Buy a ring

Abby's thoughts swirled as she lay in bed, the moonlight casting shadows across the room. Tossing and turning, she couldn't escape the unease that had settled within her.

The events of the day replayed in her mind like a broken record – the argument, the hurtful words, and his sudden departure.

Her husband's absence weighed heavily on her heart, the worry growing with each passing moment. The empty space beside her seemed to amplify the silence of the room.

Unable to bear the uncertainty any longer, Abby slipped out of bed, her feet meeting the coolness of the wooden floor.

The soft glow of the moon filtered through the curtains, casting a faint illumination across the room. With cautious steps, she made her way downstairs, her heart pounding in her chest.

A glass of water seemed like the perfect excuse to quell the restlessness that had consumed her, and so she approached the kitchenette, fingers curling around the cool glass.

But as she turned to leave, her gaze fell upon a figure, faintly illuminated by the ambient light.

There he was, her husband, sitting at the minibar. His usually animated face held a weariness she hadn't seen before, his eyes fixed on the half-filled glass before him. The air seemed heavy with unspoken words, a chasm of emotions stretching between them.

"Hey," Abby's voice broke the silence, the word carrying a mixture of relief and concern.

He turned to her, his lips curling into a small smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Hey," he echoed, his voice carrying a weight that matched his expression.

Abby walked towards him, her steps hesitant. She perched herself on the stool beside him, their shoulders almost touching. "You've been gone all day," she said softly, searching his face for answers.

His fingers traced the rim of the glass, his gaze distant. "Yeah, I know," he replied, his voice tinged with regret. "Work just got... overwhelming."

A pang of understanding mixed with empathy surged through Abby. She reached for his hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "You could've called," she said, her concern evident.

He met her gaze, the weariness giving way to a touch of guilt. "I didn't want to wake you. You needed rest."

She shook her head gently, her thumb rubbing soothing circles on his hand. "I -I couldn't sleep anyway, not without— you here."

She flushed looking at her feet.

He exhaled slowly, his shoulders relaxing a fraction. "I'm sorry," he murmured.

Abby nodded, "S-sorry about this—morning." She stammered fidgeting with her fingers.

"It's—just—that I wasn't expecting you to be nice to me. I-I thought you were going to ignore my whole existence during this arrangement. And—I-I no one has ever —I have never—I—I just overreacted—-it's hard not to overthink when someone is nice to you—."

Remo sighed, "Abby is fine. I understand. You're afraid and that's understandable. I'm sorry for teasing you and touching you without your consent. I won't do that again."

Abby's gaze lifted, meeting Remo's eyes with a mix of surprise and gratitude. His sincerity was palpable, and a sense of relief washed over her. She managed a small smile. "Thank you for understanding."

He offered a nod, his expression gentle. "I want you to feel comfortable around me, Abby. I don't want to add to your fears or make you uneasy."

Abby felt a warmth spread within her chest. "I appreciate that, Remo. It means a lot."

Remo nodded and patted the seat beside him, "You can sit and tell me what's your plan now."

Abby nodded, "I told you I want to be with my father for a while—-if—it's not too much to ask, will you go with me?

I-I know he will be happy to know I'm married before he dies. Al-so I need help to take over the company. My uncle won't step down easily."

Remo nodded, "I can just kill him. No need to stress yourself."

Abby's eyes widened at Remo's blunt suggestion, and then she burst into laughter, a genuine sound that filled the room. "Oh, Remo, I appreciate the offer, but I think we can find a less... permanent solution."

He chuckled, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Fair enough. We'll handle it the legal way."

"Yeah—I don't have much time if it's not too much to ask, can we leave by the end of the week?"

Remo took a swig of his drink before fixating his eyes on her again.

"To city X?"

Abby nodded, surprised he knew where she came from. Fortunately it was in the same country so she didn't have to worry about the journey.

"Sure. Just need to talk to my family about moving for a while."

Abby swallowed, she was most nervous about meeting the rest of the Quinn's. She knew he had two brothers and a sister whom they all adored.

"D-Do you think they would like me?" She asked.

"Oh I think they're going to love you." He let out a chuckle.

"I-I hope so."

"Come on, let's go to bed. Tomorrow we are going to buy you a ring. We need to be able to convince people that we are married."