Chapter 76

Serena's POV Ryan's face lights up instantly when I tell him to explain. There's a boyish eagerness in his expression as he leans forward, ready to clear the air between us. "That lipstick mark happened when Sophie stumbled into me. She was crying, and I reached out to steady her. That's when she fell against my shoulder," Ryan explains, his eyes locked on mine, watching for my reaction. "Nothing more happened between us, I swear." I study his face carefully. The tightness around his eyes, the way his brow furrows slightly—these are Ryan's tells when he's being honest. After years of marriage, I know his expressions well enough to read the truth in them. "Fine," I sigh, deciding to let it go. "I believe you." Relief washes over his face, and his shoulders visibly relax. "Thank you," he says softly, reaching for my hand across the table. "Don't push it," I warn, but I don't pull away. His thumb traces small circles on my palm, a gesture so familiar it sends a wave of nostalgia through m