Between Us

Chapter 36

Alianna

My heart is pounding as I walk into the highly exclusive jewelry store that Max asked me to meet her at. In all the years that she and I have bought jewelry for Crystal together, she never once bought anything for her here, not even when she pleaded with her, which I know she did. This isn't the kind of store that just anyone can buy from, no matter how much money you have. 

Their designs are iconic, and they're all handcrafted.

"Mrs. Lim," the owner of the store greets me, his head bowed, "It's an honor to have you here today."

"Mr. Laurier, the honor is all mine," I reply, surprised.

He shakes his head bashfully, as though he's genuinely happy to have me here, and it leaves me feeling flustered.

Throughout my career I've become accustomed to having nearly anything I could possibly want, yet this is one of the few things that has always been out of reach for me.

"Ali," I look up at the sound of Max's voice and smile when she holds her hand out for me. She entwines our fingers and pulls me into her, her eyes on mine. The way she looks at me reminds me of this morning. Just as Crystal managed to shake my confidence, she stepped in and restored it, showing me how much she wants me.

Even if what we've got is nothing more than passion, it's still a start.

It's more than I had just a few weeks ago.

"Let's pick you a ring."

"Please follow me, Mrs. and Mrs. Lim," Mr. Laurier leads us to a desk, where he's got several designs laid out for us, "Do you have anything in mind?"

I glance at Max nervously as we sit down, but she merely smiles and reaches for my hand, entwining our fingers before she brings our joined hands to her lips.

"Anything you want, Alianna. There is no budget. I just want you to have a ring you'll wear with pride," She looks at Mr. Laurier then,

"My only request is that you engrave my name on the inside of my wife's ring."

My heart skips a beat as heat rushes to my cheeks. She has no idea how many of my dreams she's fulfilling today. I hesitate for a moment before I take out my tablet.

"I drew something," I admit, "But I'm not sure if it'd be possible to create this."

Mr. Laurier smiles as he takes my tablet from me, "We can definitely make this, Mrs. Lim. It'll be a shared-prong eternity band with a trellis design. What kind of carat weight were you thinking of?"

Max tenses and straightens her back, her grip on my hand tightening, "I need it to be visible from across the room," she says, her expression unyielding, "Would ten carats be okay? Perhaps Fifteen."

My eyes widen, and I turn toward her, "Are you insane? That's far too much."

Max looks at me and shakes her head, "You're a Lim. You're my wife. Nothing is too much," Mr. Laurier smiles at me reassuringly, "Because this is an eternity ring, there will be several diamonds on your ring with a combined total weight of ten carats. I will ensure that the end result looks classy, Mrs. Lim. I understand your worries, but please rest assured. The final result will be breathtaking and befitting your stature."

I nod hesitantly, worried for a reason I can't quite identify. I suppose I'm scared to truly step into my role as Mrs. Lim. I'm scared that this thing that appears to be growing between Max and me will fall apart. I'm scared my heart will end up shattered and trampled.

"What's wrong?" Max asks, her voice soft.

My eyes drop to her simple platinum wedding ring. She hasn't taken it off since the day we got married, and that should fill me with relief, but all it does is heighten my anxiety. It's the ring Crystal chose for her.

"Can I pick a new ring for you, too?" The words leave my lips before I even realize what I'm saying, and shame soon follows. I don't want to be petty and jealous, but I can't help myself. I don't want anything related to our marriage to be tied to her, yet how could it ever be so, when she's the very reason we got married at all?

Max looks at her ring and pulls her hand out of mine. For a moment, I'm certain she'll reject my request, but then she takes off her ring and places it on the table.

"Of course," she says simply, "Choose whatever you'd like."

I smile nervously as I grab my tablet and scroll to a different design before showing it to Mr. Laurier, "I want a plain, wide yellow gold band for Max, with an initial 'A' at the center."

She grins at me and nods, "The first letter of your name?"

I nod, my cheeks burning. Max chuckles as she wraps her arm around my shoulder, her touch tender.

"I like it," She turns toward Mr. Laurier then, "I want my rings within two weeks, and I only want the very best stones you can find for my wife."

My eyes widen, and I tap her foot with mine. Has she lost her mind? Does she have any idea how long the waiting list for any of Mr. Laurier's designs is? It's an honor to be here at all, yet here she is, about to get us kicked out.

"Certainly, Mrs. Lim. I will personally deliver them to your home."

What? I try my hardest to keep the shock off my face, but the way Max smirks lets me know I failed.

"Let's go home," she tells me, offering me her hand. I take it, and Mr. Laurier walks us out, repeatedly thanking us for putting our trust in him.

"You okay?" Max asks as she leads me to her car. I nod, and she holds the door open for me, a frown on her face. Max waits until I'm seated before she rushes around the car.

I've seen her do this for Crystal countless times, and it always made me feel so envious as I sat in the backseat, watching the two of them together. I always hoped to have her to myself one day, yet now that she's legally mine, it all feels so empty. It feels like I'm on borrowed time. I'm trying so hard not to lose faith, but I can't get my conversation with Crystal out of my head.

"Alianna," Max says, turning toward me. She leans over me and grabs my seatbelt, her face so close to mine that a simple turn of my head would have my lips brushing over her. If she really was mine, that's exactly what I'd do. I'd bury my hands in her hair, and I'd kiss her so hard she'd be dying to get us to the privacy of our home. But she isn't mine. Not truly.

"You've been quiet since we walked out, baby. What's wrong?"

I look up at her, unsure of what to say, "Moment of honesty? I feel guilty," I tell her, "I'm scared of feeling even a single moment of happiness with you because I can't help but fear that it'll all be ripped away from me. Sometimes, I feel like I'm on borrowed time, and though I try to fight that feeling, I can't always escape it."

I avert my gaze and inhale shakily, "I just want what any other woman would want, Max. I want a happy marriage of my own. I don't want to deprive myself of anything I desire, yet I can't take what I want without hurting others, without—"

Max leans in and kisses me, cutting me off roughly as her lips take mine with an urgency I didn't expect. A soft moan escapes my lips, and her hand threads through my hair, her grip tight as she forces my lips open. The way she kisses me leaves me breathless and needy for more. More of the way she's making me feel, more of the way she's taking away every single doubt, even if it's just for a Moment.

She pulls away and drops her forehead against mine, her breathing ragged as mine is, "Fuck everyone else, Alianna. You're my wife. It's my honor and duty to make sure all your needs are met, whatever they might be— I don't care if it's the interior of our home, our wedding rings, or the way we interact with each other. If you want it to change, it'll change. We didn't start off right, but allow me to make amends, baby. This is new to me too, but I don't do things half heartedly. I'm a Lim, Alianna, and you know as well as I do that marriage means something in the Lim family. The moment I married you, I became yours. Maybe my heart isn't quite there yet, and maybe it never will be, but everything else is yours. Only yours. So take what you want. Ask for anything you want. If it's within my power, I'll give it to you."

"Even if what I'm asking for is your body? Your devotion? Passion? What if what I want is everything that used to be hers?"

She smiles as she caresses my cheek with the back of her fingers, "I'm yours," she repeats, "And there's nothing I'd rather do than make you mine in return."

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