Chapter 66 Chapter 66
Amelia
My mom’s birthday was coming up, and I had already made up my mind that I would get her something special. No matter how tight things were, I couldn’t let the day pass without doing something for her. She deserved more than I could ever afford. That woman had carried me through life, raised my girls like they were her own, and never once complained. If anyone deserved a million-dollar gift, it was her.
I walked into one of the most expensive jewelry stores in the city, glass cases lined the walls, each one holding pieces that sparkled under bright white lights. I prayed that I would find something beautiful that wouldn’t completely destroy my budget.
Money was already tight, I was broke and Declan was still on my neck, reminding me of problems I couldn’t escape. But none of that mattered right now, this was about my mom.
I walked slowly from one display to another, my heart sinking a little more with every price tag I saw. Everything was stunning, and everything was far beyond what I could afford.
Rings, bracelets, earrings, each one more expensive than the last. I was almost ready to give up when something caught my eye.
I stopped in front of a necklace, it was delicate and breathtaking. A thin gold chain held a small pendant shaped like a teardrop, and at its center was a clear gemstone that caught the light with every tiny movement. It sparkled softly, the stone looked almost alive, reflecting tiny rainbows as I leaned closer. I couldn’t take my eyes off it.
Slowly, I reached for the price tag. The moment I saw the number, my breath hitched. I gasped before I could stop myself.
Holy shit, it was insanely expensive, far more than I had planned to spend. My heart dropped, but my eyes kept drifting back to the necklace. It was the most beautiful thing I had seen all day, and for a brief moment, I imagined it resting against my mom’s skin, her smiling when she opened the box.
“Do you want it?” a voice asked behind me. I jumped instantly, clutching my chest as my heart nearly leapt out. I spun around, already annoyed, and found Adrian standing right behind me with an amused look on his face.
“Jesus!” I hit his chest lightly. “You scared the hell out of me, you moron.”
He laughed, clearly enjoying my reaction. “I like knowing I still have that effect on you.”
I rolled my eyes. “What are you doing here?” “I figured you’d be coming here today,” he said casually. “So I decided to stop by too.”
I snorted. “Ha, ha, ha. Not funny.”
He placed a hand on his chest dramatically, pretending to be wounded. “Ouch. I actually planned on charming you today.”
I shook my head, turning back to the glass case. “You’re impossible.”
His gaze followed mine, and he pointed at the necklace I had been staring at for far too long. “You like that one?”
I nodded slowly. “Yeah. But it’s way beyond my budget.” My eyes stayed on the necklace. “It’s worth the price, I won’t deny that, but it’s way above my league. I will just look for something cheaper.”
He smiled, “Nothing is beyond your league, darling. You are a league of your own.” I rolled my eyes again, though I felt my cheeks warm slightly. He chuckled softly before speaking again.
“If you want it,” he said calmly, “you can have it.”
I shook my head immediately. “No. It’s too expensive. I’m not putting that burden on you.”
I stepped closer to the display and lifted the price tag so he could see it. “Did you even look at the tag? That’s a lot of money.”
He raised an eyebrow, looking almost offended. “Are you insinuating that I’m broke? Because that’s actually insulting.”
“That’s not what I meant,” I said quickly, lowering the tag. “It’s just that… I can’t take it.”
I exhaled slowly, my chest tightening. Taking a gift like that from him didn’t feel right. Not when I had no intention of dating him. Not when I knew the only reason I’d gotten close to him in the first place was to make Maxwell jealous.
“You are not stepping out of this store without that necklace,” he said firmly.
I eyed him, “I saw the way you were staring at it,” he continued, a teasing smile playing on his lips. “I don’t want to wake up tomorrow and see your face all over the news because you decided to break into this place and steal your most desired necklace. You were looking at it with so much hunger in your eyes.”
I gasped, completely offended. “Are you insinuating that I’m a thief? That I’d actually steal it?”
He slipped his hands into his pockets, unfazed. “No,” he said calmly, then smirked. “I’m insinuating that you are stubborn.”
Before I could argue, he tapped his fingers lightly against the glass. Almost immediately, one of the store attendants approached us with a polite smile.
“Please package this for her,” he said casually, as if he hadn’t just blown my mind.
I blinked rapidly, my brain struggling to catch up with what was happening. Everything felt unreal. My mouth opened, then closed, before I finally managed to speak.
“Thank you,” I said softly, my voice thick with emotion. “Thank you so much. I’m really grateful.”
The weight of the moment settled in my chest, a mix of relief, surprise, and something dangerously close to guilt.
“I have been looking for you.”
The voice was smooth and calm. I turned just in time to see a beautiful woman in her fifties walking toward us. She was elegant in a quiet, effortless way. Her hair and eyes were the same as Adrian’s, there was no mistaking the resemblance. I didn’t need anyone to tell me who she was. This was his mother.
“I’m sorry, Mom,” Adrian said softly. Then, turning to me, he said, “Mom, meet my friend Amelia. Amelia, this is my mom.”
Our eyes met, and she studied me silently for a few seconds that felt like forever. Adrian cleared his throat nervously. “Mom?”
“Nice to meet you, ma’am,” I said politely, though I wasn’t sure she felt the same.
“Nice to meet you too, Amelia,” she said with a small smile. “You are very beautiful.”
I couldn’t help but smile back. “Thank you, ma’am. You look absolutely stunning as well.”
Honestly, she carried herself with elegance and confidence that made her seem timeless.
“You’re Adrian’s friend?” she asked, tilting her head slightly.
He didn’t skip a beat. “Yes,” he said confidently, flashing a cheeky grin at me. “And, intending girlfriend. Amelia and I are going to be an item soon.” He winked.
I blinked, caught off guard, but before I could respond, she arched an eyebrow and leaned closer. “You want to date a man who chases anything in a skirt?” she asked sharply. “He had a different woman on his arm just last night and introduced her as the love of his life.”
Adrian groaned, rubbing his face. “Mom! You are ruining my chances here. Amelia is different, I’m serious with her. I’m not playing games.” He shot me a hopeful look. “I hope she hasn’t ruined my chances with you?”
I shrugged innocently. “Chances…totally ruined,” I said with a smile.
His mom didn’t say anything but watched us both carefully, her gaze sharp yet thoughtful. I felt her eyes linger on me longer than I liked, but there was something about her.
After retrieving my necklace, I thanked Adrian probably a hundred times before finally leaving the store.
Outside, we walked together to the car. Mrs. Cole offered to drop me off, but I assured her I had driven myself. Even as Adrian and his mom drove away, I couldn’t shake the feeling of her gaze persistent and almost probing.
There was definitely something about her.
I slid into my car and started driving. The streets were quiet, winding through a secluded area, when suddenly my car jerked violently and came to a complete stop. My heart sank as I realized it had broken down.