Never Mistake a Queen for a Lapdog novel Chapter 1160

He was entirely candid.

It was the quiet certainty of a man who had thought it through and decided to put all his cards on the table.

She had expected to hear hollow promises like, "I'll take good care of her," or "I'll make her happy."

"An admission ticket..."

Rosalind chewed on those words in her mind.

She suddenly realized she had been viewing the situation far too cynically.

True, pure sincerity did exist in this world.

At the very least, in that exact moment, she saw it in him.

After a long silence, Rosalind let out a deep, heavy sigh.

The weight that had been pressing on her chest for days finally evaporated.

She picked up her teacup and took a long sip, as if steadying her own nerves. "Tell her to cook less in the future. It's bad for your health."

Seth's rigid posture finally, slowly, relaxed.

...

Noreen had no idea what they had talked about.

But she could clearly feel the shift in Rosalind's attitude.

She was intensely curious about how Seth had actually managed to win her mother's approval.

So, when she walked him downstairs, she couldn't help but ask.

Seth stopped walking and turned his head slightly to look at her.

He was half-hidden in the dim shadows of the street, making his eyes look exceptionally deep in the night.

"It's a secret," Seth said, holding her gaze. His tone was laced with an undeniable, gentle certainty. "You just need to choose me. Leave the rest to me."

Noreen's heart fiercely skipped a beat.

"A ruby from the Aeterna Amoris collection," Seth's voice washed over her, low and incredibly tender. "Legend says this specific ruby symbolizes a burning, unwavering loyalty that never fades."

He had spotted it instantly at an auction, simply because he knew it belonged on Noreen.

And he had finally waited for the day he could put it on her finger himself.

He picked up the ring, gently cradling her left hand, and slowly slid it onto her ring finger.

It fit perfectly.

The moment the cold metal brushed her skin, an intense heat seemed to spark from her fingertips, surging straight into her heart.

Noreen looked down at the ring, her eyes suddenly burning with tears.

She looked up. The warm light of the streetlamp swirled in the depths of Seth's eyes.

He was looking at her, his gaze more serious and profound than she had ever seen.

"Noreen," he said softly, his voice cutting clearly through the night wind. "This ring is my promise to you. It's not just a Valentine's Day special. It's for a lifetime."