the vestibule anno

grotesque. He wore a tailored suit that cost more than most people

ineered to soothe, a tone that used to make my

just had with the Commission. T

d over to me, his gaze sweeping the room before

e didn't notice the rejection. His gaze slid past me to his o

ful," I said,

ands, his thumbs tracing the bones of my hands. "The wedding

hey were brown, warm, and

g for a single muscle that betrayed him. "Do y

e more. "His smile didn't reach his eyes; the skin around them remained smooth, uncrin

m

ng me with a flick of his wrist. "Come on

iamond District wa

igh. It took every ounce of my willpower not to shove it away;

trict. We were ushered into the private viewing room

t box. He wore white gloves, handling the obj

he said, bowing slightly. "As

ned th

smaller white diamonds. It was gaudy. It was loud. It was e

est. "One of a kind. Just like you, Gia. I told Ricci,

id it onto my finger. It fel

said, looking at me expectantly. "No

ricked

elf-satisfaction settling on his fe

a tear from my cheek, m

's private Instagram story. She had posted a photo of he

pink diamond. Oval

said our love is cust

lurry but legible, was the invoice fr

oduced our engagement. He had bought us matc

eeming to pulse under the jeweler's lamps,

whispered, fighting the urge to