She Kicked Away His Cane—Then He Saw Her Secret

Chapter 1 - The Ring

Clara's golden heel struck the tip of her husband's white cane.

Before Daniel could recover it, she shoved his shoulder.

The cane hit the stone. His right foot stumbled toward the edge of the indoor pool, and his hands flew out, searching for something to hold.

“Watch out!”

Anna rushed in from the left. She caught his upper arm, braced a hand against his back, and pulled him away from the water.

Daniel gripped her sleeve. His breath came sharply through his teeth.

She hauled him onto the wider strip of dry floor and kept one hand on his arm until his feet were steady.

“He could've drowned!”

Clara glanced at the fallen cane and laughed.

“He's blind. He's nothing without me.”

Daniel's jaw tightened behind his dark glasses. For a moment, his mouth betrayed the hurt. Then he let go of Anna's sleeve.

The maid stayed beside him.

“Then I'll take care of him.”

Daniel turned toward her voice. He touched the back of her hand, a brief, gentle acknowledgment, before easing away from her support.

Then he removed his glasses.

His gaze landed on Clara's left hand.

A diamond caught the daylight. She saw where he was looking and slipped her hand behind her back.

His eyes followed it.

“That’s not the ring I gave you.”

Clara stared.

“You can see?”

Anna looked from one face to the other. Daniel held the glasses against his chest and said nothing until Clara took a step toward him.

“Stay there.”

She stopped.

“Daniel, I was trying to catch you.”

Anna's hand tightened at her side.

“You pushed him.”

“Go back to work,” Clara snapped.

“She is staying,” Daniel said.

His voice had none of the uncertainty Clara expected.

“Show me your hand.”

Clara brought it forward slowly. The diamond was large, brilliant, and almost identical to the one he remembered.

Almost.

The ring he had commissioned had a small blue sapphire beneath the center setting. Clara had called it their secret, visible only when she tilted her hand toward him.

This setting had no sapphire.

“Where is your wedding ring?”

“At the jeweler. It needed repairing.”

“Which jeweler?”

“I don't remember the name.”

Daniel looked at her for a long moment.

Then he took his phone from his pocket and called his solicitor.

“Rachel? Cancel anything awaiting my signature. And come to the house.”

Clara's face changed.

It was the cancellation, not the accusation, that frightened her.