The diamond ring glittered in the sunlight like a promise. Or a bribe.
Adrian knelt there, looking handsome and heroic, offering Anaïs the perfect escape route. Marry the nice guy. Hide behind his money. Let the world think she chose love over drama.
Anaïs looked at the ring. Then she looked at Adrian's hopeful face.
Then she looked at Sacha, who was watching with wide, confused eyes.
"Mommy?" Sacha whispered. "Is Uncle Adi going to be my dad?"
Something inside Anaïs snapped. Not a breakage—a realignment.
She remembered crawling through the mud five years ago. She remembered binding her own ankle. She remembered negotiating Sacha's contracts while breastfeeding in a basement.
She had saved herself then. Why did everyone think she needed saving now?
Anaïs reached out.
She took the velvet box from Adrian's hand.
And she snapped it shut. Click.
"Get up, Adrian," she said. Her voice wasn't loud, but it cut through the wind like a razor.
