Chapter 10 Ciel moved in beside me , yanking the detonator out of Stanley's hand . His voice was ice . " Get him to the police . Sweep the place for explosives , now . " I shook my head , unclasped the Tiffany necklace from my neck , and held it out to Stanley . " No one knows you better than I do . You'd never actually plant a bomb . Take it . From now on , we're even . " The second he saw it , all the color drained from his face . " Vivienne ... you're even giving this back ? " It was the necklace he'd given me the day he pulled me out of the slums . Back then , Stanley had told me , " Vivienne , you're the purest girl in the world . You're no less than anyone . " That necklace had been with me through the longest , ugliest years . Even at the end of my last life , I'd never let it go . Now , I handed it back - along with every shred of love , hate , and regret we'd ever shared . They hauled Stanley toward the station . In Northvale , I knew Ciel would see to it he paid . Before they took him out , he gave me a bitter smile . " Can I say one last thing to you ? " Ciel let him go . Stanley crouched , scooped up the device , and hit the button . A sharp click echoed . No explosion - just like I figured . What I didn't see coming ? The " detonator " flipping open into a custom ring box . Inside sat a diamond ring , catching the light - the same one I'd once tossed away . *** +25 Bonus I didn't take the ring . Once Stanley was gone , the wedding picked back up - sort of . Half the guests had already bolted , and the place felt hollow , even the officiant missing . Ciel pulled me in , looking guilty . " I'm sorry . I promised you a wedding , and I still let you down . " His hands trembled like he was still shaking it off . I laughed , hugging him . " Still scared ? " " I'm scared you still have him in your heart , " he murmured . " You said you know him better than anyone . Even after getting 1/2 Chapter 10 +25 Bonus arrested , he still tried to give you that ring . You weren't going to marry me at first , and I've got a bad temper ... people are scared of me , you- " I didn't let him finish . Went up on my toes and kissed him . His eyes went wide , then he pulled me closer and deepened it . In the empty church , we traded vows and rings , kissing like there was no tomorrow . Petals drifted down from above , like we were standing in a dream . *** By our third year of marriage , I was pregnant . Word was , Stanley had been in Northvale the whole time . Every now and then , at events with Ciel , I'd feel a stare I knew too well . But when I turned , all I'd catch was a back disappearing into the crowd . At my baby shower , an unmarked gift showed up - a delicate gold locket . Sebastian asked , " Mrs. Clementine , what should we do with this gift with no name ? " One glance at Ciel across the room and I waved him off . " Get rid of it . Now . " If that jealous man saw it , there'd be drama . After that , Stanley vanished for good . I heard he went back to Southport , walked away from everything , and lived alone the rest of his life . Never married . Ciel and I grew old together , surrounded by kids and grandkids . This time , when all was said and done , the past stayed buried . Stanley Hamilton and I never crossed paths again . Continue Reading