Karl pulled a velvet box from his coat pocket. He flipped it open with one hand, revealing a 6-carat diamond ring exposed to the wind and snow.
"Ella, let's start over..." His voice shook as he held the ring out. "That night was an accident. Selena drugged me. When I woke up, I really thought it was you. Then she got pregnant, and I thought it was my child. My blood."
He took a half-step closer.
"I was just protecting my kid! That's the only reason I covered for her! I swear I never loved her. I was deceived!"
I didn't take the ring.
"Deceived?" I looked at him. "To protect your bloodline?"
Karl nodded frantically. "Yes. That child is gone now. Selena's in prison. Nobody can come between us anymore."
"Karl," I held his gaze, "she hired people to kill me. To destroy me. You saw that
