s, he actually tried to pull me aside, whispering, "Ava, let's not make a

lic proposal to another wo

nsistent. I pulled away

ne, her hand trembling dramatically. "Oh, Ethan," she sobbed, "I feel so faint. I thin

nker. His attention snapped back to her. "Baby,

ee what you're doing, Av

stant. My fault,

eigned distress, her eyes were hard. "That sapphire," she said, her voice suddenly stron

ated, my voice tight. "He stole i

now!" she

t's just a stone! I told you I'd get you somethin

band from my hand. "Let Chloe have the s

st around the ch

tone. This was about

ovement caught me off guard. His hand clampe

just a desperate, clumsy attempt on his par

have retrieved from the auction house earlier and had Chloe wear before

ready under s

slipped. It hit the floor with a sickening clatter. The original art-deco setting, which I now saw wa

quickly followed by that subtle, knowing smirk a

or – the broken ring band, the loose sapphire,

rple with rage. "You! You did

. This is a disaster. I... I'll have it fixed. The pendant. The original one. Better than

nd the damaged setting. He didn't

's get out of here." He practically carried her away, leaving me standing

m disappear i

iny diamonds still clinging to it. The empty setting where the mai

t. The abs

again, this time

e, my fingers steady

y decision. I'm booking a fligh

e a calm anchor in the storm of my emotions. "

d the airline app. One way

o