Zac’s expression darkened, nearly stormy. “Liz you’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?” Two hundred million was enough to buy the entire store. And yet she dared to throw out such an outrageous price.


    Liz looked at him without a trace of emotion. “Weren’t you the one who asked me to name a price? If you can’t afford it, don’t act like some nouveau riche showoff. It just makes you look ridiculous.”


    Without sparing either of them another nce, she turned to the associate and handed over her card. “Please wrap this up for me.”


    She had nned to look at a few more pieces, but the mood had beenpletely ruined. There was no point in staying.


    The associate, quick to catch the shift in tone, nodded immediately. “Of course. Right this way.”


    After running her card, the associate returned with the boxed bracelet and a polite smile. ” Thank you, Ms. Smith. We hope to see you again soon.”


    Liz epted the bag, turned, and walked away.


    As she waited for the elevator, Xena and Zac followed behind.


    “Mr. Lincoln,” Xena said softly, “I still think this ring is too expensive. Maybe we should go back and choose a smaller one?”


    “No need,” he replied, tone indulgent. “This one looks the best.


    Xena hesitated for a moment, then smiled coyly. “Well, okay then. You suddenly brought me to buy a ring today–you’re not nning to propose to me, are you? I’m not the kind of girl who says yes just because of a piece of jewelry, you know.”


    Zac chuckled lightly, sounding almost pleased. Rx. I wouldn’t. When I propose, it’ll be a grand event. You deserve that.”


    Liz kept her eyes down, hands folded neatly in front of her, acting like she hadn’t heard a


    word.


    Zac’s gaze lingered on her unreadable expression. His eyes darkened slightly, but whatever he was thinking, he kept to himself.


    The elevator arrived quickly.


    Once inside, Xena started talking about lunch, saying she was really craving Zac’s cooking again.


    Zac’s voice turned gentle. “Then I’ll make your favorite barbecue ribs. And maybe a side of sautéed greens.‘


    “I don’t want greens. Can we have something else instead?”


    The elevator’s mirrored doors reflected the two of them standing close, with Xena tilting her head up at him, her tone dripping with sweetness.


    Zac reached out and yfully pinched her nose. “Nope. You always skip your veggies. From now on, every meal needs at least one.”


    “But I really hate vegetables!”


    “You still have to eat some. You’re so skinny, I’m afraid a gust of wind might carry you off.”


    The whole time he spoke, Zac’s gaze stayed fixed on Liz’s back. He watched her in silence, as if he were testing her, trying to see how long she could keep pretending not to care. Liz’s grip on her shopping bag tightened slightly. An old memory surfaced without warning. It was a memory of a long–ago argument with Zac about vegetables.


    Back then, he was the one who refused to eat them.


    She had tried everything to change his mind. He wouldn’t touch a single leaf. When she finally gave up and turned away in frustration, he had leaned in and kissed her on the cheek


    When she red at him, he just smiled like a smug little kid and said, “That’s my reward for trying a veggie.”


    Back then, watching him give that same affection to someone else would have broken her.


    But now, she stood there quietly, unmoved.


    The love she had once poured her entire heart into was finally beginning to fade.


    The elevator stopped at the basement level.


    Liz walked out without looking back and headed straight to her car.


    She set her purse and shopping bag in the back seat, got in, and drove off.


    Just as she neared home, her phone rang. It was a call from a potential client she had metst week.


    “Ms. Smith,” the woman said hesitantly, “I’ve thought it over and decided to go with Attorney Chapman at MS Law instead. I’m really sorry for wasting your time.”