* Julliane *
There was still about a month to go before the wedding when the jeweler arrived at Magnolia Manor with the ring samples. The afternoon sunlight streamed through the tall, arched windows, casting a warm, golden glow over the room as I sat beside Lance on the velvet settee. The air carried the faint, sweet scent of magnolias from the gardens outside, mingling with the subtle, rich aroma of polished wood and aged books.
Lance leaned forward, his tall frame angled protectively toward me as the jeweler carefully laid out the rings on the low mahogany table. The velvet boxes snapped open one by one, revealing a dazzling array of white gold bands set with tiny diamonds that shimmered like captured starlight.
Lance reached over and took my hand, his touch warm and firm, his thumb t
