Jackson''s eyesnded on Dn, and a small smile tugged at his lips. "Dn, whatever happened, I''m just d you''re okay."


    He turned to ra, his voice gentle but serious. "I''ll have to count on you to look after him for a while. If anythinges up that you can''t handle, just call one of us, alright?"


    ra nodded.


    Once the others had left, Charles made up an excuse and disappeared to y with MiloBuddy.


    Finally, ra nced at Dn''s hand. She''d noticed it earlier-his wedding ring was missing.


    He used to never take it off. Now, all that was left was a chunky si ring on his thumb.


    Where did thate from? Had the Chester family sent it over as some kind of token?


    Dn didn''t remember anyone, so if he epted that ring, did it mean he really nned to go through with marrying into the Chester family?


    She spoke before she could think twice. "Can I have that ring?"


    He looked up, meeting her gaze. The second the words left her mouth, ra instantly regretted it. It was a token, probably important. How could she just ask for it like that?


    Sure, he was gentle with her-gentler than he was with anyone else—but this was a ridiculous request. He''d probably be annoyed.


    She stood up, ready to slip away, but he caught her wrist and, without saying a word, slipped the si ring onto her thumb.


    The amber ring looked regal and a little intimidating, but it was way too big for her. She had to curl her finger just to keep it from falling off.


    He handed it over so quickly that ra started second-guessing herself. Maybe it wasn''t what she thought.


    She fiddled with the ring, unsure. "You''re really giving this to me?"


    He just made a quiet sound, not bothering to say anything else.


    ra could only guess-maybe it was just a regr old ring after all.


    *


    That evening, someone from the old house showed up the butler himself.


    He seemed to already know ra was back in Palm Bay. He went straight to Dn. "Young Master, the old master wants to know-are you choosing ra, or Ms. Loue?"


    As soon as he finished speaking, he caught sight of the ring on ra''s finger His face darkened. "That''s a family heirloom. How could you just give it away to a woman?"


    ra was sitting on the couch, nose in a book. She looked up at his words. "It''s important?"


    A trace of sarcasm flickered in the butler''s eyes, but he ignored her and turned back to Dn.


    "Young Master, this was entrusted


    to you by Mr. Rai. Only the head of the Ferguson family is supposed to weaDit. Giving it away is... it''s disappointing, to say the least."


    ra''s fingers trembled. The Ferguson family''s patriarch ring?


    She nced at Dn, who was just sitting there like nothing happened. He''d handed it over so casually-she really thought it was no big deal.


    Quickly, she slipped the ring off and set it beside him. "You should keep this safe."


    He paused for a moment, a frown creasing his brow. "You don''t want it?"


    Didn''t she stay with him for this?


    ra forced a crooked smile-he''dpletely missed the point. Was this about wanting it or not? It was Out what the ring meant. Itwas just... too much.


    The butler''s eyes went cold at Dn''s question. For the first time, he actually seemed to look at ra.


    He took a deep breath. "Young Master, you shoulde back to the manorter.” Then he turned and left, clearly upset.


    ra didn''t know what to say. She watched as Dn got up, slipped the ring into his pocket, and stalked off looking annoyed.


    Worried, she hurried after him. "What do you want for dinner? I promise I''ll cook something really good this time."


    He kept walking, not even ncing back. “Don''t bother."


    He disappeared into the master bedroom, and ra followed.


    He frowned, unbuttoning his shirt, his voice t. "I''m changing."


    Basically: shouldn''t you leave?


    But ra just nodded, totally unfazed. "Go ahead."