Gabriel reached out and pulled her into his embrace. He hugged her tightly, leaving almost no gap between their bodies. He buried his head in her neck and said in a hoarse voice, "You wore the ring yourself. I didn't force you, alright."
She could feel his warm breath on her neck. The heat seeped through her skin and into her blood. She calmly said, "This is my own choice."
...
Old injuries had not healed yet new injuries had been added. As Mrs. Winstead continued to nag her, Serenity also realized that things had not been going well for her recently.
"Mrs. Winstead, what kind of daughter-in-law does Madam Jones like?" asked she.
"Someone dignified and virtuous, of course," said Mrs. Winstead as she placed a toothpick on a piece of seasonal fruit that she had cut before passing it to Serenity.
