then on the floor where the ring had disappeared. For a moment, I saw a flic

spering something to them. Chloe nodded,

e Ethan what would make you feel better?"

worthy of an award. "I want to give you your ring, Uncle Ethan. M

This was beyond a tantrum. Th

fraction of a second. I saw the conflict in his fa

s for Olivia and me to do,

rting to cry again. "Mommy said it

thm of dread. This was his chance. His chance to draw

f our life together. Was this what it all came down to? Was our bond so fragile that a ten-year-old' s whim could

, then to his parents, who were nodding encouragingly. The p

en, he

ce full of a tenderness he hadn' t show

started searching for the ring. My ring. The one he was now g

ng my shoulder. She leaned in, her voice

ll always c

hide it. Her smug smile

oided my gaze completely. He knew. He knew what he was doing wa

epped up, providing for Chloe and Lily financially and emotionally. I had admired his sense of responsibility, his loyalty. But now I saw it for w

own relationship? Always coming in second to a woman who d

, came over to me, their faces e

"Chloe has been through so much. And little Lily, losing her father so young

ce sharp. "This is his engagement part

"It' s complicated. We just

der. My parents stood beside me, their faces a thunderous mask of support, bu

tment settled over me. It was a cold, hard feeling in the pit of my stomach. The man I loved, the man I was about to