Chapter 128
Chapter 128:
I froze, my fingers hovering over the smooth metal.
He stepped into my line of sight, standing right in front of me. “They are our wedding rings p>
I glanced at the rings again. A pair of platinum bands, each with a delicate band of diamonds embedded in them. The first letters of our names—‘W’ and ‘A’—were engraved inside.
I didn’t reach for them. “What happened to the rings we wore to your grandfather’s party? I probably lost mine somewhere in the pool p>
“It has been found, but that was just a prop, bought at a moment’s notice p>
“It was good enough to fool the guests p>
“But not good enough for you p>
“I’m not sure about this,” I said. “We’ve already swapped gifts once, remember? The black gold ring I gave you, and the pendant with the grandidierite stone you gave me p>
Which was so valuable that I had only worn it once before locking it away in a safe.
“Those were gifts to commemorate the beginning of our collaboration. Wedding rings are different p>
“Exactly. Wedding rings are different.” Wearing them, in public, at all times, would transform our marriage from a line in a contract to a visible truth, seen and understood by everyone.
“A ring would save you the hassle of having to explain yourself to everyone p>
“I don’t have to explain myself to anyone anyway,” I argued.
“Including Mr. Carter p>
“Finn? What about him? He never asked me if I’m married. Why would he?” Ashton stared at me. I was seated; he was standing—an angle that made his already imposing height feel even more overwhelming.
gⱯlnσν𝓮ℓs․cøm brings endless adventures
He didn’t say a word, but his silence pressed down on me so heavily that I felt compelled to explain myself.
“Finn’s a friend. That’s all p>
“That’s not what he thinks p>
“You think he’s into me?” I stared up at him, amazed.
“I don’t think; I know p>
“Come on, just because he took me out to lunch doesn’t mean he wants to get into my pants. I paid, by the way. Don’t you think he’d have insisted on picking up the tab if he wanted something in return? Isn’t that how things usually work? And, FYI, it’s lunch, not dinner. No alcohol involved p>
I stood up on the couch, so now I was towering above him.
“I don’t like you throwing accusations at my friend. I also don’t like that you’d doubt my commitment to the contract. I said I’d be your take-wife for a year, and I keep my word, no matter what. I swear I’m not going to date another guy until our contract runs out. Is that a good enough guarantee for you p>