My Husband Is a Million Years Old Vampire-Chapter 24

Then Valentina chuckled, her fingers lazily tracing the rim of her glass as she leaned back in her chair. Her gaze, sharp yet unreadable, locked onto Serenity’s bitter expression.

"So, that’s what you’re clinging to?" Valentina mused, her voice carrying a quiet amusement.

"A wedding ring?" She lifted her hand, flexing her fingers, allowing the absence of a ring to be plainly visible.

"And what does that prove, Serenity? That I’m not married? That my husband isn’t real? Or does it just help you sleep at night to believe that?"

Serenity’s lips twitched, her fists clenching at her sides.

"It just shows you’re fooling yourself," she snapped.

"A woman in a real marriage would proudly wear her ring."

Raymond, who had remained silent, finally set down his drink with a soft clink. His eyes met Serenity’s, cool and indifferent.

"A marriage isn’t built on a ring," he said smoothly, his voice laced with quiet authority.

"It’s built on trust. And if my wife chooses not to wear one, that’s her choice. It doesn’t change what we are."

Serenity scoffed, shifting her weight uncomfortably. "Right," she sneered.

"That’s a convenient excuse."

Valentina sighed, as if Serenity’s words were exhausting her.

"You know, Serenity, for someone who came here uninvited, you’re awfully concerned about my marriage." She tilted her head, a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips.

"Almost like it bothers you."

Daniel, who had been eerily silent, exhaled sharply. His pride was already shattered, and standing there any longer felt like rubbing salt into an open wound. Without another word, he grabbed Serenity’s arm, pulling her toward the exit.

Immediately Serenity yanked her hand away but followed him nonetheless, though not before throwing one last glare at Valentina.

"You’ll see," she said bitterly. "You’re just pretending to be happy. It won’t last."

Valentina merely smiled, her eyes gleaming with something dangerously close to amusement. "Then I guess you’ll just have to keep watching us thinking we will fail," she murmured.

And with that, Serenity and Daniel stormed out, their departure leaving behind an air thick with tension and unspoken truths.

At that moment Raymond’s jaw tightened, his fingers curling into fists beneath the table. His usual calm, composed demeanor wavered for just a moment, a flicker of something dark passing through his gaze.

He had tolerated their condescending tones, their mockery, their thinly veiled insults—but this? This was different.

They weren’t just questioning his wealth, his status, or his presence. They were questioning his place in Valentina’s life. His role as her husband.

His failure.

At that moment Valentina exhaled softly, reaching across the table to place her hand over his clenched fist. The warmth of her touch pulled him back, grounding him. He met her gaze, expecting to see disappointment, maybe frustration—but instead, there was only understanding look.

"You don’t have to prove anything to them," she said, her voice quiet, yet firm.

But Raymond wasn’t so sure.

Serenity’s words rang in his head like a taunt he couldn’t shake. He knew she was speaking out of bitterness, out of jealousy—but she wasn’t wrong.

He was going to give Valentina everything—protection, status, even a future she had thought lost—yet he had never given her the one thing that signified their union to the world.

’A wedding ring.’

Then his grip on the table loosened as he let out a breath. He wasn’t angry at Serenity. He was angry at himself.

Valentina squeezed his hand. "Raymond?"

He looked at her then, and for the first time, she saw something behind his usual confidence. A decision forming. A resolve tightening.

He would fix this.

But for now, he simply gave her a small, reassuring smile.

"Let’s eat," he said.

Because before the sun set today, he would make sure the entire world knew that Valentina was his wife.

He reached for her hand and held it gently. "Don’t worry," he said. "Before we go home, we’ll have rings on our fingers."

Valentina looked at him.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. We’re getting rings today."

After finishing their meal, they went to one of the biggest jewelry stores in the city. The name shined in gold letters above the entrance, but neither of them paid attention to it. They were here for one thing only.

Inside, the store sparkled. Rows of rings, necklaces, and bracelets glimmered under bright lights. Valentina’s eyes moved from one display to another. There were so many choices.

At that moment a staff member approached them with a polite smile.

"How may I assist you today?"

"We are looking for a wedding ring," Valentina said. She hesitated, then added, "But not too expensive."

The sales assistant’s professional smile remained intact, but there was a flicker of surprise in her eyes. She adjusted her posture slightly and asked politely, "May I know your budget, ma’am? We have a wide selection of exquisite rings, from our premium collections to more affordable options."

Valentina, standing beside Raymond, hesitated before answering.

"We’re looking for something simple," she said, her voice calm but firm. "Our budget is around $3,000 or less. If we can find something for less, that would be even better."

The assistant’s expression subtly shifted. Though she remained courteous, a trace of hesitation flickered across her face. She cast a brief glance at Raymond, as if expecting him to say something, but he remained silent, simply watching.

At that moment the woman exhaled softly and shook her head. "I’m sorry, ma’am," she said with an apologetic tone, "but we don’t carry rings in that price range. Our lowest-priced wedding bands start at $10,000."

She paused for a moment, gauging Valentina’s reaction, then added, "That’s the most affordable brand we offer."

Hearing what the same attendence just said.

Valentina exhaled softly, her fingers tightening around the strap of her bag. She had expected the rings to be expensive, but not this much. Ten thousand dollars for a wedding ring? It felt unnecessary—almost ridiculous.

The assistant’s eyes gleamed, thinking she was ready to make the purchase, but Valentina didn’t look satisfied.

Her mind was already set. To her, a wedding ring was nothing more than a symbol—a mark to let others know she belonged to Raymond. It wasn’t what defined their marriage, nor did it guarantee a lifetime of happiness. A ring didn’t strengthen love. Commitment did.

She turned to Raymond and sighed. "Let’s go," she said. "I don’t want this ring."

The assistant blinked in surprise. "Ma’am, we can show you other styles—"

"No," Valentina interrupted, shaking her head. "It’s not about the style. I just don’t want it."

Without another word, she turned away, already heading toward the exit.