“Nothing important—just work,” Hazel replied, her tone light and dismissive.
Ambrose exhaled in relief. “Good. Don’t go planning any honeymoon trips. I won’t have the time.”
“I know,” she said softly.
Since Scarlett’s return, Ambrose couldn’t bear to be away from her, not even for a moment. It was clear he had no time or space for anyone else.
They sat in strained silence, the tension in the room growing heavier with every passing second. Ambrose shifted uncomfortably, an inexplicable unease curling in the pit of his stomach.
Hazel had always carried herself with a quiet grace, a sensibility born not of choice but necessity. Unlike other girls, she never indulged in tantrums or petty whims.
But Ambrose knew the truth; her calm demeanor was a mask, a defense she had perfected over the years.
Beneath it all, Hazel was just a fragile, love-starved girl, yearning for affection she rarely received.
In the past, every time he stepped through the door, she would rush into his arms, her eyes alight with joy as she eagerly shared every detail of her day.
She would chatter endlessly, filling the silence with her stories, oblivious to whether he was listening or not.
Now, the quiet was deafening. It pressed down on him, feeling unnatural and wrong. Ambrose set his phone aside, his gaze shifting to Hazel.
“You’ve worked so hard preparing for the wedding. Once this is all over…”
But Hazel cut him off, her tone steady yet pointed. “Where’s your wedding ring?”
He froze, caught off guard by the sudden question. “I’m not sure… I must’ve lost it somewhere.”
The memory crept back into his mind unbidden. It had been the night of their engagement. Scarlett had seen the ring and been upset.
He had slipped it off to calm her down, setting it aside without a second thought.
Ambrose opened his mouth to explain, guilt flickering in his eyes, but Hazel interrupted him almost dismissively. “If it’s lost, it’s lost. Just buy a new one.”
She didn’t linger on the matter. In her heart, she knew the truth. Once she left, Ambrose would undoubtedly replace it with a stunning diamond ring for Scarlett.
This ring, their ring, had been destined for the trash heap from the moment Scarlett had stepped back into his life. Whether it was now or later didn’t make a difference.
Ambrose had grown used to Hazel’s endless understanding, her boundless patience that bordered on self-sacrifice.