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The moment we’re inside his car, Ruel is clasping my cheeks, his fierce gaze roaming over me like he’s ready to go to war for even the slightest nick⁠—

Oh!

I notice his gaze narrowing, and then his fingers, which I also notice are shaking…

It’s only when I feel him reaching for the gold chain that I realize what’s caught his attention.

“You were wearing it all this time?” he asks hoarsely.

My wedding ring.

He’s seen it.

“I only take it off when I go for a swim,” I admit in a wobbly voice.

He exhales upon hearing this, and I’m dismayed at the possibility that I might have made him feel bad. “It’s okay,” I say quickly. “I don’t mind—” My voice fades when I see him taking something out of his pocket.

“I bought this on my last trip to Paris.”

W-Wasn’t that months ago?

“I wanted our marriage to be real.”

Doesn’t this mean I wasn’t imagining it? That I was right to think there really was something between us?

“But it took a long time for me to find the courage to ask you. When I finally did…”

The way he stops speaking makes it painfully easy for me to fill in the blanks.

Oh no.

I look at him helplessly. “It was the same night I asked for a divorce. W-Wasn’t it?”

I’m already crying before he can even answer, and I just find myself crying even harder as he pulls me into his lap.

“I’m sorry,” he says rawly. “I’m sorry for everything.”

“It’s n-not your fault⁠—”

“You came to me for help,” he grits out, “but I didn’t even let you speak because I was out of my mind with jealousy⁠—”

“Y-You’re not alone. I was j-jealous, too. And hurt.” I have to force myself to admit this because I didn’t want there to be any lies between us. Not ever again. “When I saw you and Sadie kissing⁠—”

Ruel stiffens. “I’ve never kissed her⁠—”

His denial just makes me feel worse. “Please, Ruel. There’s no need to lie⁠—”

“But she did try to kiss me.”

Oh.

“If you had stuck around long enough, you would have seen me getting rid of her. And after that, Adriano made sure that she was properly informed…of the consequences if she were to make such an attempt again.”

OH.

Okay.

I don’t care if this makes me an idiot, but I just know every word he says is true. And yet⁠—