Chapter 52
Gemma
18 min leff
When I return to the shop, Reyna is there. She’s sitting on one of their cream–colored sofas and waiting for me like this is the most normal thing in the world.
“Oh,” she says, smiling up at me as I walk in. “It’s your ring, Gemma? What a coincidence!”
I fold my arms across my chest and don’t care that the saleswoman is about to hear everything.
“As if you didn’t know the ring was mine. You’ve stared at it enough. A couple of times I swear I even saw you drooling.”
My half–sister closes her magazine with elegant grace and arches one perfect, dark eyebrow. “I have no idea what you mean. I just saw the ring and knew it was a piece by one of my favorite artists, Fiona. I’m a collector of her work.”
I knew the ring had been made by an internationally renowned jeweler, but I didn’t realize it was made by Fiona. Her stuff is legendary. No wonder my ring is so beautiful.
Why hasn’t Cassian ever told me?
20:46
Chapter 52
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I hide my surprise and say, “In your case, Reyna, the ring is no longer for sale.”
The saleswoman almost chokes, and I feel bad. This piece would be a massive commission for her.
“If you aren’t happy with what you’re asking, I’m sure you can negotiate,” the saleswoman says hurriedly. “Ms. Holland, here, is genuinely interested in buying the ring.”
Reyna smiles, gets up and walks over to the counter where the ring sits in its box, waiting to be purchased.
I walk over with her, and we both look down at it.
Reyna says quietly, “It was never meant to be yours. You’ve had it for years, but it’s time Cassian’s wedding ring was given to its rightful owner.”
I look at the ring with its custom design. Reyna won’t care about the art of the thing. All she cares about is how expensive something is.
But even so, something in me feels like she must be right. Our father’s love was never meant for me. The darkly glamorous, glittering life of an Alpha mafia boss’s wife was never meant for
- me.
Chapter 52
So how could this ring be meant for me?
How could Cassian be?
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Reyna reaches out and caresses the ring with one finger. I want to slap her hand away, but I don’t.
“Cassian knows I’m out shopping for jewelry today,” she says, almost wistfully. “He told me to make sure I pick out something I really like. And I like this.”
Of course.
I swallow down the sudden lump in my throat and shrug. Out loud,
I say, “Fine, if you’re so desperate, Reyna, I’ll let you have my cast off. But the price just went up.”
She looks at me, and I can see the greed in her eyes. “How much?”
“A million dollars.”
I hear the saleswoman squeak in disbelief. It’s an insane amount of money. So much more than the ring is worth. She probably thinks I’m sinking this deal on purpose.
But I know Reyna. With a smile sharp as a knife, she says, “Deal.”
Chapter 52
() 18 min left
She pays me then and there. I can’t believe she has this much
cash to burn.
She really must be making bank working for the Blackwells. Must be nice to have someone trust you to be competent.
Still, I can’t lie, I don’t mind knowing that Reyna is going to finance my life for the next few months.
As expensive as Mom’s medical bills are, that’s all the time I’m going to get, even from this much money.
A few months will be enough, though. It will get me through until money is rolling in more steadily from my hacking jobs.
And that’s if Cassian stops paying my mom’s bills. If he keeps paying them, I could live on this practically forever.
Still, I can’t help the slightly bitter taste in my mouth.
This isn’t really what I wanted when I went to sell my ring, but I just can’t turn the money down.
I go to Zina’s, and she immediately confronts me at the door.
“What is this?” she demands, shoving her phone in my face. “Why does Reyna have your ring?”
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“Damn. She really didn’t waste any time,” I say as I read the social media post Zina is showing me.
Reyna has already posted a picture of the ring and tagged the
artist, Fiona, in it, saying how excited she was to snag one of her last available pieces.
“She gave me a million dollars,” I say, pushing the phone away.
“What?” Zina shouts. “Are you kidding? How much was it worth?”
“I don’t know, but not that much. Honestly, if Reyna wants to make some reparations for all the shit she’s put me through by totally overpaying for my secondhand jewelry? I’m going to let
her.”
Zina snorts, and I’m about to change the subject when my phone
rings.
It’s Cassian. I bite my lip. He barely ever gets on social media. He can’t know already, can he?
“Hello?” I say as I answer the call.
“Did you just sell your wedding ring?” he snarls through the
phone.
Divorcing My Alpha King.
