The One He Dismissed Became The One He Died For novel Chapter 268

"This is for you."

Miles opened it with one hand. Inside lay a simple men's wedding band.

Claire's voice was soft, laced with a hint of vulnerability. "From now on, you wear this one."

"And I'll wear this one." she said, holding up her left hand. On her ring finger sat a new, elegantly understated diamond band.

She had bought this new pair herself.

She could accept the fact that Miles had a first love, but asking her to wear the ring he had originally prepared with that woman in mind was simply asking too much of her.

Miles looked up, his voice low. "What about the blue diamond ring?"

Claire's heart skipped a beat.

He asked anyway.

She pressed her lips together, forcing a casual tone. "It's just not practical. A diamond that massive is way too flashy. I already put it in your study, so you can just... put it away."

Put it away, and never bring it out again.

Miles's eyes flickered.

When he had found out about that specific auction in South Africa, he had flown halfway across the world overnight just to win that ring.

He had the letters CJ engraved into the inner band right then and there.

Everyone had warned him not to do it—once it was engraved, it would be nearly impossible to resell. He had told them he would never sell it in his lifetime.

He had certainly kept that promise.

But she didn't like it.

Seeing his silence, Claire felt a sharp ache in her chest, assuming he was hesitating.

She grabbed his left hand and, without waiting for his permission, slid the simple band onto his ring finger. It was a perfect fit.

"I know it's not as expensive as the blue diamond, but I spent a long time picking this out."

"You are not allowed to take it off."

Alistair hadn't completely given up hope. He was simply using Victor to provoke Miles, trying to force him to crawl back and beg for forgiveness.

"Miles performed an off-site emergency surgery to save Harvey's mother. Harvey is obviously going to be incredibly grateful for that!"

Yvonne seethed with jealousy. "That bitch Claire got so lucky! She scored that massive partnership without doing a single thing."

Victor's eyes grew darker and colder.

An emergency surgery, huh?

It was true—stripping Miles of his inheritance was meaningless. The man had never cared about the company's wealth to begin with.

To truly destroy him, Victor needed to destroy the one thing Miles actually cared about.

He was desperate to watch this supposedly untouchable golden boy crash and burn in absolute ruin.

*Oh, my dear brother.*

A twisted, manic light ignited in Victor's eyes.