A Thousand-Step Journey

"Gemma, are you serious? Just because I didn't accompany you to Crownspire Palace, you're throwing a tantrum in the middle of our trip?"

August Cross was kneeling on the stone pavement, holding a brand-new pair of flats in his hands. The shoes had been custom-made to fit my feet before we left for Fairmont.

Now, he was carefully slipping them onto Jolie Allen's feet.

Jolie stamped her foot lightly. "August, is Gemma upset with me? I shouldn't have made you walk so much."

August didn't even look up. He gently helped her fasten the straps. "Ignore her. She's having one of her princess moments. Your heels are already rubbed raw. Put these on and give your feet a break."

Jolie bit her lower lip and glanced at me in the car. "But these are Gemma's shoes. Won't she be upset if I wear them?"

August stood and casually brushed the dust off Jolie's legs. "She took a cab. She doesn't need them. Besides, she's the one who chose not to come with us."

A passerby stopped when he saw them.

"Now that's a thoughtful young man. Treating his girlfriend so well. Men like him are hard to find these days."

August didn't correct him. Instead, he shifted slightly to shield Jolie from the stranger's gaze.

Jolie's cheeks flushed as she murmured her thanks.

I sat in the back of the car, fighting the waves of pain in my lower abdomen. My severe menstrual cramps had left my face deathly pale.

I pressed the window button, and the glass slowly slid down. "August, have you finished your 30,000 steps?"

At the sound of my voice, August turned around, his brows immediately drawing together. "Don't talk to me in that sarcastic tone. I haven't even settled the score with you for canceling my plane ticket without asking me."

I looked at him coldly. "Did you receive the $49,950 companionship fee? Was it enough to cover the effort of walking those 30,000 steps with her?"

August's expression darkened. "Gemma, do you have to keep bringing up money just to make everyone miserable?

"Jolie doesn't get to visit Fairmont often. As the guy who's known her since childhood, what's wrong with spending a little extra time with her?"

Seeing the tension, Jolie hurried over, limping slightly. "Gemma, don't blame August. I was the one who insisted we keep walking. If you're upset, I'll give the shoes back."

She reached for my car door.

The car door was heavy. Her fingers had barely touched the handle when she suddenly stepped back half a pace and let out a delicate cry.

"Ouch!"

August's expression changed instantly. He rushed over. "What are you doing?"

He yanked Jolie into his arms and slammed the car door shut with his other hand.

I had been preparing to get out. The edge of the door scraped hard against my arm.

A sharp sting followed as a gash split my pale skin. Blood trickled down my wrist and dripped onto the leather seat.

August didn't even glance at my injury. "Gemma, when did you become so vicious? You even tried to crush Jolie's fingers in the door?"

I looked at the blood on my arm. My voice was eerily calm. "She reached for the door herself. I never even touched her."

August let out a cold laugh. "Still making excuses. Jolie's played the piano since she was a child. Do you have any idea how precious her hands are?"

Jolie leaned against him, her eyes reddening. "August, I'm fine. I was just startled. I could really use something to calm my nerves, though."

August looked down at her, his gaze so tender it was almost sickening. "Don't be scared. I'm here."

He turned, his eyes settling on the amethyst pendant around my neck.

It was a beautiful amethyst pendant I'd gotten for myself two winters ago, after spending a freezing day at a chapel, praying for August's safety.

My name was engraved on it.

August suddenly reached through the open car window and tore the pendant from my neck.

The chain scraped against my skin, leaving a vivid red mark.

"What are you doing?"

August clenched the pendant in his hand, his tone matter-of-fact. "Jolie's been frightened. I'll let her borrow this to calm her nerves. You're tough. You don't need all this superstitious nonsense anyway."

I watched as he personally hung the pendant around Jolie's neck.

Jolie touched it hesitantly. "August, I think Gemma's name is engraved on it."

August didn't care. He straightened her collar. "It's just a name. You're not going to hold that against her, are you? I'll return it when she finally learns how to be a considerate, understanding wife."

I didn't argue or fly into a hysterical fit. I simply pressed the save button on the dashcam. Then I took out my phone and snapped a high-resolution photo of them.

The moment the pendant changed hands was now preserved forever.

"Gemma, what are you taking pictures of?" August noticed what I was doing.

I put my phone away and pressed the button to raise the window. "A keepsake."

Through the window as it slowly closed, August's voice carried a warning. "If you dare drive away today, don't bother coming back to the hotel tonight. I don't have time to coddle a woman who throws tantrums over nothing."

The window shut completely, cutting off his arrogant voice.

I turned to the driver and said calmly, "Let's go."

The car pulled smoothly away from the entrance to Crownspire Palace.

In the rearview mirror, August stood with one arm around Jolie, watching the car disappear with absolute confidence.