Mabel smiled warmly. "Ma''am, couples fight now and then, but it always blows over. Why not use this chance to let Mr. Reed save face? You two can move on and get things back to normal."


    Last night, Timothy had rushed out as soon as he got that call about She. He hadn''te home at all.


    Ha.


    He really knew how to y his cards. First, he''d taken her to a hotel to give her that ring. Then he''d run off to spend the night with She. Was he trying to keep his wife at home while having someone else on the side?


    Jessica pushed those thoughts away, pulled the velvet ring box from her purse, and began typing a message on her phone.


    "Mabel, can you pass this along to Timothy for me?"


    Mabel''s eyelids fluttered in surprise. Jessica pressed the box into her hand, turned, and strode off without another word.


    "Ma''am? Ma''am" Mabel called after her, but Jessica was already out the door.


    Mabel muttered to herself, "What''s going on? Didn''t Mr. Reed manage to make things right with her?"


    She nced down at the ring box in her hand, then set it carefully on the living room cab. She might be the housekeeper here, but she was always careful not to meddle in her employers'' business.


    That afternoon, Timothy was busy, so he had his secretary pick up Henry from school. As soon as Henry got home and opened the door, he called out, "Mom?"


    Mabel hurried over. "Wee home, Henry."


    Henry frowned. "Where''s my mom?"


    "She had something to take care of-she''s out."


    He grew irritated. Every other day, his mom waited for him at the door after school, worried he hadn''t eaten well. The moment he got home, she''d have dinner ready. Now... she wasn''t acting like herself at all.


    Mabel took his backpack, and Henry, grumbling, walked straight into the living room and grabbed the TV remote. That''s when he noticed a small velvet box next to it-something about it seemed familiar.


    He picked it up just as Mabel came back in. "Henry, that''s for your dad. Your mom asked me to give it to him, so don''t lose it."


    "My mom wants Dad to have this?"


    Mabel nodded.


    Without hesitation, Henry flipped open the box.


    Mabel saw the huge diamond ring inside and her expression darkened a little. Why go to all this trouble? Mr. Reed gave her a diamond ring, and now she''s giving it back...


    She sighed and went into the kitchen to start dinner.


    Henry recognized the ring instantly. It was the one his dad had bought for his mom at the auction. Now she was returning it—what was she thinking?


    He sat down on the couch, ring box in hand, and called She on his smartwatch.


    She''s gentle voice drifted through the speaker. "Hello, Henry. Home from school already?"


    "Yeah, just got in, Miss She. Sigh..." Henry sounded like a little adult as he let out a weary sigh.


    She was immediately concerned. "What''s wrong, Henry? Why the long sigh?" Henry fiddled with the ring, his mood sour. "I don''t know what''s up with my mom. She''s never home anymore, and doesn''t even make dinner on time."


    He really missed his mom''s cooking-it was always the best. But he didn''t want to call her and ask her toe back. If she was home, maybe she wouldn''t let Miss Shee stay with them.


    She''s voice grew softer. "Don''t be upset, Henry. Maybe your mom has something important going on. When I get out of the hospital, I''ll take you out for a nice meal."


    "Miss She, you''re so good to me. I hope you get well soon. My mom''s been acting strangetely. Dad gave her the ring he bought at the auction-it can even y music, it''s perfect for her. But she just gave it back. I really don''t know what she''s thinking."


    On the other end, She froze for a second. So Timothy really had given the ring to Jessica.