Thank you, Mom!" Leena said gratefully, happily accepting the great wishes and blessings from her mother-in-law. Leena recalled how Shannon had measured the size of her finger the night before yesterday and finally knew the reason for it. She thought of yesterday morning when Shannon had gone out early, probably because she wanted to make a trip to this place, to pick out the rings for them. As Leena imagined her getting here, she was deeply touched by the love of her mother-in-law. She felt like the happiest girl in the world because she was surrounded by that love, and a brilliant smile flowered on her face.
"You don't need to thank me, kids. This is probably the only thing I can do for you. There is too much else I can't do. Especially for Leena, I always feel we owe you so much. You're not getting anything you deserve from Kevin's family. As his mother, I feel terribly sorry about it. But now that you're my daughter, I will take care of you and love you as much as I can. I'm always here to support you, as your mom and your family," Shannon said humbly. She knew Leena was a good girl and deserved a happy family, but she also knew there was little she could help her with in the Gu household. Leena had dealt with all the unfair treatment by herself, not letting it bother her too much.
"Hmm. How do we owe her so much? Didn't you just give her a diamond ring?! It should be her who owes us all of this," Claire said unhappily as she heard Shannon's words. She obsessed over the ring given to Leena by her mother. As she thought of Shannon's warning before they had stepped out of the house, she didn't dare continue her accusations. All she could do was pout her lips to vent out her frustration.
As for Louisa, this was definitely not something she wanted to see when she decided to come with them. She was quite upset at the moment and felt stupid at her choice to go out. If she had known they were here for the rings, she wouldn't have provoked Claire to bring her along. But at least she learned something from this trip. Kevin and Leena had not been in love with each other when they decided to get married. Otherwise, how come Kevin didn't buy Leena a wedding ring, to convey his love and promises to her? It must be because Kevin didn't love her. He might not even harbor any feelings for her. Only that could explain why he wasn't willing to give her something as trivial as a ring, which should not cost him too much, considering his economic status.
Upon seeing the happiness and anticipation in Leena's eyes, Kevin realized how little he had done for Leena in their marriage. He felt guilty about not caring for her more. After all, being busy at his work was just an excuse for him to escape his responsibility of being a husband, and avoid giving Leena the love she deserved as his wife. He should have noticed the sadness and loneliness in Leena's eyes each time when he came home. His negligence and deliberate ignorance of her feelings must have hurt her deeply. Kevin made himself a promise that he would make up for it for the rest of their lives. He was determined to dedicate himself to protect her, care for her, and love her. Leena was his one and only, the woman he loved so deeply. The woman who deserved all his love.
"Leena, allow me to put the ring on you," Kevin said softly as he stepped closer to Leena. Standing beside her, he could feel her warmth and the pleasant scent that exuded from his petite wife. He took the ring from Shannon, gently holding up Leena's hand as he slowly put the ring on her finger. Looking directly into her eyes, he gave her a genuine smile that assured her of how much he loved her, and how happy he was to be beside her in this wonderful moment. He knew the only one thing that was not perfect was this ring, which was a gift from his mom, because it hadn't been chosen by him. This ring was not enough to convey his love for her. Kevin promised to himself that he would one day hand pick a beautiful ring just for her, and put it on her finger to show his sincerity toward her. He would make Leena, his lovely wife, the happiest woman in the world.
Reading Kevin's soulful eyes, Leena was too shy to keep her gaze locked on him. She lowered her head to hide her warm, reddened cheeks from him. She could tell that Kevin was being sincere. She could tell from his eyes that he loved her, that he truly wanted to protect her and take care of her. Even though she had been upset about not getting the ring from Kevin, the love of her life, the sadness vanished in an instant. Leena was a girl who could be pleased easily. She never asked for too much, so she didn't expect too much. A small, affectionate action, or just some tiny details could touch her and win her heart. Since it was Kevin who put the ring on her finger, it was enough for her. Whether or not the ring was bought by him was no longer important. Happiness rose from Leena's heart and diffused in the small space between them. Time seemed to stop moving. The surroundings seemed to freeze at this all-important moment, the happiest one of her life. She felt like she could read Kevin's mind and understand his silent promise to her. He didn't need to spell it out for her, she knew him well enough. It was never too late for him to admit his true feelings for her, and to begin putting his love into action. As long as Kevin was by her side, Leena would wait for him to realize it, even till the end of their days.