At the auction house, Vincent didn’t hesitate. Every time Sable pointed at something she liked he simply raised his paddle and bought it. No questions asked.
—
Then came the highlight of the evening an antique ring. The moment it appeared, Sable’s eyes
like a child on Christmas morning.
lit up
“Vincent, I heard this ring once belonged to British royalty! So many people have their eyes on it.‘ She practically bounced with excitement.
Vincent smiled indulgently. “If you want it, it’s yours.”
Her eyes curved into that sweet little expression she always gave him. “You’re always so good to me, Vincent.”
As expected, the competition for the ring was fierce. The starting price was one million, but it quickly climbed to ten million.
Vincent sat there, calm as ever, waiting until the very end before lazily tossing out simple words.
“I’ll take the highest bid.”
The room fell silent. For a brief moment, you could hear a pin drop, before the crowd erupted in a flurry of whispers.
“Mr. Blackthorne is on a roll tonight, huh? He’s probably spent hundreds of millions already.”
“Well, the Blackthornes have money to burn.’
“No wonder being Mrs. Blackthorne is the ultimate jackpot. Look at that man – casually dropping millions on a ring that symbolizes eternal love. It’s so romantic.”
Sable beamed, basking in all the envious stares. After all, everything Vincent gave her was a public declaration of his affection.
The world knew he was married, but what they didn’t know was that the real Mrs. Blackthorne…
was me, Andrea.
Sable, of course, reveled in the title like she’d already won the grand prize. She leaned into Vincent, her voice soft and sweet as she whispered, “You really spoil me, Vincent.”
But Vincent’s mind had already begun to drift. That title – “Mrs. Blackthorne” – flipped a switch
in his head.
‘Andrea…
I used to follow him around like a lost puppy… lately, I’d been acting strange. Normally, if he stayed out late with someone else, I would’ve bombarded him with calls and texts by now. But tonight? Silence.
It was as if… I didn’t care anymore.
The thought sent a strange wave of anxiety through him. A feeling he couldn’t quite place it panic? Or anger?
No way. I loved him too much to stop caring. I’d probably just sulking.
After all, he did let Sable move in and she’s pregnant now. Of course I was upset. But it’s nothing a little sweet talk wouldn’t fix.
–
was
Chapter 8
312
06
5:37 pm DDDX.
He found himsself oddly at ease with that thought. After five years of marriage, I had been nothing but the perfect wife – I even took care of his mistress with grace and tact.
We were never going to divorce. With a long life ahead of us, it wouldn’t hurt to treat me a little
better.
“Mr. Blackthorne, Mrs. Blackthorne, here’s the ring you just won,” one of the staff said as they handed them the package.
Sable immediately slipped it onto her finger. “It’s gorgeous! Look, Vincent it fits me perfectly.” The ring did fit her perfectly, snug around her pale slender finger.
But all he could see was my hand–wearing that oversized family heirloom ring that never really fit me.
I had begged him for that ring for months. He only gave in after his grandfather insisted. Even then, I refused to have it resized.
“I’m not changing it! You gave it to me, so it counts as our engagement ring. What if resizing it makes you pretend you never gave it to me?” I’d said, clutching it like it was my most precious treasure.
–
Vincent remembered how one time, rushing to get him stomach meds, the ring slipped off my finger and rolled into the street. Without a second thought, I ran after it straight into oncoming traffic. The car shattered my ribs. I spent two months in the hospital, but all I cared about was that the ring was still intact.
And now, he’d nearly given it to Sable.
No wonder I hadn’t called him all night.
With that realization, a bit of the panic eased from his chest.
The staff were still showering Sable with compliments when, suddenly, the words left his mouth before he could stop them.
“She’s not Mrs. Blackthorne.”
