The Day I Walked Away My Empire Began novel Chapter 50

“This thing is massive! And a blue diamond, no less. Honestly, it’s so bright it’s blinding me.”

She slid the ring onto her finger, twisting her hand left and right to admire the sparkle.

“Wow, this is seriously stunning.”

Yolanda stared, wide-eyed. “A blue diamond that size? That’s basically a unicorn. Wait—isn’t this from that forty-carat rough stone your husband bought at auction last year for, like, a fortune?”

Lucie nodded, almost on autopilot. “Uh, yeah, I think so.”

“Unbelievable. Leave it to the king of casinos to go all out. That kind of stone is an investment, but instead of locking it away, he had it cut into a ring for you.”

Angela took the ring and slipped it on her own finger. “Now this is what it means to be spoiled by your man.”

“Lucie, you hit the jackpot. Seriously, you married a dream husband.”

Lucie’s throat tightened, her words catching before they could escape.

If she told them she was thinking of divorce, they’d probably call her crazy.

“Mira, if you’re that jealous, why not get married yourself? I think there’s a guy really into you.”

Mira rolled her eyes. “Please. I’m envious of your marriage, but I’m not getting married anytime soon. Not before thirty-five, at least. I want a few more years of freedom…”

The three friends’ voices overlapped, laughter and teasing filling the room.

Knock, knock, knock.

“Come in!”

The door clicked open.

Shannon stepped inside.

She wore a beige V-neck dress, her makeup meticulous, a bouquet of fresh flowers in her arms. She moved with the kind of poised elegance that seemed almost practiced.

As she leaned closer, her necklace slipped into view. It’s a striking blue diamond pendant.

Lucie’s gaze sharpened.

The necklace was pure extravagance: a ten-carat blue diamond at its center, circled by five one-carat stones. The design was exquisite, the craftsmanship flawless.

And suddenly, everything clicked.

A sharp pain pricked Lucie’s chest. She realized, in a flash, that Shannon’s necklace and her own ring had been cut from the same original stone.

Steven had split the diamond: one half for Lucie’s ring, the other for Shannon’s necklace.

Revulsion washed over her. The ring on her finger suddenly felt tainted—almost filthy.

Mira caught on instantly. “Oh my god,” she breathed. “Don’t tell me her necklace and your ring were cut from the same stone.”