Chapter 391: A Promise Sealed

Even Summer had nearly forgotten about it. Fraser parked the car, turned toward her, and fixed his dark gaze on the woman in the passenger seat. Her eyes were bright and clear, her lashes long and thick, fluttering like butterfly wings.

“We’re here,” his deep, magnetic voice carried a subtle trace of nervousness.

After a pause, Summer clasped her hands together and spoke softly, almost in a whisper. “I didn’t bring my ID.”

Fraser pressed a button on the center console, which clicked open. He pulled out two IDs and looked straight at her with those deep-set eyes. His voice dropped into a low, coaxing tone. “I brought them.”

Julia had mailed the IDs over. Summer had tucked them into a drawer, never expecting him to find them.

Fraser reached over and gently tilted her chin up, turning her face to his. Their eyes met. Something unspoken passed between them.

“Sorry,” he said. “I wanted it to feel special. That’s why I waited until today.”

“Okay,” Summer’s breath hitched. She looked up at the golden letters on the Civil Affairs Bureau sign, and her heart began to beat out of rhythm.

Fraser got out and walked around to open her door. He reached out a hand, long and elegant, his voice husky and smooth. “Darling, please step out.”

Summer took a deep breath, hesitated, then placed her hand in his and stepped down.

Just as she got out, something cold slipped onto her ring finger. She looked down and saw a modest diamond ring. Definitely not the sapphire ring from the proposal.

She blinked. “What’s this?”

Fraser reached out and gently touched the top of her head, his tone full of affection. “It’s my mom’s wedding ring. I’ll get you a better one later.”

Neither of them mentioned the sapphire ring. He always understood her so well. He knew that the sapphire ring would remind her of Pudding—Fraser had once given her a sapphire bracelet. She’d looked it up—sapphires symbolized “eternal love.”

She knew how rare and expensive that sapphire ring had been. But because of the wound it carried in her heart, he didn’t want her to wear it anymore.

Fraser held her hand tightly, his black eyes impossibly deep, as if he were afraid she’d pull the ring off. His voice trembled slightly. “That proposal might not have been perfect, but you said yes. So, Summer, you’re not allowed to back out now.”

Her eyes sparkled, like stars swaying in the lake’s reflection. She curved her lips into a bright smile.

She teased, “Mr. Fraser, if we don’t hurry, the Civil Affairs Bureau is gonna close.”

Fraser paused, then his lips curved up, his dark eyes glowing with a soft smile. He took her hand and led her toward the entrance, every step steady and sincere. His tall frame cast a long shadow that completely enveloped her, as if to say: whatever comes, he’ll take it on for her, protect her from it all.

Their joined hands were warm and slightly sticky. She couldn’t tell if it was his sweat or hers.

Suddenly, a thought popped into Summer’s head, and she pulled him to a stop. Fraser turned to her, a flicker of nervousness in his expression. “What is it?”

After all, the financial gap between them was pretty wide. If they ever got divorced, she’d be entitled to half his fortune.

Fraser’s voice dropped, low and rough. “Summer, what kind of nonsense is going through that head of yours, huh?”

She caught the hint of irritation in his tone and stuck out her tongue. “Just asking, y’know, for the record. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

The next second, his arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her flush against him. Above her head, his voice came, serious and firm, each word carved with intent.

“Summer, listen to me. Unless one of us dies, there’s no such thing as separating. Not in this lifetime.”

The two of them entered the Civil Affairs Bureau, took a number from the machine, and made their way to window number 8.