Chapter 7 - The Wedding Ring I Thought I Had Lost
Lauren moved back into our bedroom.
It felt strange.
Wonderful.
Terrifying.
We were no longer pretending.
Every conversation became honest.
If I felt insecure, I said it.
If she felt angry, she said it.
If something reminded her of my betrayal, she told me.
I listened.
I didn't defend myself.
I didn't say, “But.”
I didn't say, “It happened years ago.”
I simply listened.
One evening, she opened a small box.
Inside was my wedding ring.
I stared.
“You kept it?”
“Yes.”
“I thought you lost it.”
“I took it off the night I found out.”
My chest tightened.
“Why are you giving it back?”
“I'm not.”
She closed the box.
“I'm asking you to earn the right to wear it again.”
I smiled.
“How long?”
“As long as it takes.”
I nodded.
“I'll wait.”
Months passed.
Our daughter was born.
Her name was Grace.
The first time I held her, I promised something.
Not that I would never make another mistake.
That would be impossible.
I promised I would never hide one.
Lauren watched me.
She was crying.
“She looks like you.”
“I hope she gets your heart.”
Lauren smiled.
“She'll get both.”
That night, while we were sitting in the hospital room, Lauren said something unexpected.
“I want to marry you again.”
I stared.
“We're already married.”
“I know.”
She smiled.
“But I want a new beginning.”
I began crying.
“You mean a vow renewal?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“On our tenth anniversary.”
I laughed.
“That gives us four months.”
“Then you better start planning.”
For the first time in years, I felt something I had forgotten existed.
Hope.
But our story wasn't finished.
Because Ryan had left one final message before his arrest.
It was addressed to Lauren.
Ask James why he really started cheating.
I stared at the screen.
Lauren looked at me.
“What does that mean?”
I thought about it.
Then I realized.
Ryan knew something I didn't.
Something about my own past.
May you like
Something that might explain why I had become the man who could betray the woman he loved.
And I wasn't sure I wanted to know.
