Chapter 8 : The Ring that Burns
685 Words
The sun rose like a lie.
Aira stood by her bedroom window, her eyes hollow from another sleepless night. The black velvet choker still rested against her neck. She had tried to remove it more than once, but each time her trembling hands had stopped before unclasping it.
Downstairs, the house remained unnaturally quiet.
After Dominic's visit the previous night, everyone had retreated into silence.
No one spoke about the money.
No one spoke about the man who had turned their lives upside down.
A long black Mercedes-Maybach S-Class rolled through the front gates and came to a smooth stop outside the house.
Her phone vibrated.
«Come downstairs. We have an appointment.»
She stared at the message until the screen went dark.
A knock sounded at her door.
It wasn't gentle.
She opened it to find one of Dominic's men standing outside.
"Mr. Moretti is waiting."
Without another word, she walked downstairs.
Her chin remained high.
If she couldn't be free, she could at least refuse to look defeated.
Dominic sat in the back seat of the car, dressed in another perfectly tailored black shirt.
He looked up as she entered.
Neither of them spoke.
He simply placed a black velvet box on the seat between them.
"Open it."
She did.
Inside lay ten engagement rings.
Every one of them glittered beneath the morning light.
Every one of them looked like another chain.
"You expect me to choose one?" she asked.
"I expect you to wear one."
"You really think a ring changes anything?"
"No."
He looked out the window before answering.
"It tells the world where you stand."
She closed the box.
"I don't belong anywhere near you."
His expression never changed.
"You don't have to believe it."
"The world will."
She laughed bitterly.
"You confuse fear with loyalty."
"I've never expected loyalty."
He looked at her again.
"Only honesty."
The car fell silent.
After several minutes, Dominic spoke again.
"Do you know why I agreed to a public engagement?"
She kept her eyes on the passing streets.
"No."
"Because I don't hide."
His voice remained calm.
"I want everyone to know who my wife is."
She finally looked at him.
"I'll never be your wife."
"You signed the contract."
"I signed to save my family."
"I know."
Those two words unsettled her more than an argument would have.
The car slowed to a stop outside an exclusive jewelry boutique.
The building had been reserved exclusively for them.
No customers.
No waiting.
Only silence.
Inside, trays of rings were arranged across a polished glass counter.
The jeweler greeted them nervously.
Aira immediately pointed toward the simplest ring on display.
"That one."
Dominic glanced at it.
"No."
She folded her arms.
"You asked me to choose."
"I asked you to look."
He picked up a larger diamond ring.
Elegant.
Timeless.
Impossible to ignore.
He held it toward her.
"This one."
"I'm not wearing that."
"You will."
Her eyes flashed with anger.
"You think expensive jewelry makes this marriage real?"
"No."
He returned the ring to its box.
"It makes it unforgettable."
She took a slow breath.
"You can put diamonds around a prisoner's hand."
She held his gaze.
"It's still a prison."
For the first time, Dominic smiled.
"I expected you to say that."
He looked toward the jeweler.
"We'll take this one."
The jeweler nodded immediately.
No one argued.
---
The drive home was quiet.
The ring box rested between them like another signed contract.
Neither of them reached for it.
Finally, Aira spoke.
"I hate you."
Dominic didn't react.
"I know."
"You'll never have my heart."
He turned toward her.
"I'm not asking for your heart."
She frowned.
"Then what do you want?"
His answer came without hesitation.
"Your future."
Silence filled the car once more.
Aira looked out the window, refusing to let the tears gathering in her eyes fall where he could see them.
Dominic watched the road ahead.
His voice was quiet.
"Four days."
She didn't answer.
"Then you begin a life you never imagined."
For the first time since getting into the car...
Neither of them spoke another word.
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