The bell above the glass door chimed softly as Lily stepped inside the jewelry store—a delicate, crystalline sound that seemed too pure for someone like her.
She hesitated just beyond the threshold.
The air inside was cool, perfumed faintly with white orchids and polished wood. Light poured down from chandeliers shaped like frozen constellations, scattering reflections across glass cases that held diamonds like captured stars. Everything shimmered—quietly, expensively, untouchably.
And then there was Lily.
Her coat was slightly worn at the sleeves. Her shoes carried dust from the street. A few strands of her brown hair clung damply to her cheek from the drizzle outside. She looked like a misplaced memory in a room built for perfection.
Still, she stepped forward.
For illustrative purposes only
Each footstep echoed too loudly against the marble floor.
A woman behind the counter noticed her almost immediately. Blonde, poised, dressed in a sharp black suit, she smiled the way people do when they’ve already decided what you’re worth.
“Can I help you?” she asked.
