Chapter 64


    Bing Mrs. Lan We walked upstairs and stopped at my bedroom door. Aren held my hand in his, his


    thumbs rubbing my palm teasingly. “Good night, Cora,” he said, reluctantly.


    His hand was slipping away as he turned toward his door. Somehow, I felt a wave of anxiety.


    “Wait,” I muttered. “Don’t go…” My fingers curled on his tips, unwilling to let him leave. “Beautiful, we


    shouldn’t.” He smiled and kissed my forehead.


    “I don’t want to be alone. Just… stay with me.” I stared at him with pleading eyes, watching his


    resistance melt away.


    He didn’t say a word as I led him inside. Wey in my bed in an embrace, caressing each other and


    leaving trails of soft kisses until we fell asleep. I woke up nuzzling his chest while hey on his side with


    one hand on my neck and the other wrapped around my waist. I tried not to wake him up, but I failed as I


    tried to straighten up a bit. “Good morning, sunshine,” he mumbled with his sexy, sleepy voice. “Good


    morning, handsome.” I climbed a bit to kiss the tip of his nose.


    “We’ve got work to do today,” he said. I sighed, my lips twisting in a wry grimace. “What kind of work?” “I


    contacted a famous jewelry artist. We have to pick a design for your fifty-million-dor ne,” he


    smirked.


    I gasped. I was hesitant about wearing something like that before, but it was all different now. I wanted to


    wear that ne with pride, proving to those bastards out there that I wasn’t afraid.


    I lifted my head, supporting it on my bent elbow, and grinned. “When are we going?” He chuckled. “Right


    after breakfast.” I took a shower, careful not to soak the wound on my head, and then tied my hair in a


    bun. It was frustrating that I couldn’t wear my hair the way I wanted for now, but I kept telling myself that


    it was only temporary. It was a small price to pay for surviving and escaping from the vicious trap I had


    been locked in. I picked an elegant Giorgio Armani cream, knee-length, fitted dress with a shallow


    neckline. I decided that I should look presentable, standing beside my incredible husband and talking


    about the millions-worth ne. “You look amazing, wife.” Aren grinned, his eyes taking me in as I


    walked downstairs, carrying his mother’s jewelry box with Tian Kong inside the secret pocket. His


    compliments meant a lot to me. After all, I waspletely inexperienced in choosing high -end fashion


    clothing. Luckily, my intuition hadn’t failed me yet. With a jacket hung on my shoulders, I started to feel


    like a light version of Audrey Hepburn, and I had to admit that I sincerely enjoyed the way I looked. Aren


    seemed to appreciate it as well since his eyes were


    locked on me the entire way to the jeweler.


    My husband used every precaution; there were at least two other cars following us, securing our way to


    the shop. As we arrived at the back door, those cars blocked the way. We got out of the car surrounded


    by six bodyguards who led us inside even though there were only a few steps from the door. As soon as


    the door opened, the entire staff of the shop greeted us as if we were royals. The shop’s manager bowed


    down and swiftly led us to the artists’ workshop. “Master Gerard Auir,” he said as he introduced us to


    the short, grey-haired man with an elegantly curled mustache.


    “How do you do, Master Auir?” I said, greeting him with a smile.


    Aren, who stood right behind me, gave a man a brief but polite nod. The artisan responded the same


    way to both of us and then gestured at us to follow him to his workce.


    “Can I see the diamond, Mrs. Lan?” he asked, sitting by his desk and taking an eyepiece in his hand.


    I guessed that the word “diamond” must have been a keyword around there since as soon as Mr. Auir


    said it, the entire workshop turned silent. I could feel everyone’s eyes were on me. Every single person in


    the room couldn’t wait to see the amazing gem.


    “Of course.” I smiled, putting the box on his desk and opening the secret pocket.


    Once I ced it on my palm for everyone to see, I heard a wave of gasps and the sounds of awe.


    “May 1?” Master Auir nervously warmed up his fingers by rubbing them against his thumb.


    I handed the diamond over to his skillful hands, and I could see his eyes widen from the moment he


    touched it. The rest of the artisans in the room observed how he examined the


    diamond with excited anticipation. I figured they had all their breath held, waiting to hear the results of


    their Master’s evaluation.


    “Absolutely perfect!” Master Auir eximed and grinned at Aren and me beamingly.


    Aren chuckled, grabbing my hand beforementing on the artisan’s words. “Of course it is. This is Tian


    Kong, one of the most perfect gems ever found.”


    “It sure is…” Master Auir nodded before shifting his eyes to me. “What kind of a ne would you


    like with this wonderful stone, Mrs. Lan?”


    I nced at Aren, my lips painting an awkward smile. Aren winked at me and gave my hand a little


    squeeze. “How about a shining sun?” he suggested. Master Auir raised his eyebrows. “What exactly


    do you mean?”


    Aren smirked and leaned toward the artisan. “Use Tian Kong as the heart of the ne, the sun, and


    then use some other elements to build sunrays.”


    Master Auir grinned. “The blue sun… I like the idea!” As he grabbed a piece of paper from his desk,


    he hurriedly started sketching the round pendant with tiny gems surrounding the main diamond and white


    gold, forming little rays.


    “Wow…” I breathed, imagining how beautiful it could look.


    “Would you like to wear a ne like this?” Aren asked, leaning over and cing a soft kiss on my


    forehead.


    “I think it would be gorgeous,” I said, smiling at my husband.


    Master Auir chuckled. “It will be much more than that! I’m going to make the most stunning ne


    in Manhattan for you!”


    He surely sounded agitated. Aren epted his suggestion of adding tiny natural diamonds and lighter


    blue diamonds to build the crown circling the sun. It looked like his mother’s gem would get an amazing


    and worthwhile setting.


    We left the precious stone in Master Auir’s hands and got back to the car. Aren seemed deep in


    thought, with only a faint smile betraying his bright mood. “I hope you don’t regret turning your mother’s


    heritage into a ne,” I said timidly, leaning my head against his arm.


    He put his hand on my thigh. “The diamond is yours, and I couldn’t be more d that you are going to


    wear it. A perfect gem for my sunshine.”


    My heart fluttered again. I couldn’t fight the warmth he kept giving me. Nheless, I was terrified of


    acknowledging that I was falling…


    ***


    We had another important ce to visit that day, and it was the FBI’s New York Office, where I was


    supposed to give my testimony. As we arrived at 26 Federal za, Agent Collins was already waiting for


    us.


    “Mr. and Mrs. Lan, please follow me,” he said, taking us to the interrogation room.


    I must admit that it looked rather intimidating. The raw, dark-grey walls and the four seats set around the


    ck table gave out a slightly unpleasant vibe, but the element that increased my restlessness was a


    wide two-way mirror, spreading through one of the walls. I looked cautiously at my surroundings, noticed


    several cameras installed near the ceiling, and instantly felt like a suspect.


    “I apologize for bringing you here, Mrs. Lan, but it is for your safety. Besides, we need to record your


    testimony and this room provides the best conditions to do it,” Agent Collins exined.


    I was left with him and another agent, as Aren stayed outside, although I assumed that he joined other


    agents that were about to listen to my testimony in the room hidden behind the mirror.


    “Whenever you are ready, Mrs. Lan.” Agent Colling gestured at me and smiled. I took a deep breath and


    started to exin in detail what had happened from the moment of my abduction to the second I jumped


    down from the window of the warehouse. Agent Collins had his eyes on me the entire time while the


    other agent took notes, sparing me a nce only a few times during my testimony.


    “So you were blindfolded and didn’t see anyone. Is that correct?” Agent Collins questioned.


    “I saw only a few glimpses of the floor and the shoes… For example, the mercenaries all had heavy


    boots on while the main culprit had elegant, shiny, ck leather shoes. When Can Winton walked near


    me, I could see that he was wearing brown crocodile leather shoes,” I stated.


    Còntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    “Thank you, Mrs. Lan. You did a great job,” the agent said, turning off the cameras with the remote


    control and ending the testimony.


    “That’s it?” I asked nervously, getting up from my seat.


    “Yes,” he replied. “We will inform you when we-” His words were interrupted by another agent who


    mmed the door open. “I apologize for my intrusion, Sir,” he said agitatedly and bowed down. “We


    caught him.” “You caught Can Winton?” Collins asked. “Yes. Our team caught him, and they are taking


    him in as we speak.”