Chapter 1
Lydia looked at the huge diamond on her finger. She was still getting used to the heavy stone resting against her skin. She wasn’t used to this lifestyle.
A lot of this stuff was new to her, but when you have money, people are kind. They know you can buy anything in the world.
She turned her hand slightly, watching the diamond catch the light, almost blinding her.
“Do you like it?” Mike appeared at her left and asked lovingly near her ear.
Lydia smiled as her fingers instinctively brushed the pendant around her neck. “This is cute,” she said softly, feeling the delicate chain between her fingers.
“Not more than you,” Mike said, resting his hand on her back. His touch was warm, grounding. “Pack this one,” he instructed the salesperson casually.
Lydia looked up at him. She smiled and then asked, “Do you want to buy things for your family? It will be rude if we don’t bring them gifts from our honeymoon.”
Mike chuckled lightly, clearly amused. “There is nothing they don’t have.”
“What about your mom?” Lydia asked gently, tilting her head.
Mike lowered his mouth to her ear and said in a teasing whisper, “We will probably give her a grandchild.”
Lydia laughed and her cheeks flushed as she clutched his hand. “Mike,” she warned playfully, still laughing.
Last night, they did talk about children, and both realized they loved kids and couldn’t wait to have one. The thought still made Lydia’s heart flutter.
Only six months ago, Lydia was working outside the building next to where Mike worked. She had shown him kindness when she found him out of breath, having an asthma attack in the alley. She still remembered how scared he had looked, how she had held his hand until he could breathe properly. Mike had come to see her later just to thank her. Their humor matched, their conversations flowed easily, and before Lydia knew it, they had started seeing each other.
But this wedding came early.
Their wedding was a small event because both Mike and Lydia weren’t into show-offs. The ceremony had only Mike’s friends and family present. From Lydia’s side, only two coworkers attended. She was an orphan and was still getting used to having a loving, rich family. Sometimes it overwhelmed her, but it was all real. And with Mike by her side, things became effortless. He was such an easygoing man, always patient, always kind.
Mike bought a few pieces of nice pendants for her, and Lydia couldn’t help but try one at that very exact moment. She turned toward the mirror, adjusting it carefully. “I think this one goes with my outfit,” Lydia asked him, a little unsure.
Mike smiled instantly. “I can’t believe I got so lucky,” he said, kissing her head softly.
Later that evening, Mike and Lydia were walking on the beach. The sand was cool beneath their feet, and the waves whispered secrets to the shore. Lydia smiled before asking him, “Mike? Can we stay here for a bit more? I know you need to get back to work, but I don’t want to leave this place in just two days. Aren’t you having fun?”
Mike looked at her, wondering how he was supposed to tell her that she could make any place beautiful for him, even his boring home and office.
“I don’t think I can say no when you ask like this,” he admitted. “Perhaps, we can manage one more day.”
“Only one day?” Lydia pouted her lips dramatically.
She was just nineteen, and Mike had recently joined his family business. He didn’t want the company to think he was a spoiled brat who lacked discipline.
“We can come here next month,” Mike added quickly. “I’m sure I’ll have a weekend free then.”
Lydia’s spirits dropped for a moment before she tried to understand his situation. “Okay,” she said softly, then looked up at him. “But you won’t break this promise, right?”
“I won’t,” Mike assured her, squeezing her hand.
Lydia wasn’t used to this. She had always been responsible, cautious, and practical. But with Mike around these past months, she was completely basking in her careless era. She loved acting immature around him. Loved how safe it felt.
Lydia looked around, breathing in the salty air, and couldn’t wait to return to Italy again someday. “Well,” she said suddenly, stopping in her tracks, “this is where you buy me an ice cream. And I want the blueberry flavor.”
Mike laughed. “Fine. Let’s get back to the hotel, and we can order one in our bedroom.”
“No,” Lydia protested immediately. “Let’s just browse the local shops. I don’t want to get to the hotel yet.”
She held his arm and batted her lashes at him.
“Fine,” Mike sighed dramatically. “Let me Google it...”
Before he could, Lydia snatched the phone from his hands. “Or we can ask someone,” she said mischievously. “I want to see you looking for ice cream for me. Come on, having a wife is really troublesome, isn’t it?”
“No,” Mike said without hesitation. “I can walk miles for my Queen.”
Saying this, Mike held her hand, and they walked around until they finally found a man selling ice cream. Lydia watched Mike’s face light up in triumph, and she laughed.
She loved how joyous he looked over something so small.
They shared an ice cream like lovesick puppies, standing too close, laughing too much, completely lost in each other. Lydia closed her eyes for a second, thanking the Lord for this moment. She had been raised in a Catholic church and firmly believed in His plans.
Then a voice broke their moment.
“Lydia?”
Lydia froze. Slowly, she looked to her left and found a familiar face.
“Erik?”
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