The small velvet box smacked Ryan squarely on the forehead, leaving a faint red mark in its wake.

But Ryan didn't react.

He simply bent down, picked up the box, and slipped it into his pocket with a calm expression.

One day, he told himself, he'd slip this diamond ring onto Catherine's finger. One day, she would belong to him again.

"What happened to you and Michelle wasn't my fault," he said, his voice defensive, almost pleading. ...