Stranger With a Ring

I hesitated at the door to the private room, my hand frozen on the handle. It felt like my heart had dropped into a pit of ice.

Inside, Jim Larson was still laughing, his voice full of mockery.

"You don’t get it. I’ve been pretending to like Ella for the past five years—bottling everything up. I had no feelings for her, but I still had to act like I cared."

He looked like he was barely holding it together, knocking back his drink in big gulps. The others rushed over, trying to comfort him.

"But hey, you're back with the Larsons now, right? Once the Cunninghams help you secure those shares, you’ll finally be free."

"And don’t forget—Rowena's been waiting for you this whole time. With a fiancée like her, what are you even worried about?"

Jim grabbed Rowena Scott’s hand, his eyes filled with emotion.

With the crowd cheering them on, he pulled her onto his lap and wrapped his arms around her, completely ignoring the fact that everyone could see.

Five years ago, I was in a car crash, and Jim was the one who saved me.

He stayed with me at the hospital for a full month, never leaving my side.

He even traveled to some remote little town just to find a pendant that was supposed to protect me.

Back then, when I saw him bruised and battered, I couldn’t help falling for him.

Even after I learned he was the Larsons’ secret son, I never once looked down on him.

He told me Rowena was just an old friend, nothing more.

However, I never imagined they were actually promised to each other.

I forced the memory out of my mind and turned to leave quietly—only to be stopped by a waiter.

"Excuse me, miss. Are you with this group?"

Everyone in the room turned to look at the door.

My cheeks burned, but I kept my cool.

"I just got here. What's going on?"

Jim looked startled, but when he heard I’d only just arrived, his shoulders relaxed.

His friends hurried out to smooth things over.

"Ella, Jim found out you were grounded because of him, and he’s been drowning his guilt in alcohol. It’s hard to watch."

"This game was just for Rowena’s birthday. He only ended up like this because he lost at Truth or Dare. Please don’t take it the wrong way, Ella!"

I didn’t say a word. I just looked at Jim.

In the past, whenever someone mistook me for his girlfriend, he would deny it immediately.

But today—maybe because he felt guilty—he said nothing.

I swallowed the pain in my chest.

"It’s fine. You all keep playing. I’m heading home."

After saying this, I straightened my back and turned to leave, trying to hold onto whatever dignity I had left.

Jim chased after me.

"Are you mad? I didn’t mean to ignore your texts!"

"We’re just here for Rowena’s birthday, that’s all. You’ve got to believe me—I don’t have feelings for her!"

He thought I’d cause a scene.

However, I surprised him this time. I was calm.

"I get it. I’m not mad."

"You should go back. I’m going home too."