That cold baritone voice made Seren's heart skip a beat. She turned slowly and saw Mark standing there. Mark was wearing a dark gray suit, standing next to a middle-aged man who was both a business colleague and the gallery's owner.
Mark stared at the ring lying on the table, then at Seren's dejected face. An overwhelming sense of shame surged through Mark. He felt his pride trampled upon seeing his wife arguing at the cash register like a beggar.
Mark stepped closer, grabbed Seren's arm, and whispered sharply right into her ear. "Get out of here now, Seren. Don't embarrass me in front of my colleagues!"
Seren didn't move. She simply pointed at her ring with a trembling hand. "Mom told me... to replace the gate..."
Hearing that, the anger Mark had been bottling up since morning erupted. He no longer cared that they were in a public place.
