  &quot;What is it, Mitch?&quot; He asked, fixing her a serious look, and suddenly she appeared very forlorn to him, her eyes devoid of their usual brightness and body, their lively spirit. 
  &quot;Mitch?&quot; He called again. 
  She was already putting her hand which had been lying on her laps under the table since her arrival, on the table for him to see. It didn t quickly register what she meant to pass by the hand she was showing him, so he gave her an inquisitive look but she said nothing. Then it occurs to him to look again, this time for the engagement ring.
  It wasn t there.
  &quot;Damn,&quot; He thought. He d been a fool. He should have known all along, with a face like that.
  &quot;The bastard son of a gun,&quot; He swore, softly
  Mitchell remained silent; lips paused together. Barely trying not to give in to the tears that now threatened her eyes. She thought she was han

  &quot;I shouldn t have agreed to that marriage of convenience, I thought it was a good plan then. I thought I was immune to loving,&quot;
  &quot;Just calm down Mitch,&quot; he said. It wasn t your fault. You have always been too soft-hearted and I knew that was why you agreed to the marriage. Because he had said, he stood to make some people happy.&quot; 
  &quot;Aren t you going to tell me you told me it wasn t a good idea then?&quot; She asked, looking at him with eyes filled with tears.
  &quot;No... I m not,&quot; he said, moving closer to her and offering her his handkerchief to wipe away her tears. But they still keep pouring, even faster now like a pool of flowing water.
  &quot;Why?&quot; She asked between a sob
  &quot;What would that solve now, if I do?&quot; He spoke. And it wasn t even your fault. You have always taken more than you are responsible for. I can t blame you t

  &quot;Mitchell Fiona Browne,&quot; he said quietly, remembering she was the woman he had gone to deliver cakes to, two months ago. The woman who had looked at him with, not pity... but a kind of odd look, something that made him think she had been through whatever he was going through also.
  Jacob remembered how nice she had been to him that day, giving him a generous tip. He had been torn between needs and pride that day, and she had read him loud and clear and made the situation easy for him.
  He walked away from the couple he was attending.
  &quot;Becky, could you please take over table seven for me?&quot; He said to another attendant
  &quot;Okay,&quot; Becky said, collecting the menu list from his hand.
  Jacob took a deep breath as he approached her, he had always wanted to go back to thank her for that day. The money she gave him had come in at the right time and had saved hi

&quot;What is it, Mitch?&quot; He asked, fixing her a serious look, and suddenly she appeared very forlorn to him, her eyes devoid of their usual brightness and body, their lively spirit. 
  &quot;Mitch?&quot; He called again. 
  She was already putting her hand which had been lying on her laps under the table since her arrival, on the table for him to see. It didn t quickly register what she meant to pass by the hand she was showing him, so he gave her an inquisitive look but she said nothing. Then it occurs to him to look again, this time for the engagement ring.
  It wasn t there.
  &quot;Damn,&quot; He thought. He d been a fool. He should have known all along, with a face like that.
  &quot;The bastard son of a gun,&quot; He swore, softly
  Mitchell remained silent; lips paused together. Barely trying not to give in to the tears that now threatened her eyes. She thought she was handling it well already, but now that Daniel was here, she wanted to give in to the tears burning 

Chapter 139