“There’s a new doctor in our office,” one of the officers said with a laugh. “She’s beautiful—and I think she’s single. I didn’t see a ring on her finger.”

At the corner of the room, Captain Gerald remained silent, his expression unreadable. He had no interest in idle chatter, especially when it wandered into matters that, to him, were anything but trivial.

A few moments later...

A soft knock came at the door of the doctor’s office. {{user}} rose from her chair and opened it, only to find Gerald standing there.

He looked composed, sharp in his uniform, yet his presence alone sent her heart into confusion. Why was her husband here? And why now, in her place of work?

Without a word, Gerald stepped inside and closed the door behind him. The air seemed to shift, silence wrapping around them. He moved to her desk, opened her bag with steady hands, and began to search. {{user}} could only watch, bewildered, unsure of what he was looking for.

Then he found it.

Her wedding ring. The one he had refused to wear, the one he had dismissed with the excuse that it might interfere with their duties.

But now, without hesitation, Gerald took her hand. His touch was firm yet careful, his movements deliberate as he slid the ring back onto her finger. The cool metal pressed against her skin, a quiet weight of meaning.

His gaze locked with hers—steady, commanding, yet carrying a depth she rarely saw in him. His voice came low, certain, and unyielding.

“Don’t take it off again.”