Chapter 30
“Oh! Now I remember-this is the legendary final masterpiece by the world- renowned jeweler, Mr. Shadow, from ten years ago, isn’t it p>
“There are fifty-one tiny diamonds set around the band, fifty-two in total-each one representing a reason for loving someone most p>
“I heard that this ring set was a custom design, commissioned specifically from Mr. Shadow. It’s worth, get this, a full ten million dollars p>
Ten million dollars.
Seren stared in shock.
Then she remembered Lennon saying she wasn’t into wearing wedding bands, so he just kept it as a keepsake.
She couldn’t help but draw a sharp breath.
Whether you wore a ten-million-dollar ring or just left it lying around as decoration, it was all terribly extravagant.
Nadine was still trying to recall more details. “I remember the rings had a dreamy name too, what was it called again? It’s on the tip of my tongue p>
Nadine gave a low whistle. “Seren’s Star’—all eyes on you. Lennon really knew what he was doing picking out this wedding ring. He must’ve put a lot of thought into it p>
Because of this ring, Nadine’s opinion of Lennon shot up a few notches.
People always say, if you want to know whether a man truly values a woman, just look at how much effort he’s willing to put in for her.
If Lennon could be so thorough with something as simple as choosing a ring, Nadine was convinced Seren would never be neglected by his side.
Honestly, he was leagues better than the Powers family, who’d never even bothered to get Seren a ring in the first place.
Thinking of the Powers family made Nadine’s lips curl in open disdain.
Everyone knew how shameless they’d been back then-making it clear they didn’t want to give Seren a wedding, or even a wedding band. They’d made all sorts of grand excuses about “making things up to her later on, after the relationship was more stable p>
Their nerve was truly something to behold.
Seren, meanwhile, looked a little dazed.
Ten years ago p>
Seren’s Star.
Those words kept echoing in her mind, reminding her of something Shirley had mentioned earlier that day: Lennon had supposedly prepared the wedding gift ten years ago.
If what Nadine said was true, and Seren’s Star really was Mr. Shadow’s final piece from a decade ago, and the name even matched hers-was this all just coincidence? Or had Lennon really had this ring set aside for her all those years? She tried to recall ten years ago, she and Lennon had barely exchanged a few words. There was no way he’d gone to such lengths just for her.
It had to be a coincidence.
She shook off the thought. She wasn’t the type to let her imagination run wild. “By the way, did you and Lennon get your marriage certificate yet?” Nadine suddenly remembered they were supposed to go to city hall that day.
She’d actually planned to stay up until city hall opened after lunch, just so she could call and remind Seren about the paperwork. She hadn’t expected to fall asleep waiting.
Seren nodded. “We got it p>
“That’s wonderful. From now on, our Seren has someone to look after her. I can finally stop worrying p>
Nadine’s eyes filled with tears. She was genuinely happy for her friend.
That night, when Seren had called in
the middle of the night to say she and Sheridan had broken up, Nadine hadn’t slept a wink. Seren’s voice had been calm on the phone, but Nadine could hear the pain beneath the surface.
Seren had always kept her feelings close to her chest, never talking about her
joys or sorrows with anyone.
That night, Nadine’s heart had ached
for her-first for all the unfairness
she’d suffered with the Powers
family, then for the worry that Seren
would have to go back to her own family in seaside City, only to end up suffering all over again.
Three years ago, Nadine had already thought Sheridan-and the Powers family- were a dead end.
No wedding, no rings, not even the paperwork. They hadn’t even bothered to give Seren the bare minimum of respect or recognition.
Most families, no matter how stubborn, would never let their daughter marry into that kind of neglect.
But Zena and Thurman had been utterly indifferent, acting as if none of it was their concern.
As for Swain and Slater, they just stood by and watched, sometimes even making snide remarks.
People say the eldest son is
supposed to be like a second
father but in Swain and Slater’s
case, that only meant more
coldness. Not a single person in the
whole family could be counted on.
Especially Slater. Nadine couldn’t stand how he treated Seren-he didn’t act like a brother at all.
That was partly why she’d supported Seren marrying Lennon.
Now, finally, Seren had someone dependable by her side. Nadine felt like a huge
weight had been lifted from her heart.
As the two of them chatted, the sound of a car engine shutting off came from outside.
Then Seren’s phone lit up with an incoming call.
Swain was calling.