Chapter 5

Chapter 5: The Imperatrice Bracelet

Aurora

I barely slept.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Lucian's face.

"Go to Maison Étoile tomorrow."

"Ask for the Imperatrice Bracelet."

"It's yours."

It had sounded so simple when he'd said it over dinner.

As if he were asking me to pick up a book instead of... whatever this mysterious gift was.

I glanced at the black envelope resting on my bedside table.

Maybe I shouldn't go.

Maybe accepting a gift from Lucian Moretti was the first step toward a life I wasn't ready for.

Then again...

Curiosity had always been my greatest weakness.

---

At exactly ten o'clock, my taxi stopped in front of Maison Étoile.

The boutique looked more like an art gallery than a jewelry store.

Its glass walls sparkled beneath the morning sun, and a uniformed doorman greeted every arriving guest by name.

I looked down at my cream blouse, black trousers, and low heels.

Compared to the women stepping out of Bentleys and Rolls-Royces, I looked painfully ordinary.

"You can still leave," I muttered to myself.

Instead...

I walked inside.

Soft classical music drifted through the boutique.

Crystal chandeliers hung overhead, filling the room with warm light that danced across rows of diamonds, emeralds, and sapphires.

One necklace probably cost more than my apartment.

A beautiful blonde saleswoman approached me with a professional smile.

"Good morning, ma'am. Welcome to Maison Étoile."

"Good morning."

"Do you have an appointment with us today?"

"Not exactly."

"Oh?"

"I'm here to collect something."

Her smile remained, but it became noticeably stiffer.

"And your name?"

"Aurora."

She waited.

I realized my mistake.

"Aurora... Rossi."

The surname tasted bitter.

She typed into her tablet.

Her eyebrows slowly knitted together.

"I'm sorry, Miss Rossi. I don't seem to have anything reserved under your name."

I frowned.

"There should be."

"I'm afraid there isn't."

I pulled the black envelope from my handbag and showed her the handwritten card.

"He asked me to come."

She glanced at it.

"There isn't a sender's name."

"I know."

"I'm sorry, ma'am, but without proof, I'm afraid I can't help you."

"I was told to ask for something."

"What is it?"

"The Imperatrice Bracelet."

Her fingers froze.

"The... what?"

"The Imperatrice Bracelet."

The smile disappeared from her face completely.

"I'm terribly sorry..."

She looked at another employee.

"Emily..."

The other woman walked over.

"Yes?"

"This lady is asking for the Imperatrice Bracelet."

Emily blinked.

"...Seriously?"

I looked between them.

"Is something wrong?"

Before either of them could answer—

"Well..."

A familiar voice echoed through the boutique.

"What an unexpected surprise."

My stomach tightened.

I turned slowly.

Seraphina.

She stood near the entrance wearing a fitted white designer dress, oversized sunglasses resting on her head, and enough diamonds to blind someone.

Damian stood beside her.

His navy suit fit him perfectly.

For one painful second...

My heart remembered loving him.

Then I remembered why I didn't anymore.

Seraphina's lips curved into a mocking smile.

"I almost didn't recognize you."

I forced myself to remain calm.

"Good morning."

She looked me up and down.

"I suppose everyone is welcome in here these days."

Damian cleared his throat.

"Seraphina..."

"What?"

She shrugged innocently.

"I'm only saying hello."

"No."

I replied quietly.

"You're trying to embarrass me."

Her smile widened.

"Do I need to?"

She gestured toward my clothes.

"You've done that yourself."

One of the employees covered her mouth to hide a laugh.

Heat spread across my face.

I ignored them.

"I'll wait."

The blonde saleswoman looked relieved.

"Thank you, ma'am."

Seraphina frowned.

"Wait for what?"

"I'm collecting something."

"Oh?"

She folded her arms.

"What exactly?"

"The Imperatrice Bracelet."

The entire boutique fell silent.

Even Damian looked surprised.

Seraphina blinked.

Then...

She laughed.

Not a polite laugh.

A cruel one.

"Oh, Aurora..."

She wiped an imaginary tear from her eye.

"You really haven't changed."

"What does that mean?"

"You've always had such a vivid imagination."

"I wasn't joking."

"No?"

She turned toward the employees.

"Tell her."

Emily smiled awkwardly.

"The Imperatrice Bracelet is... rather special."

"How special?"

"There is only one."

"In the country," another employee added.

"It isn't displayed."

"It isn't advertised."

"It isn't even offered to the public."

Seraphina gasped dramatically.

"Oh my."

She looked back at me.

"And somehow..."

"You own it?"

"I didn't say I owned it."

"I said I came to collect it."

She burst into laughter again.

This time even two customers joined in.

Damian sighed.

"Aurora..."

I looked at him.

"What?"

"Just stop."

"Stop what?"

"Making a scene."

I stared at him in disbelief.

"I'm making a scene?"

"You know that bracelet isn't for you."

"And how would you know?"

"Because no one buys something like that for someone like..."

He stopped himself.

Someone like me.

He didn't need to finish.

I'd heard enough.

My chest tightened.

"So that's what you think of me."

Damian looked away.

"I didn't mean it like that."

"You did."

"No..."

"I just don't want you humiliating yourself."

Seraphina slipped her arm through his.

"See?"

"He still worries about you."

I smiled bitterly.

"Keep him."

"I already have."

She looked toward the manager who had just emerged from a private office.

"Perfect timing."

She walked over.

"I'd like to purchase the Imperatrice Bracelet."

The elderly manager smiled politely.

"I'm terribly sorry, Miss De Luca."

"It's already been purchased."

"I know."

She held out her hand confidently.

"I'll take it."

"I'm afraid..."

He hesitated.

"It has already been reserved for another client."

Her smile disappeared.

"What?"

"The bracelet has been paid for in full."

"By who?"

"I'm not at liberty to disclose—"

"I am."

Everyone turned toward me.

"I was told to collect it."

The manager frowned.

"I'm sorry, miss."

"May I have your name?"

"Aurora."

He waited.

"Aurora...?"

"Rossi."

His expression didn't change.

Instead, he turned to his assistant.

"Check the reservation list again."

She hurried away.

Seraphina folded her arms triumphantly.

"I told you."

"She's lying."

"People like her always lie when they're desperate."

I clenched my fists.

"Watch your mouth."

"Oh?"

She stepped closer until we were barely a foot apart.

"Or what?"

"You'll regret it."

She laughed.

"You?"

"I don't make empty threats."

She leaned so close I could smell her expensive perfume.

"Tell me, Aurora."

Her voice dropped to a whisper.

"Which billionaire are you sleeping with now?"

Something inside me cracked.

"Take that back."

"Why?"

"Does the truth hurt?"

"I said..."

My voice trembled.

"Take it back."

"No."

Instead...

She shoved my shoulder.

Hard enough for me to stumble.

The boutique went silent.

For years...

I had tolerated her insults.

Her mockery.

Her endless need to remind me I would never be enough.

Today...

I was done.

I shoved her back.

She stumbled into a display table.

"Seraphina!"

Damian rushed forward.

"You bitch!"

She lunged for me.

I caught her wrist before it could hit my face.

"Don't."

"You hit me!"

"You pushed me first."

"Liar!"

Her bodyguards rushed between us.

One seized my arm.

The other forced me backward.

"Let me go!"

"Miss De Luca, are you alright?" one guard asked.

"I'm fine."

She pointed at me dramatically.

"Throw her out."

The manager nodded immediately.

"Remove her from the boutique."

"What?"

I stared at him.

"You didn't even ask what happened."

"We saw enough."

"No, you didn't."

"You assaulted our customer."

"She assaulted me first!"

Emily shook her head.

"We only saw you push Miss De Luca."

"I was defending myself!"

"No."

Seraphina said sweetly.

"She attacked me because she couldn't accept that she doesn't belong here."

Damian looked at me.

His expression was unreadable.

"Aurora..."

"Say something."

"I..."

"You know she's lying."

He remained silent.

That silence hurt more than any insult.

One guard tightened his grip.

"Please leave peacefully."

"I said let go."

"I don't want to hurt you."

I laughed bitterly.

"A little late for that."

Just as they began dragging me toward the entrance...

The boutique doors opened.

Every employee froze.

The guards immediately released my arm.

The manager straightened so fast he nearly knocked over a display stand.

Silence swept through the boutique.

Slow.

Measured.

Footsteps echoed across the marble floor.

A deep voice broke the silence.

"I leave for one meeting..."

"...and somehow my guest ends up being manhandled in my boutique."

No one dared breathe.

The manager lowered his head.

"Good morning..."

"...Mr. Moretti."