Chapter 8 - The Woman He Chose in Front of Everyone
Six months later, the Mercer name meant something different.
Silas no longer traveled with an army.
He had sold the mansion.
Closed the nightclubs.
Severed illegal business ties.
And invested the remaining legitimate assets into logistics companies that operated transparently.
He also funded a rehabilitation center for victims of financial crimes.
The center was named after Thomas Hayes.
Nora returned to the world of finance.
Not as a waitress.
As a forensic consultant.
But she kept her apron.
She had it framed.
Silas teased her about it.
“You realize you don't need to remember that time.”
“I do.”
“Then why keep it?”
“Because it reminds me who I was.”
“You were never just a waitress.”
“I know.”
She smiled.
“And neither were you just a mafia boss.”
He looked at her.
“That's an unusual compliment.”
“Get used to unusual things.”
Their relationship became public gradually.
First photographs.
Then rumors.
Then an interview.
A reporter asked Nora why she had stayed with a man whose past was so complicated.
She answered honestly.
“Because people should be judged by the choices they make after they learn the truth.”
Silas later told her that sentence had terrified him.
“Why?”
“Because now I know I have to keep earning it.”
She laughed.
One evening, he took her back to Le Triomphe.
The Obsidian Room had been renovated.
The old velvet curtains were gone.
The chandelier had been replaced.
Nora stood at the entrance.
“I don't think I can go inside.”
“Why?”
“Bad memories.”
“I know.”
“Then why bring me?”
“Because I'm taking them back.”
They entered.
The same tables.
The same walls.
But different meaning.
Victoria was there.
She had cooperated with investigators and was rebuilding her life away from her father's political machine.
She approached Nora.
“I owe you an apology.”
Nora nodded.
“Yes, you do.”
Victoria smiled sadly.
“I don't expect forgiveness.”
“You don't need to.”
They shook hands.
Then Victoria looked toward Silas.
“You're happy.”
He looked at Nora.
“Yes.”
Victoria's eyes softened.
“Good.”
She left.
Silas pulled out a chair.
“Sit.”
Nora laughed.
“Ordering me around?”
“No.”
He knelt.
Nora froze.
“Silas.”
He opened a small velvet box.
Inside was not a diamond.
It was a simple ring.
Elegant.
Understated.
There was an engraving.
Numbers never lie.
Nora covered her mouth.
“I had it made.”
She shook her head.
“You're unbelievable.”
“I know.”
He took her hand.
“Nora Hayes, you met me when I was surrounded by people who feared me.”
“Yes.”
“You knew me when everyone believed I was something terrible.”
“Yes.”
“You saw what I did wrong.”
“Yes.”
“You forced me to confront it.”
“Yes.”
“Then you showed me another life.”
Nora's eyes filled.
“So I'm asking you for the rest of it.”
She laughed through her tears.
“That's not very romantic.”
He looked nervous.
For the first time, genuinely nervous.
“I'm trying.”
She smiled.
“Yes.”
His eyes widened.
“Yes?”
“Yes.”
He slipped the ring onto her finger.
The restaurant erupted in applause.
Nora looked around.
The staff had known.
The manager was crying.
Petrov was laughing.
Ethan was recording.
Even Thomas, sitting near the window in his wheelchair, was smiling.
Nora looked at Silas.
“You planned this?”
“Yes.”
“You knew my father was here?”
“Yes.”
“You are impossible.”
“I've been told.”
She kissed him.
May you like
For the first time, the Obsidian Room held something other than fear.
It held joy.
