Returning the Ring

My boyfriend's first love framed me for stealing her research. At our graduation ceremony, he publicly demanded that I apologize to her.

If it doesn't belong to you, why won't you give it back? he asked coldly.

I realized then that he was right. Some things really did need to be returned.

I left his city, threw away the engagement ring, and deleted every way to contact him. I gave him back to his first love.

I thought our paths would never cross again.

But six years later, at a prestigious academic seminar, he spotted me in the crowd, dancing with another man.

Under the gaze of the entire elite academic world, the man known as the 'Ice King' of science broke down in tears.

"Did you throw me away just for him?" he sobbed.

......

The university auditorium was packed. Every gaze leveled at me was filled with disgust and contempt.

I could hear the whispers buzzing like flies around me. "How does she even have the nerve to show up? If I were her, I would've crawled into a hole and never come out."

"Seriously. I guess being a trust-fund kid means you think you can get away with anything."

Their words washed over me, heavy with a disdain that threatened to pull me under.

The news that I had supposedly plagiarized Annabel Reed's research had spread like wildfire.

Nobody questioned the truth of it. In their eyes, Annabel was the golden girlDbrilliant and hardworking.

She was the sweetheart of the department, well-liked by everyone.

Meanwhile, I was seen as the spoiled rich girl who had spent years targeting her out of spite.

The rumor was that I did it because Annabel was the first love of my boyfriend, Hayden Sterling.

As the fingers pointed, I could only tighten my grip on the flash drive in my pocket.

I opened my mouth to defend myself, but then I saw Hayden and Annabel walking toward me.

Annabel smiled at the crowd, her voice sweet and conciliatory. "Everyone, please. Joanie just made a mistake in the heat of the moment. We're all classmates. Let's not be too hard on her."

Her words sounded like she was protecting me, but in reality, they were the final nail in my coffin.

Hayden looked at Annabel with such raw tenderness it made my stomach churn. "Annabel, you're just too kind. This is academic theft! A thief like Joanie doesn't deserve your protection."

His words hit me like a physical blow to the chest.

Seeing the agony in my eyes, Hayden's expression shifted to one of pure loathing. He turned his face away as if the sight of me made him sick.

"Joanie, stop looking at me with those pathetic eyes. Don't act like I'm the one who betrayed you!"

"I didn't do anything wrong. You're the one who betrayed Annabel! We've known each other forever, and I never realized you were this kind of person."

My heart felt like it was being shredded.

I could handle the insults from the crowd, but Hayden's words were a knife to the soul.

We had grown up together as childhood sweethearts. Did he really not know who I was?

I didn't want to look at them for another second. I turned to walk away.

But the moment I moved, Hayden's voice boomed across the hall, stopping me in my tracks.

"Joanie, since everyone is here, go up on stage and apologize to Annabel publicly. Or else..."

I looked at him, my heart heavy with disappointment. His arm was wrapped firmly around Annabel's waist.

They looked like the perfect couple.

I suppose a childhood bond can't compete with a 'destined' first love. Twenty years of history meant nothing compared to her.

But if he loved her so much, why was he even with me?

The question burned in my throat. "Why..."

Before I could finish, Hayden cut me off with an impatient groan.

His voice was like ice. "If you don't apologize to Annabel on that stage right now, we're over."

"If it doesn't belong to you, why won't you give it back? Joanie, don't be so selfish."

I nodded slowly, my fingers relaxing around the flash drive.

He was right. It was time to give everything back.

I turned around and walked onto the stage, handing the flash drive to the technician in charge of the big screen.

Then, I grabbed the microphone. "Teachers, students, before the ceremony begins, please allow me to settle a personal matter."

"I am here to report Annabel Reed for plagiarizing my research and for framing me for her own theft."

2.

The moment the words left my mouth, Hayden stormed onto the stage and slapped me across the face.

"Joanie! What the hell are you talking about?" he roared.

Behind me, the screen flickered to life, displaying the contents of my flash drive. It contained every piece of data, every outline, and every rough draft of my research.

The timestamps were undeniable proof that I was the original creator. This wasn't something someone could just fake or copy overnight.

Annabel's face turned ghostly white. Sweat beaded on her forehead, and her entire body began to tremble.

The audience went silent, the collective mood shifting as they stared at the evidence.

I looked Hayden straight in the eyes. "Hayden, I'm not a thief. This research is mine."

When the plagiarism accusations first surfaced, Hayden had been furious.

He had screamed at me in front of everyone, calling me a disgusting, petty thief.

I hadn't cared about what others thought, but I had been terrified that Hayden would leave me over a misunderstanding.

He had always hated liars and frauds.

I had worked myself to the bone to find this evidence, just to clear my name in his eyes.

But looking at his rage now, I realized the man standing before me wasn't the man I loved.

He had changed into someone I didn't recognize.

Hayden didn't even look at the screen. He reached out to pull Annabel into his arms.

"Joanie, I never asked you to be as brilliant as Annabel," he spat. "All I wanted was for you to be a decent person, not a common criminal!"

"I'm your boyfriend. Do you think I don't know what your skill level is? Who are you trying to fool with this fake 'truth' just to dodge responsibility?"

"I was there with Annabel while she worked on this. I am the biggest witness to the fact that it's hers."

His voice, amplified by the microphone, echoed through every corner of the auditorium.

I stared at him, completely speechless.

Hayden's parents were world-renowned professors, and he was a star student himself. More importantly, he was my boyfriend.

His word carried more weight than any digital evidence I could provide.

Annabel's eyes welled with tears, looking up at him with pure devotion.

Hayden grabbed the mic from my hand, his voice filled with a self-righteous fury. "Joanie might be my girlfriend, but I will not cover up her crimes just because of our relationship!"

The crowd erupted into thunderous applause.

I stood there, frozen, as a bone-chilling cold settled in my marrow.

In that moment, I finally understood what it felt like for one's soul to turn to ash.

3.

Hayden dragged me backstage, his grip like a vise.

He looked at me with a face full of revulsion. "Joanie, can you stop acting like a spoiled brat for once?"

I just stared at him, my voice gone.

"Annabel was willing to speak up for you earlier," he continued. "How could you be so cruel? Do you have any idea how much trouble you've caused her?"

I wrenched my hand out of his grasp.

The pain in my chest was suffocating, and the emotions I'd been suppressing finally boiled over.

"Hayden, we've known each other for over twenty years! Do you really not know who I am?"

"I didn't do it! Why are you lying for her? Why won't you believe me when I tell you I didn't steal her work?"

Hayden was silent for a long time, looking at me with a pity that was worse than his anger.

"Joanie, why are you still acting? I've seen how hard Annabel works. Why would she ever need to steal from you?"

"She wanted to let this go for my sake. You're the one who wouldn't let it rest..."

I let out a desperate, broken laugh.

Ever since Hayden and Annabel got together the first time, he had always chosen her. I understood that back then; she was his girlfriend.

But they broke up. He came to me. And yet, he was still choosing her.

I wiped the tears from my eyes and took a shaky breath. "Hayden, if you hate me this much, why are you even with me?"

It was a question I had been dying to ask for a long time.

At some point, the warmth in his eyes had been replaced by a cold, sharp disdain.

I didn't know what I had done wrong, so I just tried harder. I thought if I were better to him, he'd find his way back to me.

During the year we were together, I watched him dump the meals I spent hours cooking into the trash. I watched him go out for dinner with Annabel constantly.

He even left me when I was shivering with a high fever because Annabel called him to go on a trip.

I had endured it all, swallowing my pride and my hurt, hoping for a shred of his old tenderness.

But this was the breaking point.

Hayden looked genuinely surprised by my question.

Before he could answer, Annabel appeared backstage, walking slowly toward him.

The moment Hayden saw her, his expression softened instantly.

Seeing that look, I finally had to admit the truth: Hayden Sterling had never loved me.

I let out a self-deprecating chuckle.

Annabel stepped close to him and whispered, "The school board is here. Let's talk about this later."

She paused, her eyes downcast. "Hayden, I don't want you fighting with Joanie because of me. I'd rather take the blame than see you in this position."

Hayden's eyes actually reddened with emotion at her 'sacrifice.'

Watching their little romantic drama, I felt nothing but disgust. I turned to walk away.

"If it weren't for you, I never would have broken up with Annabel in the first place!" Hayden shouted at my back. "You used my parents to force us together!"

4.

I wanted to turn back and ask him what the hell he meant, but the ceremony was starting. I pushed my confusion down and took my seat.

Hayden and Annabel followed, sitting nearby, acting every bit like a devoted couple.

He whispered something in her ear, and she blushed, ducking her head with a shy smile.

My heart was already dead, but seeing them still felt like a thousand needles pricking my skin.

I looked away, terrified I would break down in front of everyone.

But no matter how hard I tried to go numb, I could still hear the people around me gossiping.

I didn't need to listen closely to know they were calling me every name in the book.

The Dean finished his opening speech and looked toward me with a smile. "Now, I'll take over the host's duties and invite our valedictorian to give the farewell address."

A heavy silence fell over the room.

I instinctively glanced at Hayden. He was looking at Annabel with worry, while she sat there rubbing her eyes as if she'd been crying.

The Dean called my name again. "Joanie Miller?"

I stood up, preparing to head to the stage.

"Does someone with such low character really deserve to represent our class?" Hayden's voice rang out, filled with indignation. "Isn't this a slap in the face to the rest of us?"

I looked at the crowd. Their eyes matched Hayden'sDfull of mockery and hate.

The Dean looked confused. "Joanie has been an exemplary student for four years. Her research is a major contribution to the field. This was a committee decision."

Hayden raised his voice, drawing everyone in. "That research was stolen from Annabel! You can't favor her just because her family is rich and donated a few buildings to this school!"

"If you do this, you're spitting on every hardworking student here. The university shouldn't honor a fraud."

The last bit of warmth in my body evaporated.

"What exactly do you want the administration to do, Hayden?" I asked, my voice flat.

My cold expression seemed to make him flinch for a second, but then he looked at Annabel, and his resolve hardened.

He spoke each word with venomous clarity. "Someone like you should be expelled!"