“You have a good eye, miss. This phoenix coronet is our shop’s most prized possession. It is entirely handmade, and there’s only one of this in the whole country.”
The manager wasn’t exaggerating at all.
With the transparent glass petals, the red tassels with white crystals, and the handmade embellishments, the phoenix coronet looked so much more stylish and classy than any other accessories in the cabinet, let alone paired with a red gown.
I couldn’t stop the corners of my lips from tilting upward as I traced a finger over the coronet.
The memories of the wedding I had with Ashton back then were already blurry. All I could remember was that I felt nervous but excited. I didn’t have time to rest that day. As for how the wedding went, or how many guests there were, I could remember none of it.
Perhaps it was because of where I was from, but I preferred the traditional Chanaean wedding with a red and gold theme. Back then, we were in a rush to get married, so there wasn’t time for me to think about this at all.
I regretted not being able to wear a phoenix coronet or a veil over my face as I went up to Ashton. Even after so long, I could still feel something tugging at my heartstrings whenever there was anything related to weddings near me.
Indeed, women must never miss out on the formalities, or they would carry the regret in their hearts forever.
“Here, I would like to pay with this card.”
Emery got ready to pay for our stuff while I was still in the midst of my thoughts.
“Hold on,” I said, quickly reaching out to stop her. Then, I said to the manager, “Sorry, please let us have a moment of discussion. We’ll call for you if we need anything.”
“All right.” Fortunately, the manager was modest as he left immediately after with a polite smile on his face.
I pursed my lips and made sure he was gone before putting the phoenix coronet back into the cabinet. As I fiddled with the other accessories, I started to advise earnestly, “Didn’t you hear what the manager said? This is a one-of-a-kind item. It’s the only one in the whole world. The ones you’re wearing now already cost you tens of thousands. This coronet will definitely cost up to hundreds of thousands. I won’t be able to use it even if you spend that much money, so there’s no need to waste your money.”
I paused for a moment before continuing as I traced the sides of the coronet, “I can’t bring myself to keep such a beautiful thing from the world. It’ll only collect dust if I get it and put it up on a shelf, like all the antiques we have. Let’s give it a chance to find someone better. Let the person be the most beautiful bride when she wears this.”
“Why do you overthink so much? When are you able to shop to your heart’s content then?” Emery’s motto was “Have fun while you still can.” It was especially true when it came to shopping. She would never be stingy, nor would she try to bargain for a better price. This was the reason that her mood was rarely affected for material reasons.
In a way, there were benefits when women earned a lot in their jobs.
“I’m satisfied with what I have now.” I turned around, a smile on my face as I sighed. Then, pointing at my head, I said, “I already have it in here. We should leave it to surprise others with its beauty. That’s why we should just spare it.”
“What kind of logic is that?” the woman snorted with anger. “You should claim something for yourself if you like it. If you’re going to be like that, you might as well open up a charity home. Why should you compromise yourself for someone else’s benefit?”
“It’s not as bad as you think. I just feel that a wedding item should be left for someone who is going to get married. We’re just here for the cultural festival. So why not just choose something else? I really can’t bring myself to throw away money as if it’s dirt.”
At my words, Emery sucked in a cold breath and was looking at me as if I was a freak. Her brows were furrowed as she continued to stare at me but said nothing.
“What’s with the look on your face?” I lost my confidence after being a wet blanket.
“I was thinking if anyone would believe me if I told them that the wife of the richest man couldn’t bring herself to spend a few hundred thousand. Are you trying to play the role of a virtuous wife and help Ashton to save money?”
A laugh escaped her lips as she continued, “Whatever. I’m not going to force you to buy it. What belongs to you will end up with you in the end anyway.”
