Cole sat at his desk, the faint glow of his laptop screen illuminating his face as he worked through another deal, a flurry of texts and calls occupying his phone.
His gaze, however, remained fixed on the live auction playing out before him.
A high-end auctioneer in Austin was presenting a dazzling array of jewels, and Cole's representative, standing in his stead, was bidding relentlessly.
Cole leaned back in his chair, recalling Lina's words from the night before.
"Listen, Cole. Women are simple creatures. We like beautiful things—flowers, jewelry, bags, shoes, and dresses. We like to shop, go to spas, and travel. I'm sure Eve's no different."
That was all it took to set his plans into motion.
By morning, Cole had emptied out an entire flower shop, sending hundreds of blooms to Eve's hospital room.
Now, his entire day had been consumed with searching for the perfect birthday gift for her.
Something meaningful, something valuable—something that would make a statement.
It was nearing her eighteenth birthday, and he'd decided a jewelry set would be the perfect gift. His representative was currently bidding on a necklace, encrusted with diamonds so pure they shimmered like a cascade of frozen light.
The starting price alone was staggering, but Cole's mind wasn't on the money—it was on Eve.
He heard a gentle knock at his door, followed by the sound of it creaking open.
"Cole?" His mother's voice drifted into the room, soft and warm. "What are you doing? It's already dinnertime. Why have you locked yourself away all day?"
The door wasn't locked, so Leanna entered.
Cole glanced briefly at the elegant woman in the wheelchair—her deep brown eyes still mesmerizing despite the passage of time. Her hair, chestnut brown, framed her face in soft waves.
"What's keeping you so busy that you can't even come downstairs?" she asked, her voice laced with gentle curiosity.
Leanna wheeled herself closer and looked over his shoulder, her eyes catching sight of the auction displayed on his screen. "What's this?"
Cole sighed, knowing there was no point in hiding anything from his mother. "I'm buying Eve a birthday present."
Leanna smiled softly. "Good call. I thought I'd be buying our gift for her again. She is your fiancée, after all, right? It's only right that you personally buy her a gift."
Leanna said it with such innocence, never prying into her children's love lives too deeply.
Eve was the only woman who remained by Cole's side, despite his cold indifference. Others had tried, but they were either repelled by his icy demeanor, too scared to get close, or simply gave up.
But Eve—Eve stayed. Her persistence was proof enough of how much she loved him, and Leanna secretly rooted for her to succeed.
"If anyone deserves to win his heart, it's her,"
she thought.
"Buy her the most expensive piece they have," Leanna urged, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "With amethysts—it'll complement her eyes."
Cole nodded but didn't reply. His gaze remained glued to the auction as a stunning piece came on display.
The first item—a necklace—was unlike anything Cole had seen before.
Diamonds cascaded down from a platinum chain, each stone perfectly cut to reflect the light in a dazzling array of colors. The centerpiece was an enormous sapphire, deep and dark as the night sky. It gleamed with a rich, royal blue, exuding an air of regal elegance. Bidding began at $25 million.
Without hesitation, Cole gestured for his representative to place a bid. The numbers on the screen climbed higher, faster, but he barely blinked as the price soared beyond $40 million and he won.
Next was a bracelet, a delicate string of white gold studded with hundreds of tiny, flawless emeralds. The vibrant green stones glistened like dew on a spring morning. The auctioneer's voice rang out as the bidding reached a fevered pitch—$18 million. Cole raised the bid once again and got the piece.
The final piece—a set of earrings—sparked immediate interest. Amethyst teardrops, framed by intricate scrollwork in rose gold, dangled from the hooks. The purple of the stones was mesmerizing, their hue so intense it almost appeared to glow.
It was exactly what his mother had suggested—amethysts to match Eve's eyes. The bidding began at $12 million, and Cole didn't flinch as the price surged to over $20 million.
"Wait," Leanna's voice trembled slightly as her eyes widened, appalled at the sheer extravagance of the purchases. "Are you giving
all
of that to Eve for her birthday?"
Cole glanced up from his screen, his cool, detached gaze meeting his mother's concerned eyes. He blinked, expression impassive. "Don't be ridiculous, Mother."
Leanna let out a sigh of relief, feeling as though her heart could finally settle. Even for someone as stoic and reserved as her son, showering one woman with such an obscene amount of jewelry seemed absurd. It was far too much, even for a fiancée.
But before she could fully relax, Cole continued, his voice as calm as ever. "I'm giving her these tomorrow," he said, gesturing to the sparkling treasures displayed on his screen. "What I'll be giving her on her birthday is something different—a set I've been saving."
Leanna's breath caught in her throat. Her mouth hung open, unable to form words. She stared at her son in shock, speechless.
Was he serious?
This wasn't just a lavish gesture—it bordered on the extreme.
Who gives away millions in jewelry on a random day before someone's birthday? Her son, apparently!
She was all for generosity, but this was on another level entirely.
Her mind raced, trying to understand. Why was Cole suddenly so fixated on Eve? Was he compensating for something, or did he simply feel the weight of their engagement now that her eighteenth birthday was approaching?
Even Leanna, who had always seen Eve in a favorable light, couldn't help but think this was excessive.
"Cole . . ." she began, but her voice trailed off as she saw the determination in his eyes. She knew him too well—once he had made a decision, no amount of reasoning would sway him.
It was like arguing with a brick wall, something she had learned years ago.