Chapter 9 - The Woman Grant Had Ordered Brought to Him Became the Only Person Who Could Convince Him to Forgive HimselfA year later, Grant stood outside the rebuilt warehouse.
It wasn't a warehouse anymore.
It was a community logistics center.
Legal businesses.
Local jobs.
Training programs.
Scholarships.
A small gallery had been built on the top floor for independent artists.
Sadie's idea.
Grant's favorite part.
He watched her walk through the doors.
She wore a yellow sweater.
The same color as the night they met.
Grant smiled.
“You did that on purpose.”
“What?”
“The sweater.”
Sadie looked down.
“I like yellow.”
“You hated that sweater.”
“It had memories.”
“Bad ones.”
“Important ones.”
He moved closer.
“Do you still remember what you said to me?”
“I said several things.”
“The first night.”
She smiled.
“Please don't let them hit me again.”
Grant's expression softened.
“I remember.”
“And now?”
“Now I wish you'd never been hurt.”
Sadie touched his cheek.
“You changed.”
“So did you.”
She laughed.
“I think you changed more.”
Grant looked at the building.
“Maybe.”
“What do you think about when you look at this place?”
He answered honestly.
“My father would hate it.”
She smiled.
“Why?”
“Because nobody is afraid of me.”
“And?”
“I like it.”
She kissed him.
A little girl ran across the courtyard.
Grant watched her.
“Who is that?”
“Lydia's daughter.”
Grant smiled.
“Already running faster than everyone.”
Sadie nodded.
“She gets it from her aunt.”
Grant looked at her.
“You mean you?”
“Yes.”
He laughed.
Then his expression became serious.
“There’s something I need to ask you.”
Sadie raised an eyebrow.
“What?”
He reached into his pocket.
Her smile vanished.
“Grant.”
He knelt.
“Before you say anything—”
She laughed through tears.
“I'm not going to.”
He held out the ring.
“I spent my whole life believing power meant making people stay.”
He looked at her.
“You taught me that love means giving someone the freedom to leave and trusting them to stay.”
Sadie cried.
“I don't want to own you.”
He smiled.
“I want to choose you.”
He held out the ring.
“Sadie Bennett, will you choose me?”
She laughed.
“Yes.”
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely.”
He slipped the ring onto her finger.
Then she pulled him up and kissed him.
Behind them, Paul clapped.
Landon shouted:
“Finally!”
Grant laughed.
Sadie smiled.
“What?”
“They've been waiting.”
“For how long?”
“Since the first night.”
Grant groaned.
“That was embarrassing.”
“It was romantic.”
“I was covered in blood.”
“You were protecting me.”
“That doesn't make it romantic.”
She kissed him again.
“It does to me.”
Then Grant's phone rang.
Paul answered first.
His face changed.
“Boss.”
Grant looked at him.
“What?”
“Someone found Gabriel's last financial records.”
Grant sighed.
“Of course.”
“There's one account still open.”
“Where?”
“Europe.”
Grant shook his head.
“No.”
Paul blinked.
“No?”
“We're not going back.”
Sadie looked at him.
Grant smiled.
“I'm done fighting ghosts.”
May you like
He walked away from the phone.
For the first time, he chose his future instead of his past.
