(Mia's POV)
Once they were gone, the sales associate turned to me, looking utterly confused, and said,
"Miss Mia, those two are…?"
"Just two irrelevant people," I said calmly, adjusting the ring on my finger. "No need to mind them."
Three years of dating, and Ben never once considered marrying me.
Little did he know, he wasn't even qualified to marry me.
I had never truly considered marrying him anyway.
I took out my phone, snapped a few photos of the ring, and sent them to my father.
Within two minutes, he replied:
"It fits perfectly."
"Thank you," I texted back.
Then he sent a phone number.
"Mia, that's your fiancé's number; you should send him a few photos."
There's really no need for this, I muttered to myself, scratching my forehead.
"Okay," I replied, while staring at the screen, debating whether or not to send the photos.
A few photos won't do any harm, I decided, and forwarded them to the number.
*
Meanwhile…
Samuel was in a meeting, staring at a contract file when his phone beeped.
He checked it and saw several photos of a hand wearing the ring he'd personally custom-made for his future fiancée.
Without a doubt, he knew who the hand belonged to.
A smile crossed his face as he replied:
"It suits you perfectly."
Samuel's assistant, Bryan Sander, stood nearby waiting for his signature.
He had already stolen a few glances at his boss.
Was he seeing things?
The cold, expressionless CEO was smiling…?
And not just any smile—a soft, almost sweet one.
It felt like the air around him was suddenly filled with pink bubbles.
Samuel signed the last document and looked up.
"What are you staring at?" His tone had returned to its usual coolness.
Bryan immediately straightened and grabbed the papers.
"Nothing, Mr. Samuel. I'll take my leave now."
*
(Mia's Pov)
I got a reply from my fiancé:
"It suits you perfectly."
Sounds young and romantic, I thought. Maybe I wasn't completely wrong for accepting my father's proposal.
I'll just wait until I meet this mysterious fiancé.
I shook my head and walked out of the boutique, heading next door to a high-end men's watch store.
I wanted to buy a watch as a gift for my fiancé when I returned to New York.
After browsing carefully, I selected a sleek black wristwatch—something classy enough to suit any man in my category.
I hope he likes it.
Just as I finished paying, a familiar voice called from the side.
"Hey Mia, what are you doing here?" Jayla approached.
"I just came to pick up a few things," I replied.
Jayla glanced at the shopping bag in my hand.
"Is this a gift for Ben?"
Was she unaware Ben and I had broken up, or was she trying to draw it out of me?
I didn't feel like explaining, so I simply nodded with a faint "Mhm."
"That brand's watches aren't cheap. Even their basic models start in the five-figure range. You don't need to spend that much on a gift for him. He…" she hesitated.
Because what she really wanted to say—"He doesn't deserve it"—was better left unsaid.
Jayla and Ben had been friends long before I came into the picture. It would have been too cruel for her to say something like that out loud.
Ben had already admitted he wasn't going to marry me.
I was just a stand-in, waiting until the "perfect woman" came along to fit his personal profile.
"Got it. I won't do it next time," I told Jayla, easing the tension.
We chatted for a bit before parting ways.
*
Somewhere else...
Ben was having dinner with Cindy when a message came through.
The frustration that had been brewing inside him all day suddenly faded.
His expression softened.
Mia must have realized she was wrong and wants to apologize with a gift, he thought.
If that was the case, he'd let her save face.
He'd accept the watch, say a few gentle words to smooth things over—maybe even apologize for his tone earlier.
"Ben, what's wrong? Who messaged you?" Cindy asked from across the table.
Ben put away his phone, his expression unreadable.
"No one important."
Cindy didn't press.
A few minutes later, Ben excused himself to use the restroom.
The moment he was gone, Cindy picked up his phone from the table.
She'd seen him enter his password several times. It was his birthday—easy to guess.
She typed it in and unlocked the phone.
The first thing she checked was his chat with Mia.
Their last conversation was from a week ago, before the breakup.
Finding nothing there, she backed out and scrolled down to Jayla's chat.
As she read, she let out a cold laugh.
Mia hadn't let go after all.
She was still trying to win Ben back—still hoping to make peace by buying him a gift.
How pathetic.
Cindy locked the phone, placing it back where it had been.
Then, she pulled out her own phone and dialed, Mrs. Mary Smith– Ben's mother.
"Hello Mrs. Smith? I just ran into Ben's girlfriend at the jewelry store," she said sweetly. " She was trying out rings, pushing for marriage…."