When the elevator arrived on the first floor, he led her out.
Standing outside the elevator’s doors was a man who seemed to be waiting to take the elevator. He was tall but plain-looking, had some wrinkles around his eyes, and appeared to be about fifty years old.
It just so happened that Rayna glanced at the man at the same time he gazed at her. He looked exceedingly familiar to her.
By the time they stepped out of the elevator, the man had already gotten into it.
Still sensing that something was odd, she could not refrain from turning around to take another look at the man. However, the doors had already slid shut.
Jefferson noticed her strange behavior and asked, “What’s the matter?”
She withdrew her gaze and responded teasingly, “Oh, it’s nothing. A guy just went into the elevator, right? Well, I was merely wondering whether you’ll be as robust and dashing as him when you get old.”
Since there was no saying how long he had to live, the words “getting old” did not apply to him.
However, her inadvertent mention of it weighed heavily on his heart, and a thought popped into his mind. I want to live and spend the rest of my life with her.
Struck with the belated realization of what she had just said, Rayna paled and held his hand tightly. “Will you look at what nonsense I’m saying? You’re far more handsome than that guy, so in the future…”
The more anxious she got, the more confused she was. She did not even know what to say anymore.
“Relax. I know what you mean.” Smiling tenderly, Jefferson brushed the stray strands of hair on her cheek behind her ear. “No matter how old or wrinkled I become, you’ll never shun me. Am I right?”
She nodded vigorously. “I’ll never shun you. I can even keep a close eye on you every day.”
Taking her hand, he led her outside while saying with a smile, “That won’t do. You’ll be tired of me if you stare at me so much. Do you feel like having spicy stew? After picking out the ring, let’s go to the supermarket. We’ll have stew tonight.”
“Really? Why are you suddenly allowing me to eat that?” Indeed, she had not eaten stew in a long time and craved it badly.
“It has been a while since you got your injections. Having spicy food occasionally should be fine.”
Rayna smiled without saying anything. She held his hand tightly and leaned against him.
Now, this is the life I desire. I want a man who loves me, dotes on me, and only has eyes for me. With a man like that caring for and protecting me, I won’t have to worry about anything.
The pair headed to the Cartier store by car, and a sales assistant welcomed them when they arrived.
After learning they were looking for a wedding ring, the sales assistant brought out all the best-selling rings over the past two years and helped Rayna try them on one by one.
However, Jefferson frowned as he stood and watched, clearly dissatisfied.
“This style is all right, but the diamond looks too small and isn’t brilliant enough. Are these all the best ones you have?” he asked the sales assistant.
Glancing at the ring on her finger, Rayna thought it looked fine. “A one point three-carat diamond has quite a bit of weight already. This ring looks rather nice. Why don’t we get this one?
Nonetheless, he shook his head.
She rolled her eyes at him. “Didn’t you say I could pick what I wanted? Why are you shaking your head now?”
“It’d be meaningless to buy an ordinary ring. If we’re going to buy one, we should get the best. It’s not like I can’t afford it,” he replied.
His response left Rayna speechless.
Seeing that none of the rings in the box had caught Jefferson’s eye and that he seemed as though he was about to leave with Rayna, the sales assistant suddenly thought of something and asked Jefferson in a cautious tone, “If you don’t have a budget, we do have a pink diamond. Would you like to have a look at it?”
Jefferson looked displeased. “If you still have nicer pieces, why didn’t you bring them out?”
The sales assistant smiled apologetically and hurried off to get the ring, returning less than a minute later with a ring box.
As soon as the sales assistant gently lifted the lid, Rayna found her gaze instantly drawn to the pink diamond lying on the black velvet.
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