Vanessa Takes Off the Ring
Chapter 09 - Vanessa Takes Off the Ring
Vanessa ended her engagement to Adrian privately.
She placed the ring on his kitchen table.
He did not argue.
“I loved you,” she said.
“I know.”
“But part of you was always waiting for a door to open and Sophia to walk through it.”
Adrian looked down.
“That was unfair to you.”
“Yes.”
Vanessa’s eyes filled.
Then she surprised him.
“I am still going to testify.”
Richard had offered her a position on the company board if she denied seeing the files in his study.
She recorded the conversation.
Adrian asked why she would risk public humiliation.
Vanessa laughed sadly.
“Because being left by a man is survivable. Becoming like Richard would not be.”
She later met Sophia.
The encounter was awkward.
Sophia expected resentment.
Vanessa handed her the engagement ring.
“What am I supposed to do with this?”
“Nothing. I’m giving you proof that I am not fighting for him.”
Sophia pushed it back.
“You do not owe me that.”
Vanessa studied her.
“I spent years thinking you were the great love story that ruined every relationship Adrian tried to build.”
“I did not know he thought I rejected him.”
“I know that now.”
The two women sat in silence.
Then Vanessa gave Sophia the recording of Richard’s bribery attempt.
“I also copied the study files before he burned them.”
Sophia looked at her.
“Why?”
“Because men like Richard survive by convincing women they are competing with one another.”
Vanessa stood.
“I’m done helping him.”
The investigation widened.
Martin Voss disappeared before police could question him.
A warrant was issued.
May you like
Then Helen received a message from an unknown number.
Withdraw Emma’s DNA records, or the Parkers lose everything.
