The necklace resting against my skin was absolutely breathtaking. It wasn’t loud or gaudy—its beauty came from patience, from the kind of devotion only someone deeply intentional could possess. Clear crystal, cut with care, each facet catching the light as though it had been shaped by someone who believed love itself could be carved into stone. It felt warm against my chest, as if it had already learned the rhythm of my heartbeat.
I lowered the sheet just enough to take it into my hands, studying it more closely. The crystal was pure and flawless, suspended in a delicate design that spoke of commitment rather than possession. It was stunning—and unsettling—because I still didn’t know how it had ended up on me.
Carter’s voice broke the quiet, steady and sincere.
“You don’t have to answer
