Page 191 of My Ruthless Husband

I don’t let her finish, locking eyes with her. “No, I’m not busy. Not when it’s you asking.”

The way her face lights up pulls something deep inside me. Her smile is like the sun breaking through, and I can’t help smiling back.

Instead of going out, she decides on takeout, insisting she’d rather stay here with me alone than a public place. So we end up on the office sofa, sharing a quiet meal, laughing softly, both of us wrapped up in this moment of peace.

Afterward, I catch her biting her lip, her eyes flicking toward me with that familiar, thoughtful look—the one that tells me she’s trying to work up the nerve to say something, something that’s been sitting on her mind for a while.

I tilt my head. “What’s going on?” I ask, a hint of amusement in my voice. “You’ve got that look. And here I thought I wasspecial enough to get surprised by my wife without any hidden motives.”

Her face falls a little, and she immediately snuggles up to my side, worried. “No, that’s not—”

I cut her off with a soft kiss to her lips. “I’m just teasing, angel,” I murmur, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Even if you had something to ask, it wouldn’t change a thing. What’s mine will always be yours.”

Her breath catches, her lips parting, and I can’t stop myself. I lean in, capturing her mouth again with a slow, purposeful kiss. When I pull back, my voice is low, husky. “Now, tell me, what was it you wanted?”

Her cheeks flush a deeper shade, and she whispers, “You.”

I rise to my feet instantly, pulling her up with me, a sense of urgency building. I start tugging her toward the door.

“What are you doing?” she gasps, stumbling a bit as I lead her.

“I want you too, angel.”

She stammers, her voice catching. “B-but I didn’t mean it like that…” Her blush deepens, and I can’t help but smile, loving the way she reacts.

I pause just long enough to press a kiss to her flushed cheek. “Liar.”

“O-okay, well… I did want you, but it’s not exactly what I meant earlier.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Then what is it?” I ask, wanting her to get to the point so we can get home sooner.

She bites her lip nervously. “I was hoping you’d come with me to my friend’s engagement party this weekend.”

I frown. “Vicky’s getting married? Hal didn’t say anything.”

She laughs, shaking her head. “Not Vicky… wait, why would Hal tell you anything about Vicky’s love life?”

I smile, leaning down to brush a kiss across her brow. “You’re truly naïve, angel.”

Her frown deepens. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing,” I say, pulling her closer again. “So if it’s not Vicky, then who’s getting married? That guy from the community center?” My voice hardens and she notices.

She shakes her head quickly, eyes wide. “No, it’s not him! It’s Summer—she’s engaged!”

The name makes everything inside me go still.

Summer.

No. It’s not possible. There’s no way it’s the same person; the world isn’t that small.

I should’ve asked Hal to look into this… Summer, but with everything going on, it slipped my mind. Still, I don’t believe in coincidences.

“So, she invited me?” I ask, wrapping an arm around her waist and beginning to lead her toward the door again.

River giggles. “Something like that.”

She tells me Summer’s getting engaged to the neighbor—the one who had the audacity to clash with me on New Year’s Eve.

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