protect herself from me.”
Daniel shook his head.
“That makes no sense.”
“It wasn’t romantic.”
Samuel smiled bitterly.
“Robert was always very good at rescue missions.”
Apparently Evelyn had discovered she was pregnant with Samuel’s child while trying to leave him.
She feared Samuel would use paternity to control her.
Robert married her quietly.
When Daniel was born, Robert’s name appeared on an early private record as guardian.
The marriage was later annulled.
Then Robert met me.
“Why put her initials in my ring?”
Samuel looked toward the fireplace.
“That wasn’t your ring originally.”
My stomach flipped.
“What?”
“It belonged to our mother.”
Robert had once told me the ring was a family heirloom.
Samuel continued.
“Our mother gave it to Evelyn during the marriage. Evelyn returned it after the annulment.”
I stared at the gold band that had been on my hand for more than three decades.
