Page 54 of My Downfall

“What do you mean?” He frowns down at me.

“You’re willingly walking into a department store with me? A famous department store. You realize I’m a woman, right?”

His heated gaze roves over every inch of my body. “Oh, baby, I’m aware.”

“We’re going to be here for hours.”

“That’s why it’s all I planned this afternoon.”

“Fuck, yes.” I fist pump and march into the building made of dreams.

“We’ll try that one on, please.” We’ve been wandering around for hours, and his arms are weighed down with all the bags I’ve collected like souvenirs. It doesn’t stop him from lifting his hand to point at something that has my heart racing, though.

“Hudson, what are you doing?” I breathe as the saleswoman reaches into the glass cabinet and removes the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen from the display.

“Humor me.”

I hold out my right hand as the woman holds the ring in gloved hands.

“The other one, baby girl.” I turn my gaze to the man standing next to me; the man who wants me to put this ring on my wedding finger.

“This isn’t me asking you, sweet pea. You’re just trying it on.”

“Why?”

“Because I want to see what it will look like when you wear my ring one day.”

I look back to the sales lady who is smiling at both of us and then to the ring she’s still patiently holding out. It’s a large cushion cut yellow diamond, surrounded by white diamonds, and set in a delicate platinum band.

I don’t even want to think about how much it costs.

There’s not a single price tag on any item. It’s assumed you have money by just walking in here in the first place.

The ring slides onto my finger.

A perfect fit.

“They say you know the moment you wear it. The ring picks you not the other way around.” She’s nailed the subtle sales pitch.

This one has definitely picked me. Holy shit, it’s gorgeous.

“Perfect,” he whispers next to me.

“You’re not buying this.” He’s bought everything I’ve so much as looked at today, this isn’t going to be one of them.

“Like I said, you’re just trying it on.”

“Thank goodness.” I breathe out what I hope sounds like a sigh of relief, but I think it might actually be disappointment.

Chapter Twenty-nine

Hudson

I bought it; I couldn’t not. It looked perfect on her.

Sheis perfect.

When she wasn’t looking, I handed over my black card. I didn’t need to think about it, didn’t need to consider the options. The minute she put it on I knew I had to have it, thatshehad to have it.