LOGINNyelleWhy was he being nice again?The question followed me all the way upstairs, the moment I pulled my hand from his grip, I practically fled, my feet moving faster than my brain as I rushed into my room and shut the door behind me. The click of the lock echoed through the silence, and only then did I realize my heart was racing. I pressed my back against the door and closed my eyes for a second, but Vincent's face immediately appeared in my mind. The way he'd grabbed my hand. The way his expression had changed the moment he saw the blood. The way he'd looked genuinely worried. It annoyed me instantly because I couldn't afford to think about things like that. Vincent didn't care about me. He never had. He was acting exactly like a child who suddenly couldn't stand seeing someone else take something he used to ignore. That was all it was. It had to be.I pushed myself away from the door and walked toward the bed, shaking my head as though that would somehow clear my thoughts. Jus
VincentThe moment she turned around, my eyes landed on her hand. The ring.For a second, I genuinely thought I was imagining it. Then the dim light caught the diamond and my jaw tightened immediately.She actually wore it. After everything that happened tonight, she actually came home wearing Leon's ring.I pushed myself off the couch so quickly I almost lost my balance. The alcohol hit me immediately, making the room sway for a second, but I barely noticed. My eyes never left her hand."No." The word came out rough.Nyelle frowned as I closed the distance between us."No way you took that ring" I reached for her hand, but she instinctively pulled it away. "Take it off."Her brows knitted together.I dug into my pocket and pulled out the ring she'd thrown away a few hours ago. God knew why I still had the stupid thing. Maybe because I never managed to throw it away. Maybe because some part of me kept expecting her to put it back on."This is your ring," I said, holding it up between
Nyelle"I'll give you one week to make your decision.Mr. Hale's words followed me long after I left his study. Even now, sitting inside Leon's car, I could still hear them clearly. My fingers tightened around my bag and for the first time all night, I felt exhausted. Exhausted from pretending, from trying to stay one step ahead of people who seemed determined to control every part of my life."You did well today."Leon's voice broke through my thoughts. I didn't even turn to look at him. Instead, I slipped the ring off my finger and held it out. The movement immediately caught his attention. His brows rose as his gaze dropped to my palm. "What's that?" he asked.I pushed the ring toward him. “I don't need it anymore.” The signs were sharp, impatient.Leon stared at my hand before letting out a laugh under his breath. He looked far too amused for someone who had just proposed."You don't need it?" He leaned back in his seat, studying me carefully. "Did you see Vincent's face earlier
NyelleThe second I signed the words, the entire room went silent.I'll marry you.For a moment, nobody seemed capable of moving. Cassia's eyes widened so much. Vincent looked even worse. He just stood there staring at me as though he'd completely forgotten how to breathe. The disbelief on his face was impossible to miss, and for the first time since all of this started, I realized something. It wasn't the proposal shocking him. It was the fact that another man wanted me. The mute wife he'd hidden for years. The woman he'd never wanted. The woman he'd made feel invisible. Somehow, that was what he couldn't accept."What did she sign?" Cassia asked quickly, turning toward Vincent, but he didn't answer. He just kept staring at me as though he was waiting for me to take the words back. It was Leon who finally broke the silence."She said yes." His grin widened immediately. "She's going to marry me."I watched Vincent's face tighten. His jaw flexed. His shoulders locked. The hand he'd i
NyelleFor a second, I genuinely thought Leon was joking.The ring sat inside the open box while he remained on one knee looking entirely too serious for someone proposing to a woman who was still legally married.Had he finally lost his mind? What kind of stupid game was this?The question had barely formed in my head when Vincent's voice exploded across the room."Are you crazy?!"The sheer force behind it made everyone flinch.One second he was standing near the entrance, the next he was storming toward us so fast that even Leon looked surprised. Before anyone could react, Vincent smacked the ring box straight out of Leon's hand. The small box flew across the room and hit the floor with a loud clatter before disappearing beneath a chair.Then Vincent grabbed the front of Leon's shirt hard. His fingers twisted into the fabric while his chest rose violently."What the hell is wrong with you?" he snapped. "Have you completely lost your mind?"Only then did I notice the blood. My eyes
Vincent"Don't be ridiculous." The words left my mouth so fast that even Cassia looked surprised."You know it's always going to be you." I forced a smile onto my face and reached for her hand. "Last night was a mistake. I regret it."The lie tasted awful. Because ever since that night, I hadn't stopped thinking about it. Not for a second.The memory kept replaying when I was working and when I was trying to sleep. The worst part was that I wanted more. The realization alone was enough to make me irritated with myself.I immediately pushed the thought away."It's only you and our child that matter." I squeezed her hand lightly. "How's the baby? Did it kick again?"Cassia's expression softened slightly before she looked away. "I still haven't forgiven you for what happened last night." She folded her arms. "But maybe I don't even need to worry anymore."I frowned. "What do you mean?""That girl." Her eyes narrowed immediately. "She said she'd pursue you. She acted like she wasn't going







