Secret Love (Julia Kang and Shaw)

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"The Unkept Promise) Chapter 4

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Summer's Embrace was not something one could simply sell discreetly. The only place it could appear for sale was at auction. So, Silas had seen it there? Instead of answering his question, Amelia asked, "You were at the auction

house?"

Silas hesitated, his eyes shifting. After a moment, he replied, "I was thinking of getting you some more jewelry."

Was it for her, or for Bethany? Bethany had given him quite the "surprise;" he probably felt obligated to reciprocate.

Amelia, her voice calm and steady, said, "I didn't sell it. I donated it." Silas took her hand, a look of gentle reproach on his face."Amy, I know you're a kind soul, but you could have donated anything else. Not this." He pulled a box from his pocket and placed it in her hand. It was the black velvet box. Inside, Summer's Embrace glittered as brightly as ever."I bought it back. Summer's Embrace is a symbol of my love. You should never take it off." He fastened the necklace around her neck.

Looking at the familiar jewels, Amelia let out a hollow laugh. Silas, you're

such a good actor. He'd just come from another woman's arms, yet he could still speak of love with such conviction.

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Later that night, as she was drifting off to sleep, Silas's phone rang. silenced it immediately, then soothingly patted her back. Menu He

It rang again. And again. Finally, frowning, he answered it, holding it away

from Amelia's ear.

The voice on the other end was loud in the quiet room. "Silas, dude, come on! We're all here. Just missing you."

Silas instantly refused. "I'm with Amy. She's sleeping."

"Dude, don't be such a wife guy! When's the last time you hung out with your bros?"

cool."

"Seriously, man. You've gone totally MIA since you got married. That's not

Silas covered the mouthpiece again."Quiet down! I'm telling you, my wife is

more important than anything. I'm staying with her."

They persisted, each taking a turn to try and convince him.

Finally, Amelia, roused by the noise, spoke."Go ahead. Go have fun with your friends."

Silas looked reluctant, but she insisted. He offered a compromise."Only if you come with me. If you won't go, I won't either."

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His friends' voices piped up."Mrs. Sterling, come on out! Liven things up a bit!"

"Yeah, Mrs. Sterling, please! He won't budge without you."

Amelia agreed. Silas, appeased, drove them to the bar.

He opened the door to the private room and saw his friends surrounded by

women. His face darkened. He immediately started to back out.

His friends, realizing their mistake, frantically shooed the women away."Go, go, go! Get out of here!"

Once the women were gone, one friend slung an arm around Silas's

shoulders. "Dude, you really haven't changed, have you? No other woman can even get close to you."

Silas shrugged him off, dusting off his clothes as if contaminated. "I'm married. I need to respect my wife. What do you know, anyway? You're not married."

The room filled with laughter and good-natured ribbing directed at Amelia.

Despite being out with his friends, Silas's attention remained fixed on Amelia. He glared at anyone who lit a cigarette. "Amy hates the smell of smoke." He refused every

offered drink. "Amy doesn't like it when I drink." When

someone tried to put on music, he frowned."Turn it down. Amy prefers it quiet."

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He politely declined every invitation to join in the revelry, perfectly

to create an elaborate fruit platter for Amelia. He presented it to her with a

flourish. "Amy, here you go."

Noticing her thin dress in the cool air-conditioned room, he immediately

took off his jacket and draped it around her shoulders. "Is that better, Amy? Still cold?"

His friends shook their heads, grinning. "Man, Silas, you are so whipped!"

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