Chapter 4: The Alpha’s Promise

Chapter 4: The Alpha’s Promise

(Olivia’s POV)

My phone buzzed with a new message. I nced down to see Connor’s name on the screen.

“Livvy, the moonstone engagement ring I custom–designed for you has already arrived at the

Lunar Jewelers in Harbor City. You can go take a look when you have time.”

I stared at the message for a moment, my fingers hovering over the keyboard before I typed a

simple reply: “Okay.”

It was surprising. I had only agreed to the arranged engagement a few days ago, which meant

Connor must have ordered the ring long before I’d even said yes. His decisiveness and

consideration were unexpected, though I remembered he had always been that way, even

when we were children.

The next morning, I found myself standing outside Lunar Jewelers, one of Harbor City’s most

prestigious jewelry stores. As I pushed open the ss door, a bell chimed softly above me.

“Wee to Lunar Jewelers,” a polished saleswoman greeted me with a warm smile. “How

may I assist you today?”

“I’m Olivia Winters. I believe there’s a ring waiting for me.”

Her eyes widened with recognition. “Miss Winters! Of course, we’ve been expecting you. Please, follow me.”

She led me to a private viewing iroom/i, its walls lined with mirrors and soft lighting that made

everything sparkle. Within moments, she returned with a small velvet box.

“Alpha Rivers was very specific about every detail,” she exined, carefully opening the box.

“He wanted nothing but perfection for you.”

The moment she revealed the ring, I couldn’t help but gasp. A five–carat rare blue moonstone

sat proudly in the center, surrounded by delicate diamond ents that caught the light in a

mesmerizing dance. It was magnificent–far more beautiful than anything I had expected.

“Would you like to try it on?” the saleswoman asked.

I nodded, extending my hand. She

A?adir a Biblioteca

had been made specifically for me–which, of course, it had.

.inger, and it fit perfectly, as if it

Chapter 4 The Alpha’s Promi

“Look at the inside,” she suggested.

b25 /bPuntos

I removed the ring and tilted it to see an engraving inside the band: “CROL.” Connor Rivers and

Olivia Winters. Our initials intertwined forever.

“It looks beautiful on you,” the saleswoman said sincerely, her eyes admiring how the blue.

stoneplemented my skin tone. “Alpha Rivers has exceptional taste.”

I slipped the ring back on, watching how it caught the light. It was truly stunning.

“Olivia, what are you doing here?”

The cold male voice from behind me sent a chill down my spine. I turned around slowly, a slight frown forming on my face.

Ethan Grey stood at the entrance of the private room, his hand dropping Cassandra’s the

moment our eyes met. Cassandra’s eyes shed with cold calction before she quickly

rearranged her features into a sweet smile.

I wasn’t surprised to see them together. Not anymore.

“Trying on a ring,” I replied lightly, a sweet smile ying on my lips.

Ethan strode over, his face darkening when he noticed the dazzling blue moonstone on my

finger. I purposefully waved my hand gently, making the stone catch the light.

“What ido /iiyou /ithink? Does it look good?” I asked, my voice innocent.

His eyes ignited with barely contained anger. “No, it doesn’t.”

The significance of the ring wasn’t lost on him. Engagement. Marriage. Commitment. All things he had never intended to give me, things he felt I wasn’t worthy of. His silence dripped

with contempt, but for once, I didn’t care.

Cassandra stepped forward, her smile bright and seemingly innocent. “What a coincidence, Olivia. Ethan and I are also here to look at rings today.”

I sneered inwardly. So the “business” Ethan had mentioned earlier was actually shopping for rings with Cassandra? He didn’t even bother to exin, silently acquiescing to her statement.

Cassandra’s gaze lingered on the enormous blue moonstone on my finger. I could practically see her calcting its value–around $750,000, if I had to guess. Her eyes narrowed slightly. and I knew exactly what she was thinking: She dares to try on something like that? Isn’t she afraid of embarrassing herself if si

A?adir a Biblioteca

Despite her obvious provocation, I remained calm and elegant, admiring my ring as if they

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Chapter 4. The Alpha’s Promi

+25 Puntos

weren’t even there. Connor truly did have excellent taste.

“Olivia, your ring is truly beautiful,” Cassandra said, feigning friendliness.

“Yes, I think so too,” I replied with a genuine smile.

Ethan’s face grew darker by the second. “Olivia, take the ring off.”

I tilted my head, feigning innocent confusion. “Why?”

His tone sharpened, eyes shing with anger. “Why are you trying on rings? Are you forcing

me to marry you? I will never marry you!”

Cassandra’s lips curved in a smug, subtle arc. “Olivia, Ethan and I are here today at Margaret’s

request to look at rings.”

The implication was obvious: Margaret Grey favored Cassandra as the future daughter–inw,

and I shouldn’t dream of marrying into the Grey family. I found it all rather amusing. I was

simply trying on a ring customized for me by my fiancé. Why were these two acting like I was

intruding on their wedding rehearsal?

One narcissistically believed I was trying to force marriage, the other arrogantly unted her status. Besides, my father had never even considered the Grey family worthy marriage

material for a Winters.

“Oh, I see,” I responded ndly.

Both Ethan and Cassandra were taken aback by my indifference. Cassandra scrutinized my expression, trying ito /iuncover jealousy or resentment, yet my sereneposure betrayed nothing, leaving her momentarily uncertain whether I was pretending or truly didn’t care.

Ethan, thoroughly angered,shed out: “Are you doing this on purpose? Did you know we wereing to look at rings and waited here to ambush me? Let me be clear: there’s no future for us, and trying ito /iforce me iwon’t /iwork!”

His words grew sharper, his blue eyes cold as ice. “Marriage requires equal social status. How could someone like you ever marry me? Just look at yourself–you’re embarrassing!”

I remained unbothered, a gentle smile on my lips. “Embarrassing? Aren’t we still together? So, this Miss Evans would be the mistress, then? And you a cheating scumbag–so who’s the one truly embarrassing themselves?”

Ethan’s fury exploded, his face flushing red. “Are you taking it off or not?!”

“No,” I replied calmly.

Chapter 4 The Alpha’s Promi

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His voice trembled with rage. “Fine! Keep it if you like. I’ll never buy you a ring, and I’ll never fnb7e2 ?????? ???? fι?dnοvel/fnb7e2

marry you!”

“Mm–hmm,” I echoed softly.

My serene defiance left him helpless. With a final re, he stormed out of the private room, nearly knocking over a disy case in his haste.

Cassandra hurriedly chased after him. “Ethan, wait for me!”

Once they left, the shop assistant, who had been standing awkwardly in the corner throughout the entire exchange, approached me with a bewildered expression.

“Miss Winters, who were those two?” she asked hesitantly.

I smiled faintly. “Irrelevant people. Don’t mind them.”

After three years of love, Ethan had never intended marriage–little did he know, he was never good enough to marry me, and I had never truly intended to marry him either. The realization was liberating.

I took a few photos of the ring on my finger, admiring how it caught the light from different angles. Then I sent the best iones /ito Connor with a simple message: “Does it look good?”

(Third person’s POV)

At that moment in Riverdale, inside the Rivers Group CEO’s office, Connor Rivers saw the message from his beloved Livvy. A gentle smile bloomed on his usually stoic face as he put down his documents to reply.

“It looks beautiful. Do you like it?”

Olivia answered honestly, “I like it.”

His response came quickly: “As long as you like it.”

Olivia hesitated, then typed, “Connor, this ring must be very expensive, right?”

He reassured me tenderly, “Not expensive at all. You deserve the very best.”

Beside him, his assistant Henry Morris secretly peeked several times, shocked to see his ice–cold boss smiling so warmly.

When Connor noticed Henry’s stare, he instantly reverted to his usual frosty tone.

“I’ve signed it. What are you staring at?” he snapped.

Henry snapped back to attention, quickly gathering the documents. “Nothing, sir, I’ll take my

Chapter 4: The Alpha’s Promi….

leave.”

+25 Puntos

Meanwhile, Olivia collected the ring, carefully cing it back in its velvet box. The saleswoman assured Olivia they would keep it safe until the official engagement ceremony.

Olivia left Lunar Jewelers and strolled next door to Timber Wolf Timepieces in the adjacent

mall. Olivia wanted to buy a gift for Connor to bring back to Riverdale as a token of

appreciation.

Olivia recalled the recent photo my father had sent her–Connor with his cold aura, sharp brows, and ice–blue eyes, refined and handsome–inot /imuch different from her childhood

impression of him. He had always been serious, even as a iboy/i.

The watch store was elegant and understated, with ss cases disying timepieces that l to extravagant. Olivia took her time, examining each option carefully.

something specific?” the salesman asked.

a gift,” Olivia exined. “Something elegant but not shy. For someone who

quality.”

nodded knowingly and directed her to a disy of sleek ck watches. “These are popr among business executives and pack leaders. Subtle but unmistakably high–end.”

After careful consideration, Olivia selected one that seemed perfect for Connor–a sleek ck timepiece with a minimalist design that wouldplement his style perfectly. It was

sophisticated without being ostentatious, much like Connor himself.

Just as Olivia finished paying, a familiar voice greeted her from behind.

“Liv, what are iyou /idoing here…”