bChapter /b570

    :

    In the end, the three of them went to the mall together.

    Along the way, Wesley learned the real reason behind Melody’s shopping trip.

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    55 vouchers

    Next month marked her engagement, but her boyfriend had been too caught up with work to apany her. He had asked her to choose the engagement ring on her own.

    Not wanting to shop alone, Melody had invited Sana to join her.

    As it turned out, Wesley was also nning to buy an engagement ring for Sana. The timing couldn’t have been better.

    Upon arriving, they headed straight to a well–known jewelry store.

    Wesley and Sana helped Melody browse for a while. At one point, when Sana wasn’t looking, Wesley discreetly slipped Melody a tip, asking her to encourage Sana to try on a few pieces herself.

    “No problem,” Melody said, pocketing the tip with a grin.

    She found herself quietly admiring Sana’s luck. Wesley not only wanted to make things official but also seemed to enjoy nning surprises.

    She thought Wesley wanted her to encourage Sana to try on jewelry so he couldter surprise her with a gift, and that was the only reason she agreed to help.

    “Sana, which of these two do you think looks better?” Melody asked.

    After visiting a few more shops, Melody finally found a ring she liked. Rather than saying so, she picked up another one and asked for Sana’s opinion.

    “They’re both lovely. I guess the full diamond might hold its value better,” Sana replied after a quick nce.

    The rings were simr in price and both beautifully made, so shepared based on practicality.

    “Maybe, though I’m not itoo /iconcerned about that,” Melody said casually, “Hey, why don’t you try this one on? You have such nice hands. It would look great on you.”

    Without waiting for a reply, she slipped the smaller diamond ring onto Sana’s finger.

    “Oh, I shouldn’t. I’m not nning to buy anything,” Sana said, instinctively pulling back.

    “Just give it a go. You’re not buying today, but maybe someday. No harm in trying. It’s too pretty not to try on,” Melody encouraged with a wink.

    Sana hesitated, but eventually gave in. It was just a quick try, nothing more.

    Melody, seeing her relent, gently pushed the ring into ce and lifted her hand to admire it. “bSee/bb? /bKnew it. Looks amazing.”

    b9:02 /bbMon/bb, /bbSep /b15 B.

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    Sana examined it briefly, agreed it was nice, then slid it off and returned it to the clerk. “Alright, that’s enough from me. You go ahead and pick yours.”

    As she spoke, she nced toward the lounge area, where Wesley was still seated with his coffee.

    She breathed a quiet sigh of relief. He likely hadn’t seen any of it.

    It was not that she was trying to hide it from him, exactly. She just didn’t want him to get the wrong idea and assume she was hinting at anything. That would’ve been awkward.

    Melody caught her subtle nce and stifled augh. Then, almost without thinking, she snapped a quick photo of the ring on her phone.

    She continued dragging Sana through disys, trying everything from rings and nes to bracelets and earrings. Eventually, she even picked out an anklet and urged Sana to try it.

    “No thanks. I don’t usually wear those,” Sane refused.

    “Just try it. Honestly, it suits you. And anyway, life’s too short not to experiment a little,” Melody pressed.

    In the face of so much ttery, Sana gave in and slipped it on.

    “Wow, that looks incredible. I should call your boyfriend over to…”

    “Don’t!” Sana cut her off immediately, pping a hand over Melody’s mouth.

    Melody looked at her innocently. Sana narrowed her eyes. “Promise you won’t shout, and I’ll let go.”

    Melody nodded, so Sana lowered her hand.

    “What’s the big deal?” Melody teased. “Trying to save him money? Didn’t take you for the type to get all soft over a guy.”

    “It’s not that,” Sana replied, her tone firm. “Things between us are…plicated. I just don’t want to spend his money. Please don’t bring this up around him.”

    She had always drawn a clear line in her rtionship with Wesley, believing it was far from simple.

    Meals and small things were one thing, but she refused to ept anything extravagant, especially jewelry.

    Melody, of course, thought otherwise. ‘You may not want it,‘ she mused silently, ‘but your boyfriend is practically throwing himself at the chance to surprise you!

    Outwardly, though, she softened. “Alright, alright, I won’t say a word. Don’t be mad. Let’s keep looking. Consider this anklet a peace offering, from me.”

    “There’s no need. I’m not that petty,” Sana said, the edge in her voice fading. She realized she’d overreacted.

    Whatever her private feelings, publicly she and Wesley were just a normal couple. Melody’s teasing wasn’t entirely out of line.

    b9:02 /bbMon/bb, /bbiSep /i/b15 B…

    If anything, all of this was Wesley’s fault.

    :

    Had he not insisted on tagging along, none of this would’ve happened.

    Sana made a mental note to add this to his growing list of offenses.

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    55 vouchers

    “I want you to take it, seriously. It’s not expensive. If you don’tb, /bthat just means you’re still upset,” Melody insisted firmly, knowing Wesley would cover the costter anyway.

    Left with no choice, Sana epted the gift. She then apanied Melody through the rest of her shopping, helping her choose thest few pieces for her engagement.

    By the time they left the mall, night had already fallen.

    Wesley, ever the gentleman, offered to drive Melody home.

    Naturally, she declined without hesitation, no intention of ying the third wheel, and quickly gged down a taxi.

    Still stewing over Wesley’s uninvited presence, Sana said nothing after getting into the car.

    Wesley, meanwhile, scrolled through the photos Melody had sent, various jewelry options and snapshots of Sana trying them on. Without hesitation, he transferred another generous tip to Melody.

    Sana sat quietly in the passenger seat. Minutes passed. The car didn’t move. Finally, she turned toward the driver’s seat and snapped, “What are you doing? Are we going or not?”

    “Just replying to a message. Almost done,” Wesley said, ncing back to calm her. He quickly typed a short thank–you to Melody, then put his phone away.

    Sana turned her face away with a cold huff, still refusing to acknowledge him.

    She knew her irritation made little sense, but she couldn’t help it.

    If Wesley couldn’t handle it, he could just walk away. She’d been clear from the beginning, and she didn’t expect him to take responsibility. He was the one who insisted on staying.

    To her, everything felt like something she’d been dragged into.

    Wesley, however, only smiled to himself. After all the effort it had taken to win her over, breaking up wasn’t even on the table. In his mindb, /bthere was only one oue left for them, marriage.

    That night, once they were home, he immediately ordered the same set of jewelry online. While browsing, a photo of a wedding dress caught his eye. On impulse, he added that to the cart as well.