Chapter 8 - The Marriage That Started as a Lie Became the Only Truth I WantedSix months later, the Hayes and Caldwell empires had been reorganized.
Gabrielle refused to take control alone.
She and Ethan created a joint foundation.
The three million dollars she had originally offered him became the foundation's first major donation.
They funded scholarships.
Women's shelters.
Legal aid.
Programs for children from wealthy families who were trapped by family expectations.
Gabrielle finally understood something.
Money didn't create freedom.
Choice did.
Ethan proposed again.
This time without lawyers.
No contract.
No deadline.
No three-million-dollar payment.
Just a small ring.
He took her to the same Manhattan street where they had first met.
It was raining.
Gabrielle laughed.
“You planned this.”
“Yes.”
“You nearly killed me here.”
“You walked into traffic.”
“Details.”
He smiled.
Then he knelt.
“Gabrielle Hayes.”
She covered her mouth.
“Don't.”
“Don't what?”
“Make me cry.”
“I'll try.”
“You're terrible at trying.”
He laughed.
“Will you marry me?”
She looked at him.
“I already did.”
“I know.”
“So technically, you're proposing to your wife.”
“Then say yes again.”
She smiled.
“Yes.”
He stood.
May you like
She kissed him.
And for the first time, neither of them was running.
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