Chapter 98 Already Broken
Chapter 98 Already Broken
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After work, Lenora had initially planned to take a taxi to the club. However, to her surprise, Zachary care to pick her up.
She got into the car, and surprisingly, Zachary explained, “The afternoon event finished early, so I came.”
Lenora nodded, gazing at the retreating street scene outside the window.
When she came back to her senses, the car had already stopped.
She glanced out of the window, realizing they hadn’t arrived at the club yet.
Just as she was about to ask, Zachary had already pushed the door open and stepped out of the car.
“What are we doing here?” Lenora asked, getting out of the car.
Zachary took Lenora’s hand, leading her toward the nearby chain jewelry store. “We’re going shopping,” he said.
Shopping? For what?
Lenora was curious, but she didn’t probe further.
As soon as the two of them pushed the door open, the manager of the jewelry store greeted them, beaming. “Mr. Fuller, Ms. Wilkin, please come and make yourselves comfortable in our VIP room. Let me know what kind of jewelry you’d like to see, and I’ll have it brought over,” he offered.
The store manager was surprised, too.
Yesterday, there were entertainment news reports about Zachary appearing at Susanna’s birthday banquet, and the following day, he was shopping with another woman.
The private lives of the wealthy are truly beyond my comprehension.
Surprised as he was, the store manager dared not show it on his face, maintaining an air of respect and
reverence.
Zachary settled down on the couch in the VIP room. “Bring me the latest couple ring designs.”
“All right. Please give me a moment,” the store manager said. He signaled for his staff to serve coffee to the pair, then hastily scurried off to retrieve the rings.
Couple rings? Does he have a friend who is getting married?
Lenora settled into the couch, sipping on some warm water. She then scrolled through WhatsApp.. responding to work–related messages from her assistant.
The store manager carefully placed several new couple ring models on the coffee table in front of them
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Chapter 98 Already Broken
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As the store manager spoke, he slipped the women’s ring onto his own finger and held it up for Zachary to inspect. “What do you think of this one?”
Zachary glanced at Lenora beside him. “What do you think?”
Immediately, the store manager turned his attention toward her.
Lenora, having just looked up from her phone, gave the ring a brief glance before nodding in approval. “Not bad,” she remarked. “It would make a nice gift.”
Zachary fell quict, his expression unreadable. Noticing Lenora’s casual indifference, he gently took her phone from her hand and switched it off. “It’s not a gift” he said.
Lenora gave him a puzzled look as she reclaimed the phone. Then what is it for?”
Without a word, Zachary intertwined his fingers with hers, glancing down at their hands. His gaze lingered on their bare ring fingers. “Don’t you think something’s missing?”
It took Lenora a moment to catch on, but when she did realization dawned. Zachary wasn’t looking for a gift he wanted matching rings for the two of them.
Lenora’s eyes drifted over the diamond–studded rings laid out in the tray, yet she felt no spark of Excitement or eagerness to choose.
If Zachary had given her a pair of rings on their wedding anniversary–even a random design–she would have been overjoyed. But instead, he had given her a bracelet, which was already broken.
And now, another crack had formed on the mirror. The memory of that night had lodged itself in her heart, a thorn buried deep. The pain was subtle yet constant, a reminder that it still festered beneath the surface.
Their harmony now was nothing more than a fragile façade, a strained effort to keep things together.
Like a burnt–out cigarette, their relationship was reduced to ash, ready to crumble and scatter at the slightest touch.
The store manager was momentarily taken aback, though not entirely surprised. He knew Lenora had been adopted by the Fuller family and had spent the last decade with them. Given her close ties with the Fuller elders, it wasn’t hard to imagine they had played a role in bringing her and Zachary together.
As for Susanna, the celebrity involved with Zachary, it seemed likely she was just a fleeting affair–nothing
serious.
Zachary watched Lenora as she sat in a daze. Without a word, he picked up a ring from the tray and gently lifted her left hand, slipping the band onto her ring finger. He examined it from different angles, then asked softly, “Do you like it?”
Startled from her thoughts, Lenora blinked and met his gaze. The chandelier overhead bathed the VIP room in soft, shimmering light, casting a warm glow in Zachary’s eyes.
She quickly looked away, focusing on her left hand instead. The massive, pigeon egg–sized diamond sparkled so brightly under the light that it nearly blinded her.
The store manager immediately seized the moment, launching into praise. “Mr. Fuller, your taste is
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Chapter 98 Already Broken
impeccable. The design and craftsmanship of this diamond ring are truly exceptional–one of a kind. And Ms. Wilkin’s fingers! So elegant, long, and fair–the ring only enhances her natural beauty”
Lenora glanced at her left hand and gently shook her head. “This is too extravagant. It’s not practical for everyday wear.”
Zachary offered a solution. “Why not choose two pairs? One for collection, and another for daily wear”
The store manager’s eyes lit up at the suggestion, and he eagerly chimed in, “Ms. Wilkin, Mr. Fuller surely pampers you. This ring looks stunning on you–it highlights the fairness and delicacy of your hand, and it reflects Mr. Fuller’s deep regard for you. The matching men’s ring is equally impressive–understated, yet grand. But if y you find it too lavish, we have a new model that’s perfect for everyday wear.
The shopkeeper picked up a more modestly designed ring and recommended it enthusiastically.
Zachary gently removed the extravagant ring from Lenora’s finger and slid on the simpler one meant for daily wear. “How does this one feel?” he asked.
Though the design was understated, the ring was still impressive, featuring a one–carat diamond.
Lenora gave the other rings in the tray a brief glance before saying, “Let’s go with this one.”
“Perfect. Let me measure your ring sizes,” the shopkeeper responded with a smile, though he discreetly glanced at Zachary, quietly lamenting that the more extravagant ring hadn’t been chosen.
A moment later, Zachary spoke up. “I’ll take both designs.”
“Absolutely! Of course!” The store manager’s face lit up with joy, his demeanor shifting to one of reverence, as if Zachary were royalty. “Mr. Fuller, Ms. Wilkin, would you like any engravings on the rings?”
“No need,” Lenora replied quickly. In the back of her mind, she reasoned that if she ever divorced Zachary, the rings would still fetch a considerable resale value without any personal engravings
“Very well. We’ll begin your custom order immediately and reach out as soon as it’s ready,” the store manager assured them.
Zachary responded with a soft, disinterested “Hmm” before turning to Lenora. “Anything else catch your eye? Would you like to look around?”
Sensing an opportunity, the store manager eagerly added, “Ms. Wilkin, we’ve just introduced a few new necklace designs. Would you like to take a look?”
Lenora shook her head. “No need, let’s go.”
Zachary took Lenora’s hand, standing up to leave.
The store manager escorted them to the door. “Do come again.”
As they settled back into the car and it began to move, Lenora glanced over at Zachary. “What made you suddenly decide to buy couple rings?”
“Nothing really–just a sudden realization that after three years of marriage, we still don’t have rings,” he replied, intertwining his fingers with hers in the dim light of the car. He looked deeply into her eyes and continued, “Nora, I know I haven’t fulfilled my duties as a husband these past few years. Yet, you’ve been
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Chapter 98 Already Broken
the.
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nothing but patient with me. I promise to make it up to you in the days to come and fill in everything we’ve been missing.”
Though Lenora had casually mentioned that she would judge him based on his performance, Zachary couldn’t help but notice that she still treated him normally. Beneath that surface, however, there was an invisible barrier between them–a rift that had formed, making it increasingly difficult to return to the way things used to be.
Lenora could no longer trust him completely as she once had. She offered him a smile before turning her gaze out the car window.
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