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Christian walked out of the house, his fingers tightly laced with Ivy’s, refusing to let go.
The car drove off toward Max Mall—one of the most exclusive shopping centers in the city, built for the elite. A place where only the richest could afford to shop, where luxury brands and high-end fashion filled every corner.
Ivy felt a little self-conscious as they entered the mall, but to her surprise, no one around seemed to be judging her. The people at the entrance greeted her politely, and not a single person cast her an evil look of scrutiny. That eased her nerves as she walked beside Christian.
He led her to Satire first, a high-end jewelry store in the mall. The moment they stepped inside, a salesgirl approached them with a bright smile, guiding them toward the wedding rings display. She carefully placed an assortment of exquisite wedding rings in front of them.
"Mr. and Mrs. Evans, all of these rings are one-of-a-kind, designed by our finest artisans. I'm sure you’ll find something to your liking," she said with practiced grace.
Ivy’s gaze swept over the rings, each crafted with unique designs, stones, and diamonds. Her eyes halted on a gold ringembedded with a stunning green diamond, its delicate leafy design wrapping around the band. The matching ring for the groom was a plain gold band with a square green diamond, simple yet elegant. But the size of the diamond and the intricate craftsmanship made it clear—it was undoubtedly expensive.
Wouldn’t it be a waste of money for a marriage that would only last a year?
She bit her lip and shifted her gaze, searching for something simpler. Her fingers pointed to a plain band with no diamonds. "We can get that one," she said softly.
Christian had been watching her the entire time, waiting for her to make a choice. The moment she spoke, he turned to the salesgirl. "Pack that pair. And also this one," he added, pointing at the green diamond ring.
Ivy’s head snapped toward him. "What are you doing? We only need one pair of wedding rings."
"You couldn’t seem to decide between both, so we’ll get both. You can wear whichever you want during the day," he said nonchalantly.
Her frown deepened. This man... He thought she was indecisive, when in reality, she had simply been worried about the cost.
"A couple only needs one pair of wedding rings. That’s the whole purpose of a wedding ring," she insisted.
"Who made the rules? And what do they have to do with you and me?" Christian countered.
Without waiting for another word, he picked up the green diamond ring and slid it onto her finger. His touch was warm, careful, as if handling something precious. Then, he picked up the simple band and slid it onto her other hand. His handscradled hers gently, his gaze locked onto both rings he had placed on her fingers. A small smile tugged at his lips.
His thumb rubbed against the back of her hand, his warmth sending an odd shiver up her spine. He didn’t remove his gaze for a long time, as if savoring the moment. Finally, he let go of one of her hands and picked up the groom’s rings, opening his palm toward her. "Your turn."
Ivy hesitated before taking the rings from his hand. She slid them onto his fingers, surprised by how perfectly they fit.
Even his hands were just as dangerously attractive as the rest of him—strong, rough with veins running along the back, exuding power and confidence.
Just as she finished putting the ring on him, Christian suddenly leaned in, catching her off guard.
His hand slid to the back of her head, his fingers threading into her hair as his lips brushed against hers.
Soft. Slow. A kiss that lingered, his lips moving over hers with featherlight devotion, as if worshipping her.
His lips parted slightly, coaxing hers open as his tongue slipped past, tasting her with unhurried precision. His thumb stroked the side of her jaw as his other hand rested at the small of her back, pulling her closer until there was nothing left between them.
The kiss was lingering, tender yet possessive. Her breath hitched as he angled his head, his lips dragging over hers with a slow, aching need. When he finally pulled back, his mouth lingered just a breath away from hers, his eyes dark and heavy-lidded.
Only after a long moment did he pull away, gripping her hand once more and pulling her out of the shop.
After that, they roamed around the mall. Every time she so much as glanced at something, Christian would fling a casual "Get that too" to the salespeople before walking away, completely ignoring her muttered protests that she didn’t need anything.
His response was always the same. "You can use it eventually, someday. If you don’t like it, don’t worry about it—we’ll get rid of it."
Christian Evans wasn’t there to shop. He was there to buy the entire mall for her, just so she could ‘maybe’ use those things one day.
Chapter 19 A Jealous Mistress
Christian left his office in the evening. It was already seven. His strides were quick, urgent, as he headed straight for his car.
Fishing his phone from his pocket, he dialed Samuel. "Where are you? Have you dropped Ivy home yet?"