Chapter 7 - When The Pretend Boyfriend Became Her Home
The weeks after Gabriel's arrest were strange.
News outlets wanted stories.
Lawyers wanted documents.
Federal investigators wanted testimony.
Marin wanted one normal morning.
She didn't get it.
Her first attempt at normal involved Adrian making breakfast.
He burned toast.
Twice.
She stared at the blackened slices.
"You run an international organization."
"Former organization."
"Fine."
"You used to run an international organization."
"Yes."
"And you can't toast bread."
"Apparently."
She laughed.
It felt wonderful.
Adrian stared at her.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"You keep looking at me."
"I'm allowed."
"Why?"
"Because you're here."
She smiled.
For years, Marin had believed love was supposed to arrive dramatically.
Instead it had arrived in small things.
A hand held beneath a restaurant table.
A coffee made exactly the way she liked.
A text asking whether she got home safely.
A man who listened when she said no.
Clara recovered quickly.
Laurel returned to Vermont after helping with the investigation.
Bennett cooperated with authorities.
Celeste disappeared from Boston.
Thomas admitted he had known more than he should have and apologized to his daughters.
The family became quieter.
More honest.
One evening, Marin and Adrian visited the cemetery where Adrian's father was buried.
Evan stood nearby.
Elena brought flowers.
The brothers stood in silence.
"I hated you," Evan said.
Adrian looked at him.
"I know."
"For years."
"I know."
"Do you hate me?"
Adrian shook his head.
"No."
Evan looked surprised.
"Why?"
"Because we lost enough time."
They hugged.
Marin watched.
She understood.
Some wounds didn't need revenge.
They needed time.
Months later, Adrian officially left the criminal side of the family business.
He sold several properties.
Closed illegal operations.
Converted the remaining company into a legitimate security and logistics firm.
People who had once feared him now saw a different man.
Still intimidating.
Still quiet.
But different.
One afternoon, Marin found him in his office staring at an old photograph.
She sat beside him.
"Your brother?"
"Yes."
"You miss him?"
"He lives fifteen minutes away."
She laughed.
"You know what I mean."
"Yes."
He turned to her.
"I missed everything."
"What?"
"A normal family."
She took his hand.
"You have one now."
His eyes softened.
"Do I?"
"You do."
He kissed her.
Then he reached into his desk drawer.
She frowned.
"What is that?"
A ring.
Her heart stopped.
"Adrian."
"I know."
"You were supposed to ask."
"I am asking."
He stood.
"Marin Whitlock, I know our relationship started because you needed a boyfriend for six hours."
She laughed through tears.
"I remember."
"I know you never needed rescuing."
She smiled.
"I definitely did that night."
"Maybe."
He took her hand.
"But I needed you too."
He knelt.
She covered her mouth.
"I don't promise perfect."
"Good."
"I don't promise quiet."
"Definitely good."
"I don't promise that loving me will always be easy."
"Adrian."
He smiled.
"I promise to come home."
Her eyes filled.
"Yes."
He blinked.
"Yes?"
"Yes."
He stood.
She kissed him.
From the doorway came applause.
Clara.
Laurel.
Evan.
Elena.
Even Thomas.
Marin laughed.
"You planned this."
Adrian looked annoyed.
"Apparently everyone is against me."
Clara grinned.
"You needed help."
He shook his head.
Marin wrapped her arms around him.
For the first time, she wasn't pretending.
She wasn't walking into a room to prove she had moved on.
She had.
She had found someone who didn't make her feel like a replacement.
May you like
She had found someone who saw her.
And Adrian had found the woman who could look at a dangerous man and still see the human being underneath.
