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.”