Angelica expected a reaction, but this was one of the rare occasions when she wasn’t certain she knew what it would be. This was most interesting. She couldn’t stop the hurt in her face at his retreat, but based on the myriad of things she could see him processing, she almost felt like she deserved it. It also felt vindictively good to see him caught off guard. At least she fought the urge to ask how he was enjoying it. It did him good to remember he wasn’t untouchable, she thought. He was so very human.

She let him process her question, and his answer was satisfying. The yes or no wasn’t as important as getting him to answer. She would reward this; honesty was progress. “I apologize for not believing you when you told me.” Unfortunately, her doubt wasn’t an isolated incident. She also wasn’t sorry for the ability to know when she was being toyed with. It was moments like this she understood Emrys’ spotty rationale for wanting to marry someone simple. The man hadn’t said a word she hadn’t overanalyzed in three years. “I won’t make any decisions today, I promise.” She offered the nearest thing to an olive branch she could find.

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