Chapter 25 - GUNTHER HID THE RING BECAUSE HE THOUGHT KAYLA NEVER WANTED TO BE HIS WIFE
Kayla noticed the change.
Gunther stopped making jokes about future houses.
Stopped discussing long-term schedules.
Stopped saying “next year” when talking about them.
Nothing dramatic.
Just missing language.
One night in Seattle, she found him reading on the couch.
“Are we okay?”
He looked up.
“Yes.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
She sat beside him.
“You’re doing the thing.”
“What thing?”
“Where you answer technically.”
Gunther closed the book.
“What do you want to know?”
“Do you think we have a future?”
His face changed.
“Of course.”
“Then why do you talk like you’re leaving space for an evacuation?”
He almost laughed.
“Because I don’t want to assume.”
“Assume what?”
Gunther stared.
“Marriage.”
Kayla froze.
There.
“Why are we talking about marriage?”
He looked away.
“I heard something.”
She closed her eyes.
“Elias.”
Gunther did not answer.
“Of course.”
“What did you hear?”
He told her.
Kayla stared.
Then started laughing.
Gunther looked offended.
“This is funny?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because he was right.”
Gunther went still.
Kayla saw.
“Not the way you think.”
“Explain.”
She took his hand.
“I don’t want to marry into your family structure.”
“Trusts.”
“Board control.”
“Financial dependence.”
“Public identity as Mrs. Woods who stops working.”
Gunther nodded.
“Neither do I.”
Kayla blinked.
“What?”
“I was planning a prenup.”
“Separate assets.”
“Your career protected.”
“No management rights in your employment.”
“No family-office authority over you.”
Kayla stared.
“You were planning?”
Gunther sighed.
“There was a ring.”
Silence.
“What?”
“I bought it before Seattle.”
Her mouth opened.
“Where is it?”
“Safe.”
“Why?”
“Because I thought you didn’t want marriage.”
Kayla laughed again.
Then covered her face.
“You are unbelievably intelligent and astonishingly stupid.”
“I hear that frequently.”
She looked at him.
“I don’t know if I’m ready.”
His expression stayed calm.
“That’s different from never.”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
Kayla narrowed her eyes.
“You look relieved.”
“I am.”
“Do not propose tonight.”
“I wasn’t going to.”
“You thought about it.”
“Yes.”
“Gunther.”
“I’m not.”
They both laughed.
Then Kayla became serious.
“If we marry someday, I need conditions.”
“Of course.”
“My money stays mine.”
“Yes.”
“My career.”
“Yes.”
“Sam never becomes dependent on Woods anything.”
“Yes.”
“No tracking.”
“Yes.”
“No decisions about pregnancy.”
Gunther blinked.
“We’re now discussing children?”
“No.”
“Good.”
“Focus.”
He nodded.
“If we disagree, you don’t use money to make your version easier.”
That one hit.
“Yes.”
“And if I leave—”
His body tightened.
Kayla continued.
“If we ever separate, you don’t punish me.”
“Never.”
“Not financially.”
“Professionally.”
“Socially.”
“Through security.”
“Through tabloids.”
Gunther looked almost offended.
“Never.”
Kayla nodded.
“Then marriage doesn’t scare me as much.”
Gunther touched her cheek.
“That is the least romantic conversation about marriage ever.”
“I liked it.”
“So did I.”
They kissed.
The ring stayed in the safe.
Correctly.
Three months later, Elias began dating someone.
Her name was Natalie Chen.
A pediatric rehabilitation surgeon.
Kayla met her over dinner.
Smart.
Dry humor.
Completely unimpressed by Elias.
Perfect.
Gunther attended dinner during a Seattle visit.
Halfway through, Natalie looked at Gunther.
“So you’re the terrifying one.”
Gunther sighed.
Elias smiled.
“I told you.”
Kayla kicked Elias under table.
Natalie laughed.
Gunther realized something.
The jealousy had changed.
Not disappeared.
Changed.
Elias no longer felt like a rival.
He felt like a man Kayla could have chosen.
But did not.
That distinction mattered.
Two weeks later, Caleb Woods sent Kayla a package from federal prison.
Inside:
A surveillance report.
Subject:
HUGHES, KAYLA / HUGHES, SAMUEL
Date:
Four years before Kayla ever entered Gunther’s house.
Authorized by:
May you like
G. WOODS.
And everything they had repaired cracked open again.
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