Arianna stood in front of her wedding gown, her fingers brushing over the soft fabric. She was getting married next week. She knew she was too young, but to her, love was love.
Her sister, Paige, leaned against the doorframe, watching her in silence before letting out a long sigh. Then she walked over and crossed her arms.
"So, you're really leaving us? Me and Mike?" Paige asked quietly.
"Paige, I found someone who truly trusts me, okay? And I'll follow him anywhere," Arianna said with a small smile.
Paige just nodded. "Dotty's driving us to the jewelry boutique. Get ready," she said, grabbing her jacket.
When they arrived at the boutique, Arianna's eyes immediately lit up. Glass cases sparkled with hundreds of rings, each one promising a story of its own. She walked along the displays, searching for the perfect one, until a silver ring with diamonds caught her attention. It shimmered under the light, beautiful and expensive, but she couldn't take her eyes off it.
"Hello, can I see this one?" Arianna asked the salesperson. She was about to try the ring on when a man appeared beside her.
"I'll take that one," he said abruptly.
Arianna blinked in disbelief and turned toward him. "Excuse me?"
He didn't respond.
"Excuse me, sir!" she repeated louder.
The man finally looked at her, one eyebrow raised.
"I saw it first. I'm the one who wants that ring," Arianna said firmly.
"I don't think you can afford it," he said without emotion.
Arianna's jaw dropped. "Excuse me? I can afford it, so hand it over."
"Here's your ring, sir," the salesperson interrupted, already placing the ring in a box and slipping it into a small bag.
The man paid and turned to leave.
"Jerk! Can't you just pick another one? Your girlfriend probably won't even wear it!" Arianna shouted.
He stopped and glanced over his shoulder. "You should watch your mouth, young lady," he said, his eyes flicking briefly toward her chest. "Your man's unlucky to have a girl with small boobs."
He walked away without another word.
Arianna stood frozen, speechless. Then she turned toward the salesperson. "Why did you let him buy it? I wanted it first."
"Sorry, miss," the salesperson said awkwardly. "He's one of our regular customers."
Dotty and Paige walked over just as Arianna's face flushed with anger. Paige placed a hand on her shoulder, but Arianna couldn't stop staring at the door the man had just walked out of.
"Arianna, what's wrong? Did you already find your ring?" Paige asked.
Arianna just shook her head. Her eyes wandered back to the display, and she spotted a simple silver ring without diamonds. It wasn't what she wanted, but she decided to take it. Better to have something than nothing at all.
The next day, Arianna went out for coffee. An iced coffee sounded perfect to soothe her throat. She already had her drink in hand, but her mind kept drifting back to what happened yesterday.
"Ugh, what a jerk," she muttered under her breath.
Distracted, she turned around and bumped into someone. Cold coffee sloshed slightly in her cup.
"Oh, I'm sorry," she said quickly, then froze when she saw who it was.
It was him, the same man who insulted her at the jewelry shop.
"Oh, it's you," she said, pointing at him.
"Yes, it's me. Why?" he replied, his voice calm but sharp.
"Don't tell me you've already forgotten what you said to me yesterday?" Arianna snapped.
"What? About the small boobs thing?" he said flatly. "You really took it personally."
"Yes, I did!" she fired back.
He smirked slightly. "So, you admit it then." His eyes moved lazily from her head to her feet. "You should learn how to control your emotions. Acting like that in public makes you look pathetic."
Arianna's jaw tightened. "Excuse me? You're the one being rude first!"
He shrugged. "You started shouting at a stranger over a piece of jewelry. What did you expect? You're loud, spoiled, and dramatic. Typical rich girl behavior."
Her face turned red with anger. "You don't even know me!"
"I don't have to," he said coldly. "It's obvious from the way you talk. You think the world owes you something just because you can pout and smile."
"You're such a jerk. You don't know anything about me!" Arianna snapped again, her voice trembling with fury.
He stepped closer, his tone cutting like ice. "Then prove me wrong, princess."
Her hands clenched around her cup. Before she could stop herself, she threw the coffee straight into his face.
The man flinched as the cold liquid splashed across his shirt and jaw. For a moment, Arianna stood there, breathing hard, her heart pounding in her chest.
"That's for being an arrogant jerk," she said, her voice shaking with anger.
He wiped the dripping coffee from his face, his eyes darkening as he looked at her. "You're insane," he muttered, his tone low and dangerous.
"Maybe," Arianna replied, glaring back at him. "But at least I'm not heartless."
With that, she turned and walked out of the cafe, leaving him standing there, his shirt stained and his pride bruised.
to be continued…..