Chapter 447: Couple Rings

After Nicholas finished speaking, he looked toward the door. Bodyguards entered and carried Cassandra away. Cassandra wanted him to accompany her, but lacked the confidence after her ordeal. Nicholas silently watched her go, then removed his coat, wiped his hands, and tossed it into a nearby trash bin.

Meanwhile, Tudela was blanketed in white snow; the river encased in thick ice. Cecilia leaned against her seat, gazing out the fogged-up car window. She shifted her gaze to the gift in her lap, curious about its contents.

She removed a delicate box, no larger than her palm, from her bag. Opening it, she gasped at its contents: an exquisite silver ring, etched with two sets of initials she'd carved as a child. It was one of a pair of couple's rings—hers and Nicholas'.

When she'd married Nathaniel, she'd asked him about the ring. His response: "What ring?" She'd assumed he'd lost it. Looking back, more questions might have prevented her mistake. She gazed at the inscription: CS NR. The initials were Nathaniel's. Clenching the ring, guilt intensified.

She opened her smartphone and replied to Nicholas's message: "Okay." Then she added, "I saw the gift. I'm truly sorry for confusing you with Nathaniel, but let's remain friends. Please don't hesitate to ask if you need anything." She believed returning the ring signified his desire to move on. His reply: "Okay."

Cecilia switched off her phone. Nathaniel observed her every subtle action, knowing she would tell him if she wished. He waited, but they arrived home in silence. His brow furrowed slightly. When Cecilia exited the car, he remained inside.

"Why aren't you getting out?" Cecilia asked, puzzled.

"I have some company matters to attend to," Nathaniel replied.

"All right, I'll head back first."

Cecilia took the gift home, intending to discard the ring once she found its mate. As soon as she left, Nathaniel summoned Mason.

After reviewing the car's camera footage, Mason reported, "Mrs. Rainsworth opened a box containing a ring."

Nathaniel considered Nicholas's gift. A ring? And Cecilia kept it?

"Anything else?"

"She sent a text message."

"To whom?"

Mason hesitated. The car camera didn't capture her phone screen; he'd inferred the message from her actions. After revealing this to Nathaniel, a silence fell before Nathaniel said, "Later, have someone discreetly remove that ring."

"Okay," Mason replied. He added, inwardly, "Mr. Rainsworth is such a control freak; he investigates everything." "Are you going back now?" he asked.

Nathaniel sat, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Let's discuss further once we have..."

Mason felt uncomfortable, still thinking of appeasing his angry fiancée. "Okay."