In the heart of the luxury shopping district, the air was perpetually scented with expensive perfumes and the dry, recycled chill of high-end ventilation. Serena Montgomery stood frozen before a reinforced glass display case, her gaze locked onto a diamond-encrusted white gold necklace. Under the precise aim of the gallery spotlights, the stones danced with a brilliance that made her breath hitch.
"It’s beautiful, isn't it?" Liam Livingston asked, noticing the way her eyes lingered on the piece. He stepped closer, the weight of the shopping bags he carried seemingly forgotten. "Do you want to try it on?"
Serena turned to him, a playful yet skeptical smile gracing her lips. "What good would trying it on do? Are you planning to buy it for me, Liam?" She gestured toward the discreet price t
