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Lilly bursts out laughing. “He has to be the best fake husband ever.”
“Or Natalia has some skills in the bedroom we don’t know about,” Giada teases.
“Ew. Would you stop talking about my little sister’s sex life?” my sister says to her partner, cringing, which just has Giada and Lilly cracking up even more.
We arrive at my favorite jewelry store, and we are welcomed with open arms by the staff who are there with glasses of champagne as they usher us into the VIP room.
“Welcome, Princepessa Natalia. We are so honored that you have chosen us for your engagement ring. My staff have selected some rings for you that we thought you might like. Of course, if you would like us to select more, we are so happy to,” the store manager explains as he waves his hand over the table filled with jewels.
Oh wow, so many options and they all look beautiful.
We spend the next hour trying on every single ring, but nothing works, they are all so traditional, and if I’m being honest, this isn’t a real marriage, so I don’t want something that is real. Especially when I know there is an expiration date.
“Do you not like anything?” Lilly whispers to me.
I shake my head. “It feels wrong, when I’m not really married,” I whisper back to her.
“I get that,” she says, wrapping her arm around me. “Leave it with me,” she says, getting up and walking out of the room. I can hear her talking to one of the staff before coming back in again. “I think you might like what they bring in next.” She grins.
Moments later, staff have a tray of rings and place it down in front of me, and I smile. They are all different colors, there are pink, yellow, brown, gray, and even violet diamonds, then there are rubies, sapphires, and emeralds. I turn and give my sister-in-law a wide smile, this is exactly what I am after.
“More brides are now seeking something different for their engagement rings. This is what we have that might be more to your liking,” the staff member explains.
“I love it.” I smile up at them. I can see the instant relief on their faces at my happiness. I pick up a gorgeous pink, emerald cut diamond, and it’s stunning. It’s simple in that it is only a large stone with smaller stones along the band, the showstopper is the singular diamond. It is something I will wear again on my other finger once this is all over. When it slides on it’s as if the ring was made for me, it’s a perfect fit. The girls all gasp as I flash them the ring. I feel giddy with excitement as I stare at it on my finger. “This is the one,” I tell them. They all nod in agreement.
“It’s beautiful and so very much you.” Lilly smiles. I mouth the words ‘thank you’ to her and she waves my thanks away.
“There is a matching wedding band, let me grab that for you,” the staff member says before disappearing out of the room.
“Stunning, Natalia.” Giada grins.
“I like it,” my sister adds.
“This feels right. None of the others did because they were more lifelong commitment whereas this could mean anything,” I tell them.
“Let’s take a photo and send it to your husband.” Lilly grins as I slip the wedding ring on and admire it. I hold out my hand and let her take a photo with my phone, I’ll message him in a little bit.
“How much is the set?” I ask, generally curious.
“Three hundred and fifty-five thousand euros,” the staff member answers.
Turning to the girls, we all burst out laughing at the price.
“I think it’s worth it.” Allegra smirks.
“It’s beautiful, doesn’t matter about the price,” Giada adds.
“I do love it,” I say, holding out my hand and admiring it.
“He did say no budget,” Lilly reminds me. He most certainly did and that’s a dangerous thing to say to a woman in a diamond store.
“True. I’ll take it,” I tell the staff.
I sent a text message to Alessandro with a photo of the ring.
Alessandro: Nice. Different, not at all what I thought you would have chosen.
Natalia: Because it’s not traditional. I’m not like other girls.
