26. Chapter 26
Chapter 26
-Annabella-
I was certain I would meet Kace at home after work, but as I packed up my things, a colleague approached and tapped me on the shoulder.
Turning around, I saw her smiling at me, and I asked what was going on. She informed me that my husband was waiting for me downstairs in the lobby. I was so shocked, I froze.
“What?” I exclaimed.
“Your husband is downstairs,” she repeated.
I blinked rapidly, unsure what to make of it since I hadn’t expected Kace to show up. I had assumed we would simply meet at home, and now I needed to see it for myself. Thanking her, I made my way downstairs to find Kace.
Initially scanning the area without spotting him, I ventured further into the lobby, where a small seating area caught my eye. There he was, sitting and engrossed in his phone.
I was surprised he had come into the building when he usually preferred not to leave the house. Nonetheless, seeing him there filled me with happiness, but as I approached, I noticed people around him who seemed to recognize him. They were whispering and discreetly pointing in his direction, and I could guess what they were thinking.
I shook my head in disbelief, unable to comprehend their childish behavior. Why were they acting this way?
Gathering my resolve, I walked over to him and called out his name confidently.
“Hey,” he said.
“Hey, I’m surprised you came here. I thought we were going to meet at home,” I admitted.
“Might as well come out to get my wife.”
“You don’t like leaving the house,” I teased.
“It was time,” he said. “And what better way to spend my first day out than picking a ring for you?”
I nodded, feeling reassured by his words, and asked if he was ready to go. He nodded back, and we left together. Kace had a chauffeur waiting, as usual, and we both got into the car before heading toward a jewelry shop.
I knew we were going to one of the more upscale shops, but regardless of the ring’s size, I anticipated my sister finding something to critique. Personally, I wasn’t keen on wearing a massive rock that would weigh down my hand. I preferred something more subtle.
However, since Kace had planned this outing, I didn’t voice my thoughts. I didn’t want to appear ungrateful or make a fuss over nothing, so I kept quiet as we found a parking spot and left the car.
Kace already had a specific store in mind, and it wasn’t one known for affordability—none of the nearby shops were. Yet, despite having more than enough money, I didn’t see the value in splurging on a diamond ring. I believed there were better ways to spend our resources. Still, I remained silent, not wanting to cause any inconvenience. If this was where Kace wanted to shop, then so be it.
He drove into the shop, and I followed him inside. We were promptly greeted by eager assistants who recognized Kace. They were overly friendly, asking him what he was searching for.
“A ring,” he said. “One for my new wife.”
It seemed to surprise them, but they quickly began finding a lot of rings for me to pick from. I thought they were all a bit much. They were there to earn money, after all, so they weren’t supposed to show the less expensive rings.
“What do you think?” Kace asked when I had been shown all the rings. Yet, I didn’t know what to say. They were just too big and flashy, but could I be honest about my opinion?
“You want to try them on?” one of the sales assistants inquired, and I reluctantly agreed.
-Kace-
As my wife hesitated about trying on the rings, I found myself observing her closely. Something seemed off with Annabella. She was unusually quiet. Despite her initial excitement when I picked her up, there was a hesitation lingering in her demeanor.
As the sales assistant detailed the ring’s specifications, she grew more subdued. Her discomfort was obvious, evident in her tense posture and the way she hesitated. Annabella was always transparent with her feelings, making it clear when something didn’t sit right with her. Despite this, she turned to me slowly, offering a weak smile as she held up her hand.
“So?” she asked.
“Do you like it?” I inquired.
“I… eh, it’s nice. Very nice,” she said, and she nodded as she looked at it.
“You hate it,” I stated, making her look at me, her eyes huge. She glanced at the sales assistants, and I realized she didn’t want to offend them, but they weren’t the crafters. Just sellers.
“I… eh…”
“A moment alone,” I told the assistants, and they walked further away. The moment they did, Annabella seemed to relax, but when she focused on me, I could see the fake smile she was giving me.
“It’s beautiful. So nice. It’s great,” she assured me.
“Why are you lying?” I inquired.
“I am not.” But her eyes glanced to the side.
“Annabella, honesty,” I scolded her.
“But… you brought us here,” she mumbled.
“And?”
“And I don’t want to seem ungrateful.”
So that was my wife’s problem?“You pick the one you like,” I urged her, seeing the surprised look on her face.
“Anyone I like?”
“Yes. Anyone.”
She smiled slightly, appearing more relaxed, and nodded before scanning the options before her. However, her eyes soon settled on another ring—one that hadn’t been presented yet on the desk—and she pointed to it.
I could clearly see what had caught her attention. Instead of a diamond, it featured a blue ruby surrounded by tiny diamonds. It was exquisite and notably smaller than the rings she had been shown. There was an understated elegance to it that resonated with me, and I wholeheartedly supported her choice.
My conviction grew stronger as she slipped it onto her finger and showed it to me. The ring seemed to belong there, perfectly complementing Annabella.
We agreed that this was the one for her, and we left the store, her face now adorned with a broad smile as she wore the ring. It looked stunning on her, and we had also chosen a ring for me, solidifying our bond as a married couple.
“So that went well,” she chuckled as we came outside.
She has no idea how well that went , I thought.
“It did,” I told her.
“So, are we going home?” she inquired.
“We are finding a dress for you.”
“Oh, I hoped you had forgotten that,” she sighed.
“Nope, and there is a dress shop right there,” I pointed out, pointing further down the street.
“Wonderful,” she groaned, trying to smile again but failing.
“Come now. It isn’t hell you’re walking into.”
“No, but I hate those kinds of shops. They judge you the moment you enter,” she said, crossing her arms.
“We will be judged no matter where we go. So why does it matter?” I asked.
She could see what I was saying and nodded a little. “Very well.”