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And the moment I find myself up in Ruel’s arms⁠—

I think that’s when it all hit us at the same time.

Sadie turning white…

The police stepping back…

And then there’s me as I find myself touching his cheek with a shaking hand⁠—

“R-Ruel.”

His name is all I can say for some reason.

“Are you alright?” he asks fiercely.

I nod.

And that’s it.

He turns his direction to the others in an instant, and Sadie…

I didn’t think she could look any whiter, but somehow, she makes it happen, while the police⁠—

“M-Mr. Caristia.”

They know who Ruel is?

“W-We’re sorry.” The officers are actually stuttering. “We didn’t realize⁠—”

“What seems to be the trouble here?”

The police officers visibly start sweating. “It seems there’s a misunderstanding⁠—”

“They just came out of nowhere,” Sadie cries out at the same time. “They had me so scared⁠—”

“Enough.”

Ruel hasn’t even raised his voice, but the three of them flinch like he’s just struck them with a whip.

“I’ll drop by the station later. But in the meantime, I’d appreciate if you’d place Ms. Amparo under your custody⁠—”

“Ruel!”

“She’s my former fiancée⁠—”

I look at him in shock. W-What?

“And there may be a witness or two to testify as to her intentions to cause trouble to my wife⁠—”

And now it’s Sadie’s who’s losing her mind⁠—

“Y-You have to be lying! She can’t be your wife! You’re supposed to be in love with me!”

Ruel doesn’t even spare a glance at her direction as he walks away, and I don’t know why, but it’s only when I see his limousine parked behind the police car, and there’s dear Chadwick already smiling at me as he opens the door for us⁠—

That’s what has me crying.

Even with Sadie still screeching behind us, and the sound of the police car with its siren blaring as they drive away⁠—