I slowly slid the engagement ring off my finger without a single tremor in my hands. It was a massive diamond he had chosen with more concern for its price tag than its meaning, and I placed it firmly on the table next to his glass of bourbon.
The sound of the metal hitting the wood was quiet, yet it echoed through the room like a crack of thunder. The laughter died instantly as Garrett started to push himself up from his chair.
“Okay,” I said, my voice steady and calm as I met his eyes. “You don’t have to marry me.”
I saw a flash of genuine relief in his expression before he could mask it with a look of feigned concern. I was familiar with that specific look because it is the same one used by CEOs who think they have dodged a bullet right before they realize the entire building is on fire.
Garrett thought the worst part of his night was getting caught in a lie, but he had no idea that losing me was the least of his problems. When I opened my mouth to speak again, even the staff nearby seemed to hold their breath as if they sensed a massive shift in the atmosphere.