Serena's POV
Ryan's face lights up instantly when I tell him to explain. There's a boyish eagerness in his expression as he leans forward, ready to clear the air between us.
"That lipstick mark happened when Sophie stumbled into me. She was crying, and I reached out to steady her. That's when she fell against my shoulder," Ryan explains, his eyes locked on mine, watching for my reaction. "Nothing more happened between us, I swear."
I study his face carefully. The tightness around his eyes, the way his brow furrows slightly—these are Ryan's tells when he's being honest. After years of marriage, I know his expressions well enough to read the truth in them.
"Fine," I sigh, deciding to let it go. "I believe you."
Relief washes over his face, and his shoulders visibly relax. "T
