Chapter 7: The Secret Behind the Second Ring
Brielle read Tasha’s message three times before she managed to type a reply.
*What are you talking about?*
The three dots appeared almost immediately.
Then disappeared.
Then appeared again.
Finally, Tasha sent a voice message.
Brielle pressed play.
“Girl, I don't know how to tell you this, but Marcus has been making arrangements for weeks. I heard something at dinner last Friday, and I thought it was just family business. After seeing that video, I'm not so sure.””
Brielle's stomach tightened.
She stepped away from the table where the two ring boxes remained and walked toward the ballroom's entrance. Guests were leaving in small groups, their conversations dropping to whispers whenever she passed.
She found a quiet corner near a tall arrangement of cream roses and called Tasha.
Her friend answered on the first ring.
“Finally,” Tasha said.
“Are you alone?””
“Yes. What do you know?””
“First, tell me something. Did Marcus actually give you the big ring?””
“No.””
“Did he say why he had two?””
Brielle closed her eyes.
“He said the first one belonged to his grandmother. He wanted to see whether I cared about the meaning or the price.””
Tasha exhaled.
“Okay. That's one part of it.””
“What do you mean, one part?””
“Brielle, I was at that restaurant with my husband last Friday. Marcus was sitting in a private booth with his mother and a woman who looked like an attorney.””
Brielle gripped her phone.
“Denise Carter?””
“I don't know her name. But I heard Marcus say something about a foundation, a property, and a decision he needed to make before the end of the month.””
Brielle's mind raced.
“His father's inheritance?””
“Maybe. But then his mother said something I haven't been able to forget.””
“What?””
Tasha lowered her voice.
“She said, ‘If you go through with this, you need to be certain you're doing it for the right reasons.’”
Brielle stared at the ballroom doors.
“And what did Marcus say?””
“He said, ‘That's exactly why I'm waiting.’”
Brielle felt a cold sensation move through her chest.
Waiting.
For what?
She remembered the signed statement. The letter from his father. The way Denise had spoken about financial independence and the conditions attached to the estate.
Then another possibility occurred to her.
“Do you think he's planning to give the foundation everything?””
Tasha paused.
“I don't know.””
“He has an inheritance, Tasha. He could be giving away millions of dollars.””
“Brielle, that isn't what matters right now.””
“Of course it matters!””
Her voice rose, drawing a glance from a passing waiter.
She lowered it.
“If he's planning to change his financial arrangements, I deserve to know. We're supposed to be getting married.””
“Supposed to be,” Tasha repeated.
“But are you?””
Brielle had no answer.
Tasha's tone softened.
“Listen, I love you. But I watched that video, and I saw your face when the big ring appeared. You looked happier in that moment than you did when Marcus asked you to marry him.””
Brielle swallowed.
“That isn't fair.””
“Maybe not. But it's what I saw.””
Brielle ended the call before Tasha could say anything else.
For several minutes, she stood beneath the ballroom's bright lights, listening to the hum of conversations around her.
Then she noticed Andre approaching from the other side of the room.
He carried Marcus's overcoat over one arm.
“Ms. Brielle?””
She turned sharply.
“Where is Marcus?””
“He has left the building.””
“With his mother?””
“Yes, ma'am.””
“And the attorney?””
“She left separately.””
Brielle studied him.
“Andre, how long have you worked for Marcus?””
“Nearly three years.””
“Then you must know what he's planning.””
Andre's expression remained professional.
“I know what I was asked to do tonight.””
“What were you asked to do?””
“To deliver the second ring when Mr. Reed gave me the signal.””
“That's all?””
“Yes, ma'am.””
She looked toward the table.
“Did he tell you who the ring was for?””
Andre hesitated for the first time.
It was brief, but Brielle noticed.
“Who is it for?”” she demanded.
“I'm afraid that's a question you need to ask Mr. Reed.””
“Why is everyone protecting him from me?””
Andre adjusted the coat over his arm.
“I'm not protecting anyone, ma'am. I'm respecting my employer's privacy.””
Brielle laughed bitterly.
“Of course.””
Andre turned to leave.
“Wait.””
He stopped.
She took a breath.
“Did Marcus seem happy tonight?””
Andre looked at her for a moment.
“No, ma'am.””
The answer was so straightforward that she couldn't immediately respond.
Andre continued.
“I've seen Mr. Reed walk into this ballroom smiling. I've seen him nervous, excited, even overwhelmed. Tonight was the first time I've seen him look like he was saying goodbye to something he still wanted to believe in.””
He walked away before she could ask another question.
Brielle remained still.
She had expected Marcus to be angry. She had expected him to punish her with silence or make a dramatic announcement about the relationship.
She hadn't expected him to look heartbroken.
That night, she went home alone.
Her apartment was filled with the evidence of the life she had spent years trying to perfect. Designer bags lined the shelves. Framed photographs showed her and Marcus at charity galas, expensive restaurants, and vacations beside turquoise water.
She had always loved those photographs.
Now she couldn't stop noticing something.
In almost every picture, Marcus was looking at her.
And in almost every picture, she was looking at the camera.
At eleven forty-seven, her phone rang.
Marcus's name appeared on the screen.
She answered immediately.
“Marcus?””
“Brielle.””
His voice sounded tired.
“Where are you?””
“At home.””
“Are you safe?””
The question nearly broke her.
“Yes.””
“Good.””
She gripped the phone.
“Can we talk?””
“Not tonight.””
“Please. I need to understand what happened.””
“We can talk tomorrow, if we're both ready to be honest.””
“I am ready.””
“Then start by asking yourself what you wanted from tonight before the second ring appeared.””
She closed her eyes.
“Marcus, I know I hurt you.””
“Yes.””
“I was wrong.””
“I believe you understand that now.””
“Then why does it feel like you're already gone?””
There was a pause.
“Because I've been trying to find the courage to face this for a long time.””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Is there someone else?””
“No.””
“Then who is the second ring for?””
Marcus didn't answer.
“Please,” she whispered.
“I saw something in your face when you looked past me. You weren't looking at your mother. You were looking at someone else.””
“I can't explain everything over the phone.””
“Why not?””
“Because the person you're asking about deserves to speak for herself.””
Brielle sat upright.
“Her?””
Marcus went quiet.
“Marcus, who is she?””
“I'll see you tomorrow.””
“Don't hang up. Please!””
But the call ended.
Brielle stared at the screen.
A moment later, a text arrived.
*Tomorrow, 10 a.m. The café across from the courthouse. Come alone.*
She read it twice.
Then another message appeared.
This one came from an unknown number.
*My name is Camille Reed. Marcus asked me not to contact you until he was ready. But after what happened tonight, I think you deserve to hear the truth from me.*
Brielle's fingers went numb.
Camille Reed.
She had heard the name once before, years earlier, when Marcus mentioned a younger sister who had moved away after a family disagreement.
He had never spoken about her again.
Brielle had assumed they were estranged.
Now she remembered Marcus's expression when he looked past her at the ballroom doors.
He hadn't been looking at a stranger.
He had been looking at his sister.
May you like
And suddenly, the question wasn't whether Marcus had planned to give Brielle the bigger ring.
It was why he had brought his sister to a proposal he knew might change his life forever.
