The Ring I Threw Away Chapter 06
After the summit, I dove back into my studies and research.
I thought that unpleasant run–in would be the end of whatever pathetic “connection” we still had.
Then, a week later, I got a call from an unknown number.
I hesitated, then answered.
A slightly aged voice came through, carrying an undeniable authority. “Ms. Olivia Grant?”
“Yes. Who’s this?”
“I’m Henry Bennett. Lucas’s father.”
My fingers tightened around the phone.
Henry Bennett. The man Lucas always described as strict, old–fashioned, controlling every part of his life.
“Hello, Henry Bennett,” I said, keeping it polite.
“Ms. Grant, I’ll get straight to the point.” His voice was flat and businesslike. “I’m aware of what happened between you and my son.
“Young people get emotional. Breakups happen. But you shouldn’t have handled it the way you did. You made him, and our family, a laughingstock.”
I listened quietly, not bothering to argue.
“Lucas and Sophie’s engagement is being arranged,” he continued, with that condescending tone. “I don‘ t want any unnecessary rumors affecting our family‘ s cooperation and reputation.”
“So?”
“So I expect you to face reality and cut all ties with
Lucas. Stop showing up near him, and stop trying to interfere with him and Sophie.”
I could picture him on the other end, frowning, speaking like he was doing me a favor.
“As compensation,” he added, like he was naming a price, “name your number. As long as it’s reasonable, the Bennett family will pay it. Consider it… reimbursement for the past three years.”
Reimbursement? Name a price?
I clutched the phone, my knuckles white, but inside I was frozen.
This was his “love.” Something his father could put a price tag on.
And Lucas, the man who claimed to love me, was he okay with this? Fine with using money to buy me off? Okay with this “engagement” to Sophie?
How pathetic.
“Mr. Bennett,” I said, my voice flat as glass. “I think you’ve got a few things wrong.
“First, it was your son who betrayed our relationship. He’s the one who made your family look bad.
“Second, I’m not the one chasing after him. He’s the one who followed me all the way to Brighton.
“Third,” I paused, letting my tone turn icy, “my youth is expensive. Your family can’t afford it.”
There was a long silence on the other end. He clearly hadn’t expected me to push back.
When he spoke again, his voice was cold and warning. “Ms. Grant, it’s good to have pride, but you also need to know when to back down.
“There are things you can’t touch and people you can’t afford to offend. I suggest you… think
carefully about your next move.”
“Don’t worry about me,” I replied calmly. “If that’s all, I’m hanging up now.”
Henry’s call was like a signal. The calm I’d been clinging to was officially over.
First, my research project ran into trouble when I tried to get a crucial grant. The review kept dragging on for no reason, and the staff started acting all weird and dodgy.
Then, word started going around Humboldt University. People began saying I was cheating, that I’d landed my project through dirty tricks, and even hinting I was hooking up with Professor Schneider.
The rumors were getting juicier by the day, so detailed they almost sounded legit. They hadn’t exploded yet, but the constant side–eye and hushed whispers following me everywhere made my skin crawl.
Professor Schneider was a straight–up, principled old guy. He made it clear he didn’t believe the rumors and told me to focus on my work. But I could feel the shift. Some classmates and colleagues now looked at me with suspicion.
I didn’t need to investigate to know where it came from.
The Bennett family. Or, more specifically, Henry, who was eager to clear the path for his “future daughter–in–law.” And probably Lucas, who was letting it happen.
A chill ran down my spine.
This was their “solution“? Flexing their power, using dirty tricks to back me into a corner?
One night, I was walking home late from the lab.
Near my apartment, in a quiet corner, two sketchy guys blocked my path.
They muttered crude things, eyeing me up and down, closing in slowly. “Hey pretty lady, all alone? Come have some fun with us?”
My heart slammed in my chest. I gripped my bag strap. There was pepper spray inside.
I was calculating escape routes and whether I could fight back when blinding headlights swept toward us and screeched to a stop.
A tall figure jumped out and ran over. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
It was Lucas.
His face was dark with fury. He grabbed me and shoved me behind him, shielding me from those two guys. The raw aggression and commanding presence of someone raised in privilege made the thugs hesitate.
“Get lost.” Lucas’s voice wasn’t loud, but it was ice- cold.
The two guys exchanged glances, seemed to weigh their odds, muttered a few curses, and slunk away.
The corner went quiet again. Just me, him, and his ragged breathing.
I pulled my arm free and stepped back.
“Are you okay?” He turned to look at me, worry and lingering fear in his eyes, and a hint of concern.
“Does it matter?” My voice was ice. “Lucas, how many times are you going to pull this staged rescue routine?”
He blinked, confused. “What are you talking about? You think I set those guys up?”
“Didn’t you?” I scoffed. “First your father threatens me. Then you block my academic funding and spread rumors. Now you show up for a ‘hero saves the damsel‘ moment? What’s next, wait till I’m desperate, then offer me your protection?”
Every word hit him like a nail to the face.
His expression shifted from pale to red, his eyes churning with shock, anger, and a hint of hurt. It was like he’d been falsely accused.
“It wasn’t me.” He raised his voice, bristling. “Olivia, is that what you really think of me? That I’d use such dirty tricks against you?”
“Then who?” I held his gaze without flinching. “Your dear father? Or your sweet fiancée, acting behind your back?”
He seemed to choke on my words. His eyes flickered, his lips parted, but nothing came out.
See? He knew exactly what was going on.
He just decided to look the other way, let it all slide.
Maybe deep down, he was hoping this pressure would break me and make me crawl back to him.
How laughable. How sad.
“Lucas,” I said, looking at his face, all that struggle and pain, and felt the last flicker of emotion in my chest die completely. “Keep your family’s cheap. tricks to yourself. Bring it on.
“But let me make this clear. Even if I end up with nothing, homeless on the streets, I will never, ever look back at you.”
I turned and walked away, not bothering to see his face crumble.
This time, he didn’t chase me.
But his stare on my back was heavy, like the weight of an entire winter.