Two Years of Marriage, I Never Got My Wedding Ring Chapter 05

Two Years of Marriage, I Never Got My Wedding Ring Chapter 05

Isabella was at a loss.

“You were drunk, and the officiant was rushing things. How am I supposed to remember a small detail like that?”

“Then who remembers?”

He glanced toward the relatives on the other side of the long table.

Marta immediately lowered her head, suddenly fascinated by her cup.

Another man picked up his phone, feigning a response to an urgent message.

The Ricci family finally fell completely silent.

Just moments ago, they had been questioning my worth. Now, none of them would utter a word.

Alessio’s fingers drummed against the tabletop.

Then he suddenly looked at me.

“Verona, is there anything else you haven’t told us?”

I thought for a moment.

“Yes.”

I took the small velvet pouch from my bag.

It was the one the street vendor had given me.

Inside was the receipt. The paper was slightly yellowed, the corners creased.

When Alessio saw it, his brow twitched.

I unfolded it.

“Three days after the wedding, I went to a street market and bought this ring.”

The date was clearly printed.

Amount: $29.99.

Payment Method: Cash.

In the memo section, the vendor had handwritten a note.

“For the new bride. Wishing you all the best.”

Alessio picked up the receipt.

His fingers stilled on the words “new bride” and remained there for a long time.

I pulled up another set of photos on my phone.

At the charity dinner two years ago, I wore a black gown and stood beside Alessio, that thin silver band on my hand.

At his grandfather’s birthday banquet last year, I poured wine for the elders, still wearing that same ring.

At Sofia’s welcome-home dinner earlier this year, Sofia sat on Alessio’s right, and I sat on his left.

When we raised our glasses for a toast, the camera happened to catch my hand.

The $29.99 ring looked painfully cheap among all the jewels.

But for two years, no one had ever bothered to look closely enough to notice.

“This isn’t the first time I’ve brought this up.”

I looked at Alessio.

“It’s just the first time you’ve asked.”

Alessio’s throat bobbed.

Isabella’s expression had become utterly grim.

She looked like she wanted to say something, but in the end, she just turned to look at Sofia.

Sofia was crying harder now.

“Verona, why didn’t you say something sooner?”

“If you had, I would have given the ring back to you immediately.”

“Now you’re bringing this up out of nowhere, and everyone is going to misunderstand me.”

I nodded.

“Then give it back to me now.”

Sofia’s crying hitched.

All eyes turned to her.

I held out my hand.

“You said you were just keeping it for me. Well, I’m here now.”

Her face slowly turned ashen.

“The ring… I don’t have it with me today.”

Alessio’s gaze turned to ice.

“Where is it?”

Sofia clutched her phone, her knuckles white.

“At my house.”

“Leo.”

Alessio called out.

The assistant who had been waiting outside the door immediately entered.

“Sir.”

“Go to Sofia’s house and bring it back.”

Sofia shot to her feet.

“Alessio!”

Alessio didn’t even look at her.

“Now.”

Leo nodded and turned to leave.

Sofia stood there in a panic, tears still glistening on her cheeks, her voice strained.

“You don’t trust me?”

“We’ve known each other for over twenty years, and because of one misunderstanding, you’re going to send someone to my house to retrieve something in front of everyone?”

Alessio finally looked at her.

“I’m not sending someone to search your house.”

He paused.

“I’m asking you to return what you took.”

The words struck Sofia like a physical blow. She sank back into her chair.

Isabella couldn’t stay silent any longer.

“Alessio, we have guests. If you escalate this, it will reflect poorly on all of us.”

Alessio carefully placed the receipt into the inner pocket of his suit jacket.

His movements were slow, almost reverent, as if he were afraid of damaging it.

“It already reflects poorly on us.”

After he said that, he looked at me.

“Do we still have the wedding video?”

I smiled.

“Are you asking me, Alessio?”

A flicker of stiffness crossed his face.

I put my phone away.

“All the wedding materials are with the Ricci family.”

“My copy of the album was moved to the basement storage room last year. Your mother said it was taking up too much space.”

Alessio was silent for two seconds.

“Leo.”

He pulled out his phone and dialed.

“Pull every video from the wedding day. The hotel, the photography team, backstage, the ceremony. I want it all.”

I couldn’t hear what was said on the other end of the line.

Alessio’s face just grew colder and colder.

Finally, he hung up.

Isabella couldn’t help but ask, “What is it?”

Alessio raised his head, his gaze sweeping across the long table.

“The hotel’s raw footage is still available.”

Sofia’s fingers trembled.

Alessio continued, “But the ten minutes before and after the ring exchange have been deleted.”