Chapter 15
+15 Bonus
The jewelry store sparkled with enough diamonds to ransom a small country. I sat rigidly on a plush velvet chair while Raymond
paced in front of the glass cases, his expression distant as if this were just another business transaction.
“What about this one?” the clerk asked, pulling out a delicate band with a modest diamond.
I nodded. “It’s beautiful.‘
“No,” Raymond cut in immediately. “Too simple. Show us something more… elaborate.”
The clerk, sensing a big commission, eagerly pulled out a gaudy ring with an enormous center stone surrounded by smaller
diamonds.
“This might be more suitable for the future Luna,” she beamed.
I cringed. “It’s a bit much for everyday wear, don’t you think?”
Raymond barely glanced at me. “We need something that makes a statement. People expect certain things from the Luna’s ring.”
For an hour, this painful dance continued. Every ring I showed interest in, Raymond dismissed. Every ostentatious piece I disliked, he considered. The poor clerk’s enthusiasm was visibly waning as she brought out the fifteenth tray of rings.
“Perhaps madam would like to try some on?” she suggested, desperation creeping into her voice.
“Excellent idea,” Raymond agreed, selecting three rings I had shown no interest in. “Try these.”
With a forced smile, I reached for the first ring, a white gold band with an aggressively large diamond. As I tried to slide it onto my finger, it stopped at my knuckle.
“That’s strange,” I murmured, trying the next one with the same result. “None of these fit.”
The clerk frowned. “That is odd. I double–checked that these were all in the size you requested.”
I glanced at Raymond, who had suddenly become intensely fascinated with a spot on the far wall. A cold suspicion washed over
- me.
“Raymond?” I prompted, my voice dangerously quiet. “Why don’t these rings fit me?”
He ran a hand through his hair, a telltale sign of discomfort I’d recognized since we were children. The clerk, sensing tension, discreetly retreated to help another customer.
“I might as well be honest,” he finally said, meeting my eyes. “I’m buying a surprise for Giana. These rings… they’re meant for her fingers, not yours.”
Even though I’d suspected it, the confirmation still felt like being doused with ice water. “You’re buying matching rings for you and Giana? While shopping for our wedding rings?”
Chapter 15
+15 Bonus
“I needed a reason to be here without her suspecting,” he explained, as if this made perfect sense. “You can pick out a similar
design for your wedding ring. That way, we’ll all be coordinated for the… arrangement.”
My throat tightened. The sheer audacity of it–to bring me along as a cover while he bought tokens of love for another woman.
“Fine,” I managed, turning to the cases. My eyes landed on the most ostentatiously expensive ring in the display–a massive
princess–cut diamond on a platinum band encrusted with smaller diamonds. “I want that one.”
Raymond’s eyes widened when the clerk returned and quoted the price. His jaw clenched, but with the clerk watching expectantly, he had no choice.
“We’ll take it,” he said through gritted teeth, pulling out his credit card.
Twenty minutes later, I walked out of the store with an empty ring box and a hollower heart. Raymond had hastily departed with his purchases, promising to meet me later for Luna training.
the screen
As I stood on the sidewalk, my phone rang. Lilly’s cheerful face flashed on the
“Aurora!” she squealed when I answered. “Mom just told me you and Raymond were buying rings today! Please tell me you have
I forced brightness into my voice. “Just finished shopping.”
“Oh my god, we have to see it! Ethan and I are downtown right now. Coffee shop on Main? Fifteen minutes?”
1 hesitated, but couldn’t bear to disappoint her. “See you there.”
Lilly and her brother Ethan were already seated when I arrived, two steaming mugs of coffee waiting on the table. Lilly jumped up to hug me, while Ethan’s warm smile was a balm to my battered spirit.
“Let’s see it!” Lilly demanded, reaching for my left hand. Her excitement faded to confusion when she found no ring, “Where is
