Broken Ring, Broken Bond Chapter 05

Broken Ring, Broken Bond Chapter 05

The launch started, and the host introduced the creative lead.

Tessa stood on stage, reciting the design concept from my original draft.

The broken band, the intentional gap, the asymmetric alignment.

She didn’t change a single word.

The audience erupted in applause.

Julian sat in the front row, nodding slightly.

I squeezed my palm hard enough to keep from standing up.

During the Q&A section, a reporter suddenly asked, “Ms. Voss, sources have leaked that the original design for this collection was done by Aurora Brooks. What’s your response to that?”

The room went dead silent.

Tessa went pale, and tears welled up in her eyes instantly.

Julian grabbed the microphone.

“Aurora is the project advisor, she provided preliminary input, but the core concept was developed by Tessa.”

I looked up at him.

He wouldn’t meet my eye.

The reporter pressed on.

“But the leaked sketch is signed by Aurora Brooks.”

Tessa choked out through sobs, “Aurora, if you’re upset, I can give the lead position back to you. I know you’ve never liked me… it’s probably because of my history with Alpha…”

Before she could finish, a payment receipt from Pack Hospital popped up on the big screen.

Someone had accidentally switched to the wrong backstage file.

The medical details were redacted, but Tessa’s name, the dates, and the accompanying person were crystal clear.

Accompanying person—Julian.

There was more than one date.

The audience erupted in noise.

Tessa covered her face and cried.

Julian’s face went dark with rage, but his first move was to step in front of her to block the cameras.

“Turn that off!”

The screen went black.

He turned around, his eyes locking straight on me.

“Aurora, did you do this?”

I froze.

“No.”

He walked toward me step by step, his voice low and dangerous.

“You can fight with me privately, but why would you air her personal trauma for everyone to gawk at?”

I looked at him.

“You actually think I did this?”

“Who else would hate her this much besides you?”

My throat felt like it was stuffed with cotton.

So that was what I was to him now—the kind of person who’d use someone else’s medical records to get revenge.

Tessa grabbed his arm through her sobs.

“Alpha, don’t blame Aurora. She just loves you too much.”

Julian closed his eyes. When he opened them again, his voice was ice cold.

“Aurora, apologize to Tessa. Right now, in front of every reporter here.”

I laughed a little.

“What if I don’t?”

He stared me down.

“Then Crestmoon Pack Group will formally pursue charges against you for breach of privacy and malicious disruption of the event.”

Every camera in the room swiveled to point at me.

The flashbulbs burned my eyes.

I pulled the ring box out of my bag.

When Julian saw it, his pupils shrank slightly.

I opened the box.

The ring, engraved with “Only You”, glinted blindingly under the stage lights.

“I was gonna give this to you on our third anniversary.”

Julian’s Adam’s apple bobbed.

Even Tessa’s crying stopped for a second.

I set the ring on the presentation podium.

“I don’t want it anymore.”

Julian reached for it.

I snapped the box shut before he could touch it, and handed it to a nearby staff member.

“Could you throw this away for me, please?”

The box landed in the trash can with a soft thud.

I said to Julian, “I can’t give you the apology you want.”

His face went livid.

“Aurora, you walk out that door, don’t you ever come crawling back to me.”

I nodded.

“Okay.”

As I turned, I heard Tessa call him softly.

“Alpha, it hurts.”

Julian didn’t chase after me.

He chose her. Again.

The cold wind hit me hard as I stepped outside.

I pulled out my phone and called my advisor.

“Professor Blake, you can release the evidence now.”