Chapter 20 - The Ring Came Back
The pool had been renovated.
The tiles were replaced.
The lighting changed.
Clara had considered removing the pool entirely.
She hadn't.
One evening, she stood beside it with Marcus.
“The ring was never recovered,” he said.
“I know.”
She looked into the water.
Ethan's wedding ring had disappeared beneath the surface that night.
At the time, it had felt symbolic.
Now it felt almost insignificant.
Marcus asked:
“Do you regret the marriage?”
Clara thought about it.
“I regret trusting the wrong person.”
“That isn't the same thing.”
“No.”
She smiled faintly.
“The marriage gave him access.”
Marcus nodded.
“But it also taught me exactly what I needed to learn.”
“What?”
“That my life doesn't become worthless because someone lies about loving me.”
She walked away from the pool.
Behind her, the water remained perfectly still.
The ring was gone.
May you like
And Clara realized she didn't want it back.
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