The Year I Stopped Being His novel Chapter 38

"Thank you, Dean Quinton."

"What are you thanking me for? It's not the first time I've put my reputation on the line for you!" Zachary laughed loudly. "But Garrison, you've never let me down once. I believe in you!"

Garrison nodded. "You give me too much credit, Dean."

"Go home. Get some rest. We've got a tough battle ahead."

Garrison nodded again and walked out of the administration building.

The evening breeze carried a faint hint of early spring warmth.

Just then, his phone buzzed in his pocket.

It was Quinn Foster.

"Quinn."

"Garrison," Quinn's voice was as soft and gentle as always. "Tomorrow is Archie's birthday. Mom said we should all have dinner together to celebrate. You have to come back. Archie has been asking for you for days."

Garrison suddenly realized tomorrow was March 1st—Archie's fifth birthday.

"I know. I'll head over in the morning."

"Oh, and Sloane... you should bring Sloane with you."

Garrison frowned, his mood immediately sinking.

"You're saying Sloane hasn't been back to the estate to see Archie all these days?"

"Yeah. Ever since she got back from her trip, she hasn't been home in two weeks. Archie says he misses his mom. Garrison, I know she's still mad at me, but it's Archie's birthday. Just beg her to come back and see him. When she gets here, I'll apologize to her personally..."

Garrison looked down, staying silent for a long moment before letting out a low "Yeah."

"I got it."

*

"What about this one? A classic six-prong setting. The center diamond has excellent clarity..."

"The most expensive one," Garrison cut her off, his tone completely flat. "A matching set."

The clerk froze for a split second before her professional smile snapped back into place. "Of course. One moment, please."

She retrieved a pair of rings from the back safe. The men's band was thick and bold, inlaid with a subtle row of black diamonds. The women's ring was far more intricate, featuring a massive pink center diamond surrounded by a halo of crushed diamonds that caught the light brilliantly.

"This is our signature 'Eternal Heart' collection. It's a global limited edition, and the color and clarity of the main stone are top-tier..."

"I'll take it." Garrison glanced at the price. Seven figures—over a million dollars. Perfect.

"Would you like me to measure your size? Or if you know your wife's size..."

"No." Garrison pulled out his card.

"Wrap it up."