Daniel's face darkened like a cloudy sky; just the two words "buy a wedding ring" were enough to make the jealousy in his heart flare up, spreading like wild weeds.
He stared at her white fingers, trying to search his memory for the image of the ring he had bought for her, but all he found was a blank space.
Emma smiled weakly, her fingers gently pressing the elevator door's close button. She had chosen their wedding rings before, and apart from the wedding day, she had never seen him wear them.
As for her, she had worn this ring for three years. But the last time she went to the hospital, she had taken it off and lost it.
Luckily, it was lost. A wedding ring is a circle that binds two lovers together, not a chain that binds one side.
---
Alex saw her coming from afar, immediately extinguished the cigarette he was smoking between his fingertips, and threw it into the trash can.
He opened the car door: "Why did you come home so early today?" He clearly realized that she was in a bad mood.
Emma sat in the car, smelling the faint scent of cigarette smoke on him, and she unconsciously frowned.
Ever since meeting her, Alex's eyes had never left her face. Seeing her forehead slightly wrinkled, he raised his eyebrows: "You don't like me smoking?"
Emma: "..."
She had no right to ask him to quit smoking, but thinking about the air quality in the house in the future, she thought for a moment and then gently said, "Can you try not to smoke indoors?"
The corners of Alex's lips curved into a smile: "Okay, I remember. But Emma, you still haven't answered me. Why did you come home so early today?"
"I quit." Emma's voice was calm, as if she were talking about someone else.
"Quit?" Alex was surprised. He knew she loved her current job very much. "Why?"
His face immediately darkened, he adjusted his breathing, and said, "Then change to another company."
"Um." Emma nodded slightly, suddenly remembering his previous message, she asked: "If you choose a ring, just choose any one, I'm not picky."
After all, it was just to please both families.
Alex glanced at her, his eyes were sharp but only fleeting, then he replied indifferently, starting the car: "I didn't do anything careless."
---
At the jewelry store.
The sales clerk saw two people with outstanding temperaments walking in, his eyes lit up, a warm smile appeared on his lips: "Sir, madam, what do you want to see today? I can introduce you to a few models."
In the glass cabinet, the jewelry sparkled like stars in the night sky, shining brightly, attracting the eye. Emma calmly walked past the display counter, and Alex put his hands in his pockets, slowly following behind. When she stopped in front of a counter, her slender figure attracted his attention. His eyes stopped at the place she was looking, and the corners of his lips curved slightly. He gently pointed at the ring in the glass cabinet: "Take this one out and try it on."
The sales clerk couldn't hide his smile, happily replying: "Yes, sir. You have a keen eye. This is the most special product of our store. Your hands are slender; this ring fits the smallest size. I will take it out for you to try right away."
Emma was a little stunned: "No need, this one is too expensive..."
Alex interrupted: "You only looked at the other rings for less than two seconds, but you stopped for more than ten seconds on this one. Isn't this the style you like?"
The diamond ring on the tray was exquisitely designed, like cherry blossoms blooming on a branch, both elegant and luxurious. Under the light, it emitted sparkling rays of light like a jade stream, brilliant and different.
Alex lifted Emma's hand, slowly putting the ring on her middle finger. The corners of his lips slightly raised, his eyes filled with affection: "Do you like it?"
Emma looked closely at the diamond ring on her hand and softly said, "Like it."
It was hard to lie if she didn't like it. This ring seemed to be specially designed for her; from a side angle, a soft light could be seen emitting.
Alex curled his lips: "Wrap it up."
"Let me pay," Emma told herself. Between her and Alex, this was just a marriage by agreement. He wouldn't accept the money for the villa, but she could pay for this ring herself.
After all, she had already paid for the wedding ring herself, so this time it wouldn't be a problem.
Alex's smile faded, his voice warm but no less serious: "Emma, it seems like you always forget something. I'm very rich."
Emma: "..."
Okay, she will buy a gift in return later.
Emma chose the simplest plain ring for Alex and insisted on paying for it herself: "Each person pays for one, it's very fair."
He put the ring on immediately, looked at the ring his wife chose for a while: "Okay."
---
When leaving the jewelry store, Emma was about to get in the car when she suddenly saw a car parked on the other side of the street. Her heart tightened a little.
It was Daniel's car. A little irritation rose in her heart.
When did he plan to regain his memory? This made her feel uncomfortable.
Alex sat in the car, rolled down the window, and his cold eyes met Daniel's. The corners of his lips curved into a cold smile.
There are people who, when they have something, don't know how to cherish it, and then regret it when they lose it. Isn't it funny?
He moved his eyes away, brushed away the cold on his body, and said softly, "Emma, where do you want to go next?"
"Real estate agency."
"..."
---
Holding the sales contract in his hand, Alex felt an indescribable emotion rising in his heart.
"Alex, take it. This is my dowry. I've already written your name on the contract. Although it's not even one-tenth of the value of that villa, it's still a small part of my heart. I can't just get married by agreement and keep 'eating' your money forever."
Alex's eyes became deep; *free food* was not impossible. He was completely willing.
"When we divorced, I had some money. I'm not as poor as you think."
Previously, the house she bought was in her name. Later, when her younger brother graduated, she would transfer one to him. The remaining money was all deposited in the bank; the interest alone was enough for monthly expenses.
So, she was actually not as poor as Alex thought. Perhaps he had underestimated her.
Alex slightly curled her lips, full of mockery: "So, Emma, are you going to support me?"
"..."
Looking at the appearance of the man in front of her, she really wanted to support him. Having him kneel and serve her every day must be very comfortable.
It's just that she couldn't support him.
"Humph, what are you thinking? Your face is red."
Emma woke up, quickly coughed to cover up: "Nothing. Alex, don't talk like that."
Alex suddenly bent down, his warm breath blowing into her ear: "What did you say? Are you being rude?"
Emma took a step back, widening the safe distance: "Your tone is like a cat ready to attack at any time. Be careful in the future."
After speaking, without waiting for him to react, she turned around and ran away.
Alex laughed angrily: "Who is the cowardly cat in the end, scolding people and then running away?"
---
Outside the jewelry store, Daniel gripped the steering wheel tightly, veins popping out on his knuckles. He felt that he was really too conflicted. Watching them enter the jewelry store to choose rings and then stand outside waiting, he didn't know what he wanted to do.
He just couldn't miss the moment Emma walked out, with a happy smile on her face that he hadn't seen for a long time.
He wondered, between the two of them, was it he who betrayed them? Were those photos really not the product of photomontage?
Daniel stared at their car as it drove away, and after a long moment, he got out of the car.
"Hello, what model of ring did the man just buy? Get me an identical one."
The sales clerk smiled awkwardly: "Sorry, sir, the ring the customer just bought is a limited edition."
"I'll pay ten times more. I repeat, get me an identical one."
How could there be a second identical ring? It was the ring that the man had ordered in advance and left at the store waiting for the day to wear it for her.
The sales clerk could only shake his head: "I'm really sorry, but there's no second one left."
Daniel's eyes seemed to be about to burst with jealousy. His two fists were clenched so tightly that the sales clerk was scared, thinking he was about to be beaten.
Finally, after a moment of silence, he left the jewelry store. The sales clerk breathed a sigh of relief.