Whether it’s to celebrate or to cry.

Arwen looked up at him, and seeing his brows tugged into a frown, she chuckled softly. "Don't tell me you thought I was just trying to act normal this whole time to hide my real pain?" 

"..." 

Aiden didn't speak. But his gaze —intense and unwavering —said enough. 

Her smile softened, the amusement fading into something gentler. She shook her head, trying to ease the weight in his eyes. 

"I won't say that's not in my nature," she admitted. "I do put on a show sometimes … just to hide myself." 

She paused, then apple with quiet sincerity. "But today wasn't like that. I wasn't acting, Aiden. Truly." 

He didn't interrupt. He just listened. 

"Yes, I won't deny that the news affected me. Seeing the headline —it did stir something inside me." 

She looked down at the ring resting on her finger. "But not the way it would have before." 

Her voice held calm steadiness now, one that came from reflection.