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Luca’s brows arched, and he stood up with a scoff, pushing his chair back. "Fine. I’ll get one too," he said, matching Dante’s strides as he followed him out. "Just in case I have to stand next to the altar and replace you."
Dante’s deadly gaze cut to him, almost burning Luca to ashes.
An hour later, both men entered Max Mall. It was an extravagant empire of glass and luxury, built for the top one percent of the city. It wasn’t just the biggest mall; it was the kind of place where even the rich dared not touch the price tags. Only those born into obscene wealth shopped here.
The moment Dante and Luca walked in—two tall, devastatingly attractive men in tailored suits—eyes turned. Conversations paused. Women, dressed to kill, couldn’t help but stare. Some subtly fixed their hair, others openly followed the two with hungry gazes, desperate to catch even a second of attention.
But Dante and Luca were blind to the storm of hormones they had stirred. They walked side by side, heading straight toward the largest jewelry boutique in the mall.
"This one," Dante said under his breath, pointing at a gleaming diamond ring the store manager had just presented.
"Excellent choice, sir," the manager gushed, clasping his hands.
Luca leaned forward, inspecting the ring with a tilted head. "This one’s too big," he muttered, wiggling his fingers in the air as he imagined the weight. "It’ll feel heavy on the hand."
Dante shrugged. "It shouldn’t. I’ll just get a replica made with a smaller diamond."
Luca glanced at Dante as if he’d lost his mind. "Marriage rings are precious," he said. "You don’t swap them out like car parts."
Dante narrowed his eyes, then quietly slid the ring onto Luca’s smallest finger without warning.
"Hey!" Luca flinched, his eyes widening.
"Does it really feel that heavy?" Dante asked, watching him.
Luca wiggled his finger, frowning. "Not really. But on more delicate fingers, it might hurt to wear for long.”
Dante turned to the manager. "Do you have something with a smaller diamond for a wedding ring? I’ll take this one too, just in case."
"Of course, sir." The manager beamed, flicking his gaze between the two of them with amusement. "It’s so sweet how careful you both are with each other for your marriage. I can already tell—it’s going to be a very happy one."
Dante and Luca froze.
They turned to each other at the exact same moment, eyes wide, faces contorted in visible horror, and then looked at the manager.
"Try making your partner wear this one, sir," the manager continued cheerfully, handing a different ring to Dante and grabbing Luca’s hand again. "His fingers are more slender. I think this style suits him better. It’s okay if he prefers something a little more femini—"
"I’m getting married to mywife," Dante snapped, stepping away like he’d been electrocuted.
Luca jumped too, practically flinging his hand away from the ring. Their mutual expression was one of utter disgust, as if they'd just found out they’d been holding hands with a snake.
"Not him." Dante’s jaw clenched as he shot Luca a glare full of boiling outrage. "A woman. Her name’s Anya."
“Ah… sorry, sorry, sir.” The manager’s lips twitched like he was about to laugh but forced a quick bow instead. "Ah—yes! Yes, sir. My apologies." He coughed, turning swiftly to the display case. "Right this way…"
He pulled out another ring—this one surrounded with smaller diamonds, more delicate in design. "How about this, sir?"
Luca slipped next to Dante again, who turned the ring toward him, rolling it between his fingers thoughtfully.
"This one looks nice," he murmured.
Luca nodded solemnly, “Might fit her finger.”
***
Anya shivered.
Dante’s warm breath hit her skin first, followed by the slow, tantalizing brush of his nose as it grazed up her shoulder to the curve of her neck. His lips didn’t touch her yet, but the nearness alone made her tremble. Her lips trembled with a soft moan.