A sharp, ear-piercing sound cut through the air, and Gretchen felt like her eardrums were about to burst.
“Someone… someone…”
Bernard sniffled then sprinted toward the car like he was in a hundred-meter race while Gretchen limped after him.
When she finally reached the car, she saw what happened: Marjorie’s high heels had gotten scuffed somehow, leaving a noticeable patch where the paint was chipped.
“What am I going to do, Bernie? It looks so ugly now!”
Bernard was about to get in the car when his phone buzzed with a reminder of his appointment—it was the shareholder meeting for one of his hotels, something he couldn’t skip.
“I’ll have the driver take you to IFC to buy a new pair,” he said, then turned to Gretchen. “You’re not busy, right? Go with Marjorie.”
He added, “Her back’s hurt from dancing, so she can’t bend down. You can help her change shoes.”
Marjorie smiled sweetly, her dimples shallow and delicate. “Thanks for helping me, Gret—”
“I’m busy,” Gretchen cut in.
Bernard looked like he couldn’t believe what he’d just heard. “What did you say, Gretchen?”
Gretchen didn’t hesitate to repeat herself. “I’ve got other things to do. I’m busy.”
With that, she turned and walked out of the parking lot, heading straight for a designer jewelry shop.
Even though the engagement ceremony wasn’t as formal as a wedding, she still needed an engagement ring.
She picked out a plain silver ring—no diamonds, no flashy plating. The design was simple and timeless, but the thick band made her fingers look even longer and more elegant.
The sales assistant greeted her with a polite smile. “Are you buying one ring or a pair, Ma’am?”
“A pair,” Gretchen answered.
“What’s the gentleman’s size, Ma’am? I can check if it needs to be custom-made.”
“Size 23,” Gretchen answered automatically.
As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized her mistake.
That was Bernard’s size. She knew it because, once upon a time, she’d secretly measured his finger while he was napping. But that detail didn’t matter anymore.
The sales assistant noticed her hesitation and reassured her with a warm smile.
“We can adjust the size for any ring—male or female. Why don’t you pick the design you like first, Ma’am?”
Gretchen finalized the order, arranged to pick it up in a week, and headed home feeling satisfied.
But while she was still in the cab on the way back, her phone rang. The sales assistant was on the other end, her voice trembling with panic.
In the background, Gretchen heard a familiar woman’s voice.
“Business is about selling to the highest bidder, isn’t it? I’m offering 10 times the price!”
Her chest started racing. “What happened?”
The sales assistant’s voice cracked, sounding like she was on the verge of tears. “There… There’s a woman who came in, and… and she really wants the ring you ordered, Ma’am. She’s demanding we… we sell it to her.”
That familiar voice interrupted again, sharp and entitled. “Here’s my payment. I’m taking it. My fiancé said if you don’t sell it to me, your stop won’t even open tomorrow!”
And then, the line abruptly went dead.
Gretchen didn’t need to guess. She knew exactly who the demanding customer was—Marjorie.
She closed her eyes briefly to compose herself, and then she pulled out her phone and dialed Marjorie’s number. The phone rang four times before it was answered, but the voice on the other end wasn’t Marjorie's.
It was Bernard. “Gretchen, you’ve got some nerve to lie to me. You said you were busy, but you were just out shopping instead!”
Gretchen didn’t even acknowledge his accusation. Her tone was cold and steady when she said, “Give it back.”
Bernard played dumb. “Give what back?”
After a pause, maybe realizing he couldn’t talk his way out of it, he finally said, “You mean the ring? Come on, Marjorie really likes it. Just let her have it.”
But Gretchen didn’t waver. “Why should I? Give it back to me.”
For a moment, Bernard was stunned. But when he spoke again, his tone was icy. “Hey, who do you think you’re talking to, huh?”
In the background, Marjorie’s sweet voice chimed in, full of fake innocence.
“Oh no, did I take something Gretchen liked? Bernie, don’t blame her. I’ll give it back if it’s such a big deal…”
Bernard gritted his teeth, his voice low and clearly restrained.
