The bell above the door of the jeweler’s shop chimed softly. William Croft stood at the counter, looking down at a tray of diamonds.
For the first time in a year, the “Ice King” felt warm. The nightmare was over. He had Sophie. He had Leo. He had a future.
“This one,” William said, pointing to a solitaire. It was modern, simple, and elegant. It looked nothing like the heavy, heirloom ring he had given Victoria. This was a ring for a new life, untainted by the ghosts of the past.
“Excellent choice, Mr. Croft,” the jeweler smiled. “Shall I wrap it?”
“No,” William said, taking the velvet box. “I’ll take it now.”
He pocketed the ring, his mind racing with a plan. Cynthia Sharpe had been goading him to appear on her show, “The Luna Search,” to bless the winner. She wanted to use him for ratings.
*Fine,* William thought. *I’ll give her ratings.*
He would go to the live finale. But instead of blessing her exploitative contest, he would walk on stage, take the microphone, and propose to Sophie live on air. He would reclaim the narrative, proving that the Croft legacy wasn’t tragedy–it was resilience.
He walked out of the store, smiling at the sunshine, completely unaware that he was walking straight into the trap Cynthia and Beatrice had set, with the ring in his pocket serving as the target for their arrow.