Chapter 8 - The Marriage That Was Supposed to Be Fake
After the trial, life became strangely quiet.
Adrian and I had been married for seven months.
Our marriage was still supposed to be temporary.
A legal shield.
A protection.
A solution.
But somewhere between morning coffee and late-night conversations, it had become something else.
He learned that I hated elevators.
I learned that he slept with the television on.
He learned I cried at old musicals.
I learned he secretly fed stray cats behind the office.
The ruthless businessman was not ruthless at home.
He was gentle.
Patient.
Quiet.
One night, I asked:
“Why didn't you ever marry?”
He looked at me.
“After your mother, no one felt right.”
I looked away.
“That isn't fair.”
“What?”
“You can't say things like that.”
“Why?”
“Because I'm starting to believe you.”
He smiled.
“Good.”
Our first real argument happened over breakfast.
He wanted me to hire security everywhere.
I wanted a normal life.
“You cannot protect me by imprisoning me.”
“I know.”
“You keep making decisions for me.”
“I am trying to keep you alive.”
“I'm not asking you to stop loving me.”
He went silent.
I realized what I had said.
He looked at me.
“So you know?”
I swallowed.
“Yes.”
“Then what are we doing?”
“I don't know.”
He stepped closer.
“You don't owe me anything because I protected you.”
“I know.”
“You don't owe me because I'm your father.”
“I know.”
“You don't owe me because we are married.”
“I know.”
“Then what do you want?”
I looked at him.
“You.”
He didn't move.
“Say it again.”
“I want you.”
He kissed me.
This time, there was no confusion.
No paperwork.
No fear.
No revenge.
Just two people who had survived the same storm.
Several weeks later, Adrian took me to a quiet lake house in Michigan.
He opened a drawer and pulled out a small box.
Inside was my mother's wedding ring.
“I thought it was lost.”
“She gave it to me before the fire.”
I touched it.
“She wanted you to have it when you were ready.”
I cried.
He placed it in my hand.
“She wanted us to have a life.”
“We do.”
“No.”
He knelt.
“We could.”
I froze.
Adrian looked up at me.
“I married you because I needed to protect you.”
“And now?”
“Now I want to marry you because I love you.”
He held out a ring.
“Not for the company.”
“Not for Victor.”
“Not for your mother.”
“Not for Dylan.”
“Just for us.”
I laughed through my tears.
“You know we're already married.”
“Yes.”
“So this is ridiculous.”
“I know.”
“Then yes.”
He smiled.
We renewed our vows months later.
No press.
No wealthy guests.
Just family.
Sophie came.
Dylan came too.
He looked peaceful for the first time in years.
Before the ceremony, he approached me.
“You look happy.”
“I am.”
He smiled.
“I was always scared of losing you.”
“You did.”
“I know.”
He looked at Adrian.
“He looks like he knows what he has.”
I nodded.
“He does.”
Dylan walked away.
May you like
I watched him leave without grief.
That was when I realized I had finally let him go.
