Page 188 of Legacy

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“I want the wedding band to match, but you’ll choose that too. Whatever you pick, I’ll wear the same.”

Her eyes stay on mine. Wide, searching, the candlelight dancing in them.

She hasn’t said a word.

But I don’t fill the silence. I don’t rush it.

Let her take her time.

When I finally speak again, it’s softer. A promise, not a plea.

“You can open it, Tesoro.”

She doesn’t blink at first. Her hand moves, slow, deliberate, fingertips brushing the velvet before lifting the lid.

The ruby catches the candlelight.

Deep red. Darker than blood. The size of a thumbnail. Raw. Magnificent.

Cradled in black velvet, waiting.

She inhales a sharp, shaking breath.

Her hand flies to her mouth

“Angelo,” she breathes.

I straighten. “If it’s too much, if you don’t like it—”

She shakes her head, hard.

“No, I—” her voice breaks. “You don’t understand.”

And I don’t.

I really, really don’t.

She collects rubies. Trades them. Smuggles them. They’re her specialty.

But for the first time since I’ve known her,Adriana Castillois speechless.

“Adriana?” I say, sharper this time, unsure.

She doesn’t answer.

Doesn’t look at me.

She just walks out of the room.

I blink. My chest tightens.

Fuck.

Did I get it wrong?

Too much. Too fast. Too soon.

She kissed me. She danced with me. She smiled. She let me touch her.

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