James carefully unlocked the small ring box while still inside the elevator. The moment the lid opened, the light of the tiny enclosed space fell directly onto a brilliant set in gleaming gold, illuminating the room in a soft glow. This was no ordinary gem. Once hailed as the most valuable gold in Graydon, the twelve-million-dollar ring was an exceptional piece, unmatched in beauty and rarity.
Although James did not know the exact balance on the bank card Emily had left him, he was certain it held more than enough wealth to buy Johnsons Company five times over. Only minutes before, Emily had dismissed these treasures as worthless trinkets, while Evelyn hadn't even spared them a glance. The irony wasn't lost on him.
As the elevator doors slid open, James stepped out quietly, his expression unreadable.
"Oh, look who it is! If it isn't James!" a sarcastic voice called, drawing out his name with exaggerated amusement. "You don't look too happy today, do you?"
James raised his head and met the source of the voice with cool composure. A man in a sharply tailored suit, hair slicked back and holding a bouquet of flowers, leaned casually against the wall. It was Jason Cole, one of Evelyn's most ardent admirers, the infamous trust fund heir of Graydon, notorious for both his wealth and arrogance.
James wanted to pass without acknowledgment, hoping to avoid any interaction. But Jason deliberately stepped into his path, blocking his way. James's gaze hardened, icy and unyielding.
"Do you require something, or can you kindly step aside?" James asked with a calm yet commanding tone.
Jason's grin stretched unnaturally wide, his voice dripping with mockery. "Well, well, what do we have here? Evelyn's loyal lapdog finally showing himself! I'm guessing the Johnsons family finally kicked you out, huh?"
Jason's eyes flicked toward the small box in James's hands as he taunted him. "What's this? Some cheap little trinket you think will impress her? Let's all have a look, shall we?"
Before James could react, Jason slammed his hand onto the box, knocking it from James's grip. The lid flew open as the box hit the floor, and the dazzling gold spilled out, catching the light and scattering it across the elevator floor.
Jason froze, his smug expression replaced with awe. "Is that…the Quintol gold from Crags Jewelries?" he stammered. "The one everyone says is the most expensive gold in Graydon?"
James's calm demeanor didn't falter as Jason's disbelief grew. "A twelve-million-dollar gold?" Jason gasped, utterly baffled. "How on earth did you get that?"
Employees and bystanders of Johnsons Company, drawn by the commotion, clustered around the scene. Their eyes widened in astonishment at the radiant gem, a treasure that had been the object of desire for countless women in Graydon—a symbol of ultimate luxury that most could only dream of owning.
James bent down with composed elegance, picking up the box and closing it quietly. He no longer felt compelled to be polite to the sycophants and parasites who had always surrounded Evelyn. Their relationship was over; courtesy was no longer necessary.
"Grab him!" Jason barked to his bodyguards. "Find out where he got that ring! That nobody has no right to touch it!"
James didn't flinch. Instead, he swiftly turned and delivered a solid slap across Jason's face before the bodyguards could even step forward.
Jason groaned, spitting out a tooth along with a small stream of blood. He staggered backward several meters, finally collapsing onto the floor like a rag doll, stunned and humiliated.
Shame quickly twisted into rage in Jason's eyes. How could a former nobody, someone he had always dismissed, have the audacity to strike him? The notion was inconceivable.
The bodyguards hesitated for a moment, startled by James's sudden display of strength. But their shock didn't last long—they surged forward, yelling in fury, ready to attack. Yet James met them with precision. Two quick, calculated punches later, both men were sprawled unconscious on the ground.
Jason could hardly believe what he had just witnessed. How had this seemingly ordinary man become such a formidable fighter? Employees of Johnsons Company, who had always seen James as kind, gentle, and polite, now stared in disbelief. Some fled, terrified of the unexpected violence.
James gave the crumpled, bleeding Jason a cold, hard look and turned away, moving past the stunned crowd. His focus remained unwavering, his anger directed only at those who had underestimated him.
The disturbance quickly drew Evelyn and Emily to the scene, their expressions a mixture of alarm and fury.
"Jason! Who dared to hurt you? Are they trying to get themselves killed?" Emily exclaimed, rushing to his side.
"That loser James!" Jason hissed through clenched teeth, pressing his hands to his bruised face. "He'll pay me back tenfold! I swear I'll make him regret this!"
Emily's temper flared immediately. "What? That insolent man actually hit you? I'll never forgive him for this. It must be because Evelyn rejected him. I won't allow such trash to walk away unpunished!"
Jason, momentarily forgetting his pain, lit up with delight. "Is it true, Evelyn? Have you finally broken ties with that pathetic man?"
"My personal matters are of no concern to you," Evelyn replied sharply, her voice laced with icy disdain. "And as for why James struck you… it's clear he never starts fights without reason."
Jason clenched his jaw, frustration mixing with disbelief. "Who can even understand what was going through that crazy man's head? You won't believe it, Evelyn. That lunatic actually stole the twelve-million-dollar gold ring from Crags Jewelries—the very same one that's considered the most expensive ring in all of Graydon—just to impress you!"
Evelyn's eyes widened in shock. "What? He actually… stole such a valuable gold?"
In truth, she had secretly dreamed of wearing this particular gem on her wedding day. Its fame in Graydon's high society made it a symbol of ultimate elegance and prestige.
Jason insisted, his tone brimming with certainty. "I saw it myself! If you doubt me, ask any of the staff here. He pulled a stunt like this at his own peril. No sane person would dare attempt it unless they had a death wish!"
Evelyn's brow furrowed as she contemplated the claim. "James may not be wealthy, but I've never imagined he'd resort to theft."
Jason scoffed at her hesitation. "He turned to stealing because he's poor! Think about it, Evelyn. What other way could a man of his status have acquired such a ring?"
Emily chimed in, her tone sharp. "Exactly! There's no other explanation—it must have been stolen!" She internally berated herself for returning the small black box to James without verifying its contents.
Evelyn immediately contacted several staff members to verify the incident. Her expression darkened further as her suspicions were confirmed: James did, in fact, possess the gold ring.
"This is absolutely ridiculous," she muttered through gritted teeth. "Being poor is one thing, James, but trying to gain my favor through theft? That only makes me despise you more."
Her fingers flew across her phone as she made an angry call, her sharp tone echoing in the tense office environment.