Chapter 25: The Ring She Never Took Off

It wasn’t just a piece of jewelry.
It wasn’t about money, or size, or even the stone.

It was about promise.

And Stephen knew—
she would wear it.

Not because of pressure.
Not for show.
But because deep down,
she had always been his.

Years earlier, she had mentioned a ring she liked.
Garnet.
Not ruby—garnet, like his birthstone.
January.
The month they once dreamed of marrying.

At the time, she talked about it casually—
but Stephen listened closely.

And when everything started to collapse,
when the walls went up and her heart pulled back,
he remembered that detail.

Because real love remembers.

He had doubts.
There were moments when he wondered
if she had meant it for someone else.
If it had been part of a different story—
one that tried to erase what they had built.

But in the end,
he chose to believe the deeper truth:

The ring was always meant for him.

And she would wear his ring.
Not because he asked.
But because her soul would recognize it
when the moment came.

It wouldn’t need a crowd.
No ceremony.

Just a quiet moment.
Maybe in the house they rebuilt.
Maybe on Guimaras, under a cloudy sky.

She’d open the box,
see the garnet,
and something inside would whisper:

“This is right.”
“This was always the path.”

And she’d slip it on.
Not out of obligation—
but out of recognition.

Stephen never needed her to prove anything.
He just wanted her to be free to choose.

And when she finally did,
when she chose him again,
there’d be no need for vows.

The ring would say it all.