He Gave Her My Wedding

Chapter 2

Back home, I began packing.

A diamond peony pendant and a card sat on the table.

The piece was handcrafted by a famous jeweler and worth 1 million dollars.

For my beloved Elena.

Before the wedding, Adrian had affectionately tapped my nose.

"There's a surprise waiting for you when we get home."

I had replied, "I have a gift for you too."

I had cultivated a new variety of peony and named it after him.

I had been holding the diamond for only a few seconds when Adrian came through the door.

He stood behind me and asked softly, "Do you like it? Want me to put it on you?"

The delicate chain brushed my collarbone as he lifted it around my neck.

Then he noticed my swollen ankle and hurried to get an ice pack.

He crouched, gently supported my calf, and pressed the ice against the swelling.

He looked down at my ankle, concern clear in his voice.

"When did you hurt yourself? What would you ever do without me?"

10 years earlier, a crowd at a museum had bumped me into his arms.

He had caught me around the waist and said the same thing with a smile.

The promise itself hadn't changed.

I just wasn't the only person he said those words to anymore.

My phone chimed with the divorce agreement from my lawyer.

I was about to speak when someone knocked.

Vivian entered, still wearing the white wedding gown.

"Aren't we supposed to be going to the reception? Why did we come here?"

She linked her arm through Adrian's and tilted her head.

"Is that the necklace made by the designer I love?"

Before the necklace had even warmed against my skin, Adrian removed it.

"Try it if you want."

Vivian brightened, then glanced at me with a show of hesitation.

"Won't Elena be upset?"

"She doesn't care much about jewelry. It's fine."

He personally fastened the necklace that symbolized our love around Vivian's neck.

Then he slipped a brass bracelet onto my wrist.

I removed it and set it on the table.

I had told him countless times that I was allergic to brass.

In the past, whenever a restaurant set a brass goblet in front of me, he had it taken away immediately.

Now he could put brass on me without a second thought.

Vivian turned the necklace between her fingers, clearly delighted with it.

Then something snapped.

The strand broke, and the diamond peony pendant fell to the floor as pearls scattered everywhere.

She stepped back in panic as one pearl rolled to my feet.

"What am I supposed to do? I wanted to wear it to the reception."

The housekeeper hurried around picking up the pearls.

"Those are white South Sea pearls. Where are we supposed to find matching ones this quickly?"

Adrian looked at me. "Elena has some."

My grandmother had left me a white South Sea pearl necklace before she died.

That was why I had designed this necklace around the same kind of pearls.

I had personally selected every one.

Adrian saw me bite my lip and frowned.

"There are other pearls in storage. Go get those."

Vivian grabbed his hand nervously.

"But they won't be the same. I'm a perfectionist. I can't stand mismatched pieces."

Adrian looked from Vivian to me.

At last, he said softly to me, "Bring yours for her."

I didn't move.

"My grandmother left that necklace to me. Why should I let her wear it to your reception?"

Vivian rubbed her temple and swayed.

"This wedding was never really mine anyway. Adrian, you should take Elena to the reception instead."

Adrian steadied her, his voice cooling.

"Elena Parker, do you have to be this difficult? Vivian has been diagnosed with progressive amnesia. She may never have another chance to experience a wedding. Once the reception is over, I'll buy you an entire pearl collection. You can choose whatever you want."

A bitter smile tugged at my mouth.

To him, even the things I treasured, even the wedding I had waited 10 years for, were things money could replace.

But sincerity couldn't be bought.

"I know where the matching white South Sea pearls are," I said. "I'll get them."

I limped forward on my injured ankle as sharp pain shot up my leg.

My shoulders shook, and sweat beaded at my temples.

Adrian noticed and frowned.

"Elena, just wait a little longer. Trust me. We'll go to Elaria for our honeymoon, just like you wanted."

By the time I returned, they were gone.

I rushed to the bedroom and yanked open the drawer.

My grandmother's pearl necklace was missing.