Page 30 of The Rancher's Unloved Wife

His lips and her lips.

Real.

And they were pressed against each other, and—-no!

It was already over before it even began, but that momentary contact was still more than enough to leave Summerine in a daze.

She was only vaguely aware of Charlee-Mae waving goodbye after thanking the other guests, Ryu pressing a hand on the small of her back, and Philippe de Rose walking towards them from the wings as soon as the stage curtains drew closed.

Oh, Ryu.

He had actually kissed her.

But why?

He had faked their wedding kiss, so why did he kiss her for real now?

Charlee-Mae smiled up at her husband as he reached her side. "Aren't they the most adorable couple?"

As Philippe curved an arm around his wife's waist, he also happened to notice the way Summerine had jerked upon having her relationship described as "adorable."

But since it was only Charlee-Mae's happiness that mattered to him—-

"They are, indeed." Philippe dished out the lie without hesitation. The other couple's problem was their business to deal with, and it was neither his interest nor inclination to meddle.

This is really it.

SUMMERINE COULDN'Tstop touching her lips.

He kissed me.

It was all she could think about.

But why?

Had something changed between Ryu and the other woman?

And if thatwasthe case—-

"Summerine?"

Her husband's unusually taut voice startled Summerine out of her thoughts, and she quickly lowered her hand when she realized she was still tracing her lip.

"I'm sorry about the kiss. Turning down De Rose's wife would only have caused people to talk."

The grim expression on his handsome face was new as well.

Could something really have happened?

"I'll do my best not to let such a thing happen again. I promise."

His jaw clenched, and Summerine realized that he was feeling...guilty?

The thought had Summerine fumbling for her phone, and she started scrolling haphazardly. She just needed an excuse not tomeet his gaze, just needed something to busy herself with while pain threatened to swallow her up.

That one kiss from him had rocked her entire world.

But her husband looked as if he wished it hadn't happened at all.

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