Nikki’s forehead slammed into the ground, and a blinding white light flashed in her vision. Pain shot through her skull as she slowly opened her eyes, the sound of laughter around her fading into a distant hum.
At that moment, only one thought consumed her.
Thank God... the wedding ring wasn’t lost.
She lay sprawled on the pavement, reaching out with trembling fingers, just inches away from the ring—when a pair of spotless leather shoes suddenly appeared in front of her.
Brad bent down, plucking the ring from between the bricks, and stared down at her with a smug expression.
"Nikki, what kind of pathetic show are you putting on? You scared Lora to tears."
"My ring..."
Brad studied her pale face and the miserable state of her body, his brows knitting together in slight distaste.
For a moment, it almost seemed like he was offering her the ring. His fingers extended toward her, stopping barely a centimeter away from her own.
Then, just as her breath hitched in hope, his lips curled into a smirk.
Straightening up, he casually tossed the ring into the air. It spun in a gleaming arc under the night sky—before plunging straight into the fountain in the middle of the street.
Right at that moment, the timed music played, and with a loud bang, the fountain erupted, sending powerful jets of water spraying in all directions.
Nikki’s eyes widened in horror as she watched the ring vanish beneath the surging water. Her whole body went rigid, a freezing sensation crawling through her veins.
She lifted her gaze to Brad in a daze, her breath caught in her throat. It was as if all the blood in her body had turned to ice.
Brad, no longer wearing his smug expression, had already turned away to console Lora gently.
"Don't worry, Lora. I'll order an even better one for you tomorrow. That fake ring was cheap anyway—I mean, Nikki wore it."
Lora huddled into Howard’s arms, her voice soft and pitiful. "Sister scratched my hand just now... It really hurts. She’s so scary. She’s never like this in front of Mom and Dad."
Brad’s voice dropped to a commanding tone. "Nikki, come here and apologize to Lora!"
But as he turned around, his expression shifted.
Nikki wasn’t standing there.
She was struggling to get up, her body covered in dust and grime. Her hair was disheveled, her clothes a mess, one of her high heels broken.
Then, barefoot and pale, she suddenly sprinted into the fountain.
Desperation fueled her movements as she plunged into the icy water, her hands frantically searching every crevice, every gap between the tiles—like a madwoman chasing a ghost.
Brad and Howard watched, momentarily stunned.
"It’s just a ring," Brad muttered, frowning. "Why is she acting like this?"
His brows furrowed deeper, his voice dropping in disbelief. "She just wants to marry me... doesn’t she?"
Howard’s sharp gaze swept over Nikki’s trembling figure. He noticed the deep scratches on her legs from earlier, the way her red-rimmed eyes stood out against her ghostly pale face.
The freezing winter air turned the water on her heavy coat into sheets of ice. Yet, even as her entire body grew numb, she didn’t stop searching.
She didn’t even hear the onlookers whispering.
"Tsk tsk... She’s really willing to do anything just to marry one of them."
"Pathetic. No dignity at all."
Spit landed near her, followed by mocking laughter.
But Nikki heard none of it.
At that moment, nothing else mattered.
She had to find that ring.
The one David gave her.
Over the years of chasing after the Hewitt brothers, she had already lost every shred of pride.
This wedding ring—this last, ridiculous token—was all she had left.
Her final scrap of dignity.
Brad and Howard exchanged glances, their expressions complicated.
Lora suddenly clutched her chest, her lips trembling. "I feel a little faint... I was so scared just now..."
Both men instantly snapped to attention, their focus shifting back to her. Without hesitation, they picked her up and hurried to the car.
Meanwhile, Nikki remained in the freezing fountain, her fingers numb, her entire body trembling violently.
Yet she kept searching.
Her wide, tear-filled eyes scanned the depths of the water, even as her frozen tears crystallized against her skin, turning into layers of salt.
