The Ring
911 Words
The hallway fell silent.
Every student nearby turned to stare.
Victoria smiled sweetly.
“Tell her why you’ve been carrying my engagement ring.”
Isabella’s heart sank.
An…
Engagement ring?
She looked at the small velvet box in Alexander’s hand.
Inside was a breathtaking diamond ring that sparkled beneath the hallway lights.
Emma, who had just returned from the café, stopped in her tracks.
“What is going on?”
Alexander closed the box with a snap.
His expression hardened.
“Victoria.”
His voice was calm.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m telling the truth.”
“No.”
“You are creating a scene.”
Victoria folded her arms.
“Then explain it.”
Alexander looked around the crowded hallway.
Dozens of students had gathered.
Some were already recording with their phones.
He sighed.
“Fine.”
He held up the velvet box.
“This ring doesn’t belong to Victoria.”
Victoria’s smile faltered.
“It belongs to my mother.”
A murmur spread through the crowd.
“My mother asked me to take it to the jeweler because it needed to be resized.”
He looked directly at Victoria.
“You offered to deliver it.”
“I said no.”
“You took it anyway.”
Victoria’s face stiffened.
“And now you’re pretending it’s yours.”
The hallway erupted into whispers.
“So they’re not engaged?”
“I knew something was off.”
Victoria quickly recovered.
She laughed softly.
“I was only joking.”
“No.”
Alexander’s voice was firm.
“You weren’t.”
For the first time since Isabella had met him…
He sounded genuinely disappointed.
Victoria’s smile slowly disappeared.
“You embarrassed me.”
“You embarrassed yourself.”
She stared at him for several long seconds.
Then her eyes shifted to Isabella.
If looks could kill…
Isabella wouldn’t have survived.
Victoria smiled.
A cold…
Calculated smile.
“You’re right.”
“I shouldn’t have joked.”
She picked up the ring box from Alexander’s hand.
“I’m sorry.”
Without another word, she turned and walked away.
But as she passed Isabella…
She whispered so quietly that only Isabella could hear.
“This isn’t over.”
Then she left.
A chill ran down Isabella’s spine.
Later that afternoon…
Classes finally ended.
Emma practically dragged Isabella to the campus café.
“Okay!”
She dropped into the chair opposite her.
“You are telling me everything.”
“There isn’t much to tell.”
Emma stared.
“The hottest guy at university defended you in front of everyone.”
“That’s something.”
Isabella smiled despite herself.
“I guess.”
“And…”
Emma leaned forward.
“He’s single.”
Isabella looked down at her coffee.
“I know.”
Emma gasped dramatically.
“Oh, you like him.”
“I do not.”
“You smiled again!”
Before Isabella could deny it…
Someone pulled out the empty chair beside her.
Alexander.
“Mind if I join you?”
Emma grinned.
“Not at all.”
She stood up immediately.
“I just remembered I promised someone I’d help them with… something.”
Isabella frowned.
“What something?”
“I’ll think of it on the way.”
And just like that…
Emma disappeared.
Alexander chuckled.
“I think she likes playing matchmaker.”
“I think so too.”
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Alexander slid a small paper bag across the table.
“What’s this?”
“Open it.”
Curious, Isabella looked inside.
Her eyes widened.
Her favorite chocolate croissants.
From the tiny bakery three streets away.
“The bakery closes before my classes end.”
She looked at him.
“How did you know I like these?”
Alexander froze for the briefest second.
Then he smiled.
“I guessed.”
She wasn’t convinced.
“That was a lucky guess.”
“Maybe.”
She smiled.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
They spent the next hour talking.
About architecture.
About music.
About terrible professors.
For the first time in years…
Alexander laughed without forcing it.
And for the first time in a long time…
Isabella forgot to be nervous around him.
As they left the café together, the afternoon sun bathed the campus in golden light.
“Walk with me?” Alexander asked.
She nodded.
“I’d like that.”
They hadn’t taken more than a few steps when…
A voice called out behind them.
“Isabella!”
She turned.
A delivery rider stood near the university gate, holding an enormous bouquet of red roses.
“There you are!”
He smiled.
“These are for you.”
Students immediately gathered around.
Emma covered her mouth.
“Oh my gosh…”
The rider handed Isabella a small white envelope.
“There isn’t a sender’s name.”
Confused, Isabella opened the card.
Inside, written in elegant handwriting, were just seven words.
Stay away from Alexander… or you’ll regret it.
Before Isabella could react…
A single red rose slipped from the bouquet.
Wrapped tightly around its stem…
Was a tiny gold bracelet.
Alexander’s expression changed the instant he saw it.
He grabbed the bracelet from the floor.
His face turned pale.
“Where did this come from?” he demanded.
The delivery rider frowned.
“I… I don’t know.”
Alexander looked at the bracelet as if he’d seen a ghost.
Then he whispered—
“…That’s impossible.”
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