Wedding Rings
Tuesday, continued…
As Officer Mu and Butler Ge disappeared from sight, Anna gently pulled away from Hou Yi’s embrace, her voice soft but firm. “Please give me a little space.”
Hou Yi looked at Anna, sensing her need for distance. They had an unspoken agreement to present themselves as a couple in public, and he knew this included their apartment, where staff would likely be present. Yet, he still felt the need to check on her. Gently, he asked, “Are you OK after dealing with that?”
Anna sighed, her frustration evident. “Not really. I thought Australian police could be hard to deal with, but that was beyond the pale. I felt threatened as the victim. They made it clear that if I didn’t press charges against Lu Jinhu and Yang Lin immediately, I would face consequences. If you weren’t my husband, I think they would have charged me right then, just because I needed more time to process everything.”
Hou Yi nodded thoughtfully. “It’s a feature of policing here. They’re not paid well, so they push for arrests and convictions to advance their careers. Once Officer Mu realizes this is more than a simple case, he’ll likely give you the time you need to make a decision.”
Anna’s voice tinged with frustration. “I hope you’re right, but as a lawyer, it grates on me. As the victim, I came out of that interview feeling so disrespected, treated like a criminal instead of a victim. Could they have gotten to the police first and convinced them that I was the criminal?”
“It’s unlikely,” Hou Yi reassured her. “They would have to know where you were, and all they could do was make accusations. To prove them, they’d need evidence, but for stalking or assault, there’s no CCTV footage. And as for stalking, all your travel bookings were joint—there’s clear evidence you had a relationship with him, up until recently.”
Anna gave a small nod. “You’re right.”
“Anna, don’t let this worry you,” Hou Yi continued, his voice steady. “We’ll deal with whatever comes. Remember, I made a promise to you when we married, and I’ll keep it.”
For a few moments, they sat together in silence, reflecting on the events of the day. But before long, Butler Ge entered the lounge and handed a package to Hou Yi. “Young Master, this was delivered from Fengs.”
He turned to Anna and added, “Young Madam, your items have arrived from the car. The items from M Mall have been pressed and hung up, but we cannot open the suitcases as we don’t have the combinations. If you can provide them, we can deal with the luggage.”
“The suitcase code is 853, and the other bag is 742,” Anna replied, offering the information without hesitation.
“Thank you, Young Madam. Young Master, what time would you like the car ready?”
“Have it ready in 20 minutes,” Hou Yi replied. “When we take it, we take it.”
“Understood, Young Master,” Butler Ge responded before leaving the room.
Hou Yi opened the parcel from Fengs. Inside, there were two separate ring boxes and a third containing a necklace. He handed the necklace box directly to Anna, then opened the first ring box to reveal the engagement ring. He set it aside for a moment, then opened the second box to reveal the wedding bands. He handed the larger ring to Anna and kept the other for himself.
“Could you give me your left hand?” he asked, his voice soft. “Rather than following tradition here, I think we should follow the Western custom and wear our wedding rings on the left hand. Is that alright?”
Anna nodded, extending her left hand to him.
Hou Yi placed the empty box on the table, then removed the engagement ring from the other box. He slipped both rings onto her finger, one by one, his movements careful, almost reverent. Lifting her hand to his lips, he kissed the spot where the rings now rested, then turned her hand over and kissed her palm. He extended his left hand to her, and Anna repeated the gesture, gently kissing his palm in return.
For Hou Yi, it felt like a miracle. He had always dreamed of this moment, but now, with Anna, it felt as though everything he had hoped for was finally coming true. He didn’t just want a marriage with her; he wanted her love, her commitment, and eventually, children. Above all, he wanted to ensure that the world would always be at her feet.
As Anna gazed at the rings on her finger, she felt that they belonged there in a way that Lu Jinhu’s engagement ring never had. There was something about this moment that made her believe—at least for a fleeting second—that there might be a real chance for love with Hou Yi. But she quickly dismissed the thought. She knew that love could come from anyone, not just him.
Hou Yi reached for the necklace box and stood up, taking Anna’s hand to help her up. “Come with me,” he said softly, “I’ll show you to our room.”
