Chapter 8 - The Promise He Made in a Wheelchair
Nikico's recovery continued.
He learned to stand with support.
Then with less.
Then with a walker.
The day he took his first independent step, he did not celebrate immediately.
He stared at the floor.
Adeline stood several feet away.
“Again.”
He shook his head.
“Again.”
He smiled.
“You're ruthless.”
“So are you.”
He tried again.
One step.
Then another.
Then he stumbled.
Adeline caught him.
He laughed so hard he almost cried.
The footage of that moment was never released publicly.
It belonged to them.
Six months later, Nikico proposed.
He did not rent a ballroom.
He did not hire musicians.
He took Adeline to the same lake where they had once eaten dinner.
Then he handed her a small box.
She stared.
“You're serious?”
“I have never been more serious.”
She opened it.
Inside was a simple ring.
No giant diamond.
No spectacle.
Just a band with a small stone.
“You knew I would say yes?”
“No.”
“You were risking humiliation.”
“I thought I owed you one honest question.”
She laughed.
“What question?”
“Will you marry me?”
Adeline cried.
“Yes.”
Nikico smiled.
“Good.”
She looked at him.
“Wait.”
“What?”
“You proposed while sitting down.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“Would you prefer I stand?”
She laughed through tears.
“No.”
He took her hand.
“Neither do I.”
They married in a small ceremony beside the lake.
Wes carried the rings.
Bruno cried openly.
Edna pretended she wasn't crying.
The ceremony was private.
No cameras.
No reporters.
No business partners.
No family politics.
Only people who had earned their place.
When Nikico said his vows, he did not promise to protect Adeline from every danger.
He promised something more honest.
“I promise that when life becomes difficult, I will never make you face it alone.”
Adeline answered:
“I promise that I will always tell you the truth, especially when the truth is difficult.”
They kissed.
May you like
And for the first time, the sound that carried through the hall was not a slap.
It was applause.
