Chapter 9 - Martha Discovered Why Andrew Had Chosen Damian Long Before Either of Them Knew They Would Fall in LoveThe foundation held its first annual gala in Boston.
Martha almost didn't go.
Too many memories.
Too many ghosts.
But Damian wanted her there.
So she went.
The ballroom was decorated with paintings restored from damaged museums.
One of them was Andrew's favorite.
A storm at sea.
Martha stood before it.
She remembered him as a child.
Always drawing.
Always fixing broken things.
Always telling her:
“Broken doesn't mean useless.”
She smiled.
Damian approached.
“You okay?”
“Yes.”
He wrapped an arm around her.
“You're sure?”
“Yes.”
She leaned against him.
Then a curator approached.
“Ms. Bellini.”
“Yes?”
“We found something behind the painting.”
“What?”
A small envelope.
Andrew's handwriting.
Martha opened it.
Inside was a note.
For my sister, when she finds the man I trusted most.
She looked at Damian.
Her heart raced.
The note continued:
I knew Damian would become dangerous.
I also knew he would become good.
He needed someone who could see the difference.
Martha began crying.
Damian read the letter.
“He knew.”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“He knew you before I knew you.”
She laughed.
“That's unfair.”
Damian kissed her forehead.
The note contained one final sentence.
Don't save him from becoming someone better. Let him become that person himself.
Martha looked at Damian.
“You did.”
He smiled.
“You helped.”
A moment later, music began.
Damian held out his hand.
“Dance?”
She smiled.
“Here?”
“Yes.”
“You hate dancing.”
“I hate people watching.”
“No one is watching.”
“They're all watching.”
She laughed.
They danced.
And for the first time, Damian realized he wasn't thinking about his father.
Or his mother.
Or the empire.
Or the Crown.
He was thinking about tomorrow.
A future.
A life.
A family.
After the gala, they returned home.
Martha stood on the porch.
The ocean was calm.
Damian came up behind her.
“You know what I used to think?”
“What?”
“That I would die young.”
She turned.
“Why?”
“Because everyone around me did.”
“And now?”
“Now I want to live long enough to annoy you.”
She laughed.
“You've already succeeded.”
He smiled.
Then he knelt.
Martha froze.
Again.
“Damian.”
This time there was a ring.
Simple.
Silver.
No diamonds.
No wealth.
No family crest.
Just a smooth band.
“I don't want a family legacy.”
He looked at her.
“I don't want an empire.”
“I don't want anyone to owe me anything.”
He took her hand.
“I want mornings.”
“Coffee.”
“Arguments.”
“Bad movies.”
“Children, if we're lucky.”
Martha's eyes filled.
“And you.”
He held up the ring.
“Will you marry me?”
She laughed through tears.
“Yes.”
He slipped it onto her finger.
She kissed him.
Then a car horn sounded.
They turned.
Isabella and Victor had arrived.
Behind them was Arthur.
Martha froze.
No.
Arthur?
He stepped out.
Older.
Alive.
Martha screamed.
She ran.
Her brother caught her.
She cried into his chest.
“You're alive.”
“I am.”
“How?”
“I was protected.”
“By who?”
He looked toward Damian.
“Your future husband.”
Martha turned.
Damian looked surprised.
“I thought you were dead.”
Arthur smiled.
“I needed you to believe it.”
“Why?”
“To make the enemy think the ledger was gone.”
Martha hugged him again.
Then Arthur looked at Damian.
“You kept your promise.”
“What promise?”
Arthur smiled.
“To become better than your father.”
Damian looked at Martha.
“I couldn't have done it alone.”
Arthur nodded.
“That's why I picked her.”
Martha laughed.
“You picked me?”
“You were always stubborn.”
“I was twelve.”
“Exactly.”
Everyone laughed.
The family gathered on the porch.
The ocean stretched beyond them.
The war was over.
The secrets were over.
And for the first time, Martha knew the truth.
She hadn't walked into Damian's shower because fate wanted to punish her.
May you like
She had walked into that bathroom because Andrew had trusted her.
And she had saved a man who had been waiting his whole life to choose a different path.
