The Stolen Heart Chapter 1

David returned from his business trip and slid a velvet box across the marble table.

Inside nestled a pink diamond.

My fingertips trembled slightly, but I kept my voice casual. "You’ve always only bid on top-tier Pigeon Blood rubies. Since when did you develop a taste for pink diamonds?"

The hand loosening his tie froze. He snatched the box back, forcing a laugh. "Wrong one. That’s for Phillip. He asked me to pick up an engagement ring for his girlfriend."

He leaned down, pressing a kiss to my forehead, his tone dripping with practiced tenderness. "Only the finest rubies are worthy of you, Evelyn. I’ll make it up to you next time."

A knot of unease tightened in my stomach.

The next day, I bumped into Phillip’s girlfriend at a charity gala. Feigning casual conversation, I smiled. "Congratulations, I hear bells are ringing. You must save me a glass of champagne at the wedding."

She froze, her face draining of color.

"Evelyn... Phillip and I broke up five months ago."

* * *

The smile on my face stiffened into a mask. My heart missed a beat.

I was reaching for my phone to demand an explanation from David when a girl in a simple white cotton dress walked into the high-end restaurant. She looked woefully out of place among the designer suits and silk gowns, her voice barely a whisper.

"Hello, I’m here to pick up Mr. Sterling’s lunch order."

Mr. Sterling. David.

I instinctively looked over.

Our eyes met, and panic flashed through hers. She quickly averted her gaze and stammered to the waiter, "Actually, never mind. I’m the new intern at Sterling Corp. Mr. Sterling just messaged me with another task. Please deliver the lunch directly to the office tower."

Clutching her phone like a lifeline, she turned and hurried toward the exit.

I stared at her retreating figure.

She was quick on her feet, I’ll give her that. Claiming to be an intern.

But she made a fatal mistake. David never hired female secretaries or personal assistants. And why would a regular intern be picking up his personal lunch?

More importantly—why did she look at me with recognition?

Realization hit me cold and hard. I grabbed my bag and followed her.

She sensed me behind her, her pace quickening to a near run.

Luck wasn't on her side; not a single taxi was stopping.

I stood right behind her, watching the sweat mat the baby hairs at her temples. finally, she couldn't take the pressure. She spun around, biting her lip.

"Excuse me, do you need a cab too? If you’re in a rush, you can take the first one."

She couldn't even meet my eyes.

I curved my lips into a faint smile, my gaze dropping to her hand.

There it was. A top-tier Pigeon Blood ruby ring, a vintage design from the British Royal collection. It was exactly my taste.

Back in university, David had sworn he would buy every ruby in the world for me. He said I was his sun, the most vibrant treasure in his life.

And this girl? There was no way she could afford a piece like that on an intern's salary.

Noticing my stare, she hid her hand behind her back.

"Staring is rude. If you don't stop, I'll call the police!"

She was trying to muster anger to cover her fear.

I laughed softly. "My apologies. I just have a weakness for rubies. Seeing a Royal collection piece in the wild... I got mesmerized."

I stepped closer. "I followed you because I recognized that ring from a recent London auction. Which family are you from? I don’t recall seeing you at the debutante balls."

She forced a smile that looked more like a grimace. "I am... I..."

She couldn't get the words out.

"I'm Evelyn Sterling. David Sterling's wife. I'd love to make a new friend."

I extended my hand.

Cornered, she had no choice. Her hand trembled as she took mine. "Daisy. Daisy Brooks."

Got her.

I nodded politely, turned on my heel, and hailed the black town car that had just pulled up.

The moment the heavy door clicked shut, my face dropped. I dialed my best friend, Harper.

"I need a background check. Name is Daisy Brooks. Likely a fresh college grad."

"Also, pull David’s credit card statements from his trip to London. I want to know exactly what he bought at that charity auction."

Harper sounded groggy on the other end, woken from her beauty sleep. "Evie? What happened?"

I pressed my lips together, tasting bitterness. "I think David is keeping a pet student on the side."

Two hours later, the dossier landed in my inbox.

David’s paper trail was meticulous.

Daisy Brooks was a scholarship student funded by my charity foundation. David had invested in a "startup studio" for her. Every penny went through corporate accounts, handled by the foundation's staff.

On paper, they had zero contact. Just a benevolent donor and a lucky recipient.

And the ruby ring? The records showed it was won by a foreign buyer, not David.

But my grip on the phone tightened until my knuckles turned white.

The one thing she lied about was being a Sterling Corp intern.

I texted Harper again: “Check the annual investment amount. And find out if she has any other sponsors.”

I stared out the window at the concrete jungle of New York.

There are no coincidences in this world.

David, if I find out you’ve actually betrayed me...

I will take fifteen years of history and five years of marriage and grind them into dust with my own hands.