark around my wrist.
Spencer stared at the pale mark circling my
now–bare wrist, and for the first time, his voice lost
its composure.
“Natalie, put the bracelet back on.”
I stood.
“Spencer, you’ve always wanted to hear me admit I
was wrong.”
I looked at him and spoke slowly.
“So I will.”
“I was wrong to believe that one day, you might
actually treat me like a person.”
The chapel went dead silent.
The color drained from Spencer’s face.
I turned toward the door.
He took two steps after me before the Vaughn matriarch’s sharp voice stopped him.
“Spencer–the investment!”
He stopped.
In that moment, he didn’t come after me.
Instead, he lowered his head and tried to gather
the flecks of ash from his cuff.
But once something has burned to ash, there’s no
putting it back together.
At exactly nine, my signed notice ending the
engagement and Sinclair Group’s withdrawal
notice were delivered to Vaughn Group’s board.
Half an hour later, the review of Vaughn Group’s
planned overseas listing was abruptly suspended.
There was only one reason.
Sinclair Group, a core project partner, had
withdrawn its funding, creating major uncertainty
around the project’s financing
Vaughn Group’s legal team arrived at Sinclair
Group at ten, looking ashen.
“Ms. Sinclair, Mr. Vaughn says the engagement agreement can be replaced, but the prenup stays. exactly as written.”
I opened the prenup.
After the marriage, Sinclair Group’s funds would be folded into Vaughn Group’s investment fund.
Natalie Sinclair’s personal assets would be managed by Vaughn Group.
If the engagement was called off, Sinclair Group would bear any losses tied to terminating the project.
Every page was more absurd than the last.
I had signed it in my previous life.
Spencer had told me, “A marriage doesn’t work if
you’re counting every dollar.”
I later learned that Vivian’s studio received seven
figures a year from Vaughn Group, backed by
airtight contracts.
When she talked about money, it was called
supporting the arts.
When I did, I was being difficult.
I picked up a pen and wrote two lines on the final
page.
The lawyer glanced down, and his expression.
changed.
“Ms. Sinclair, what does this mean?”
“Tell Mr. Vaughn that Sinclair Group is pulling out
of the Westside development.”
The conference–room door opened.
Spencer walked in with Vivian behind him.
The emerald brooch was still pinned to Vivian’s
dress.
She had clearly worn it on purpose.
Spencer didn’t even look at the agreement.
He looked only at me.
“Natalie, you’ve dragged this into the company.
That’s enough.”
I pushed the withdrawal notice toward him.
“Consider this notice.”
The first page underneath it was a letter of intent
between Sinclair Group and Calloway Group.
Reid Calloway’s signature was at the bottom right.
Spencer’s eyes darkened instantly.
“You went to Reid?”
“Calloway Group is willing to take the project
Vaughn Group doesn’t want.”
He gave a humorless laugh.
“You think Reid is some kind of good guy? He only came near you because he wants to take a bite
out of Vaughn Group.”
I looked up at him.
“At least before he bites, he puts the terms in
writing.”
A calm male voice came from the doorway.
“That’s an interesting way to put it, Mr. Vaughn. When people sign contracts in business, it’s called strategy. When Ms. Sinclair does it, suddenly it’s scheming?”
Reid walked in, the cold still clinging to his gray
overcoat.
He looked at Spencer, his tone even.
“Three years ago, when you took our international
business away from us, you weren’t exactly
sentimental about it either.”
Spencer’s expression grew colder.
Reid handed me a folder.
“The data from the backup camera backstage at the proposal gala has been recovered. And Calloway Group’s board approved the deal.”
I took the folder and signed.
Vivian suddenly spoke.
“Natalie, why gamble your family’s future just
because you’re angry with Spencer? Your father is
still ill. If he knew you were destroying a business partnership over jealousy, he’d be devastated.”
I looked at the emerald brooch on her chest.
“Ms. Hale, I think it’s time you returned what you
borrowed.”