Merrick stepped off the bus with a small velvet box tucked safely inside his coat pocket.He had spent most of the afternoon deciding what to buy Avery, walking from one shop to another until he found something he thought she might like. The necklace inside the box wasn't the most expensive piece in the store. But its delicate pendant had caught his attention, reminding him of the first necklace Avery had worn when they began dating.He couldn't afford the extravagant gifts her family exchanged at their gatherings, but he hoped she'd appreciate the thought behind it.After all, this was their fourth wedding anniversary.Merrick adjusted his faded jacket and started towards the Sterling estate, already imagining the look on Avery's face when he presented it to her. Perhaps she would smile the way she used to, teasing him about his terrible taste in gifts before pulling him into an embrace.The thought warmed him enough to ignore the familiar embarrassment of arriving at the mansion

Merrick had been walking for nearly an hour when he reached the bridge, his damp shirt clinging to his back as the evening breeze brushed against his skin.He hadn't bothered wiping away the champagne until he was several streets away from the Sterling estate. Even then, the humiliation followed him, replaying in his mind every time he remembered Avery's expression as she poured the drink over his head.That was a mistake.Her words hurt more than he wanted to admit.For four years, he'd convinced himself that his sacrifices meant something, that Avery would eventually recognize how much he'd done for her. Instead, she'd built her success on his designs, replaced him with another man, and discarded him as though their marriage had been an inconvenience.Merrick shoved his hands into his pockets, continuing along the pavement.He couldn't even afford a place of his own. He was still living with Nadia, relying on his sister's generosity while Avery enjoyed the luxurious life he'd helped

“Turn around and put your hands behind your back.”One of the police officers stepped toward Merrick, reaching for his wrist while his colleague blocked the corridor entrance.Merrick stared at them in disbelief. “You're actually going to arrest me because this man accused me of something without a single shred of evidence?”“Watch your tone,” Julian snapped. “You're in no position to question anything when my father is lying unconscious in a hospital because of you.”“Because of me?” Merrick repeated, anger creeping into his voice. “I found your father attempting to jump off a bridge. I stopped him, and when he collapsed, I brought him here. If I'd left him alone, he might be dead right now!”“That's a convenient story. Perhaps you thought saving him would make it easier to get your hands on the Vermillion family's money.”Merrick clenched his jaw. He had spent years being looked down upon by people who considered wealth a measure of worth, but Julian's arrogance was beyond anything

Morning sunlight spilled across the dashboard as Nadia pulled up outside Sterling Fashion. Employees were already streaming through the glass entrance, hurrying into another working day, while Merrick remained in the passenger seat, staring at the building.He had barely slept. The previous night had brought Avery’s public humiliation, his walk across the bridge, and the elderly stranger he had rescued. Learning that the man was Donald Vermillion—and that Donald’s will might entitle him to a share of the family estate—still felt unreal. Yet this morning, he had a simpler task: sign the divorce papers and leave.Nadia switched off the engine, turning toward him with concern. She had found him waiting at her apartment at dawn, exhausted and unwilling to explain where he had been.“Are you sure you’re all right?” she asked, studying his face. “You’ve barely spoken since we left.”“I’m fine,” Merrick replied, forcing himself to meet her eyes. “I just need to take care of something inside.