ed again. A t

ews. They're not great. Can you come to the afterparty at 'The Gild

knew it

d the final, undeniable proof. Closure, maybe. Or ma

Something simpl

ry crowd, influencers, hangers-on. The air t

en I s

of th

on on

over her mouth,

audy band. No, wait. He was holding the pendant in his other hand, offering it like a second, more significant pr

hed. He wouldn

treaming down her fac

looked excited, others confused, a few glanced

a strained smile on his face.

an, what about Ava?" His vo

use, my future!" he declared, loud enough for everyone nearby to hear. "Av

ike a burden he wa

ped fo

ow

ted to

delibera

d them died dow

ady. "Using my grandmother's legacy, her actual g

hrough the cel

scrambled to his feet,

you doing her

he clutched the newly-ringed hand to her chest

iled. "She's going

, took a dramatic gulp, then swayed, "accidentall

uin things!" she cried, lo

va, stop it! Can't you see you're

, all tenderness. "It's

the ring on Chloe's finger

," I said, my voice

d. "Ethan gave it t

"Ava, just let it go. It means something

ft, Ethan," I said

for Chlo

it t

rieked, pullin

arm. "Don't you

onger than I looked. I twisted my

scre

d around the sap

rly not made for such a ston

cheap setting. It clattered to the polished floor, spinning for

um and smaller diamonds, was still with the auction h

Ethan's attention was on the fallen stone, her eyes me

've ruined everything! Are you happy now?"

snatching up

is a mess. I... I'll have it fixed. I'll get the original setting from the auct

turning back to Chloe, fussing over h

re." He wrapped an arm around her, guid

hed th

. The cheap, broken ring band lay there.

nt of n

ed to the empty space

d out m

n's n

nswered. "It's Ava. My dec

ents," he said, his voi

a one-way ticket to San

orr