Chapter 9 - The Night He Asked Her to Stay ForeverVoss was arrested two weeks later.
His organization collapsed.
Politicians resigned.
Judges were indicted.
Police officers were exposed.
The newspapers called Vincent Calder a mysterious businessman who had helped dismantle a criminal empire.
They never learned how close he had come to losing everything.
Emma became the center of the twins' world.
Lily called her “my person.”
Noah called her “our nanny,” then corrected himself.
“Our family.”
Vincent heard it.
He pretended to be busy.
That evening, he cooked dinner.
Emma stared at him.
“You cooked?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I can cook.”
“That's not what I asked.”
He looked offended.
“I've made pasta before.”
“You opened a jar.”
“Still cooking.”
The twins laughed.
Dinner became chaotic.
Lily spilled juice.
Noah dropped a fork.
Emma burned the rolls.
Vincent actually enjoyed it.
After bedtime, he found Emma in the garden.
She stood beneath the oak tree.
“Thinking?”
“Yes.”
“About leaving?”
She looked at him.
“Maybe.”
His face changed.
“I knew this day would come.”
Emma smiled.
“You didn't.”
“No.”
She touched his cheek.
“I've been offered a position at the children's learning center again.”
His heart dropped.
“It starts next month.”
“You want to leave?”
“I want a life that isn't surrounded by armed guards.”
Vincent nodded.
“You deserve that.”
She stepped closer.
“But I also want you.”
He looked at her.
“Emma.”
“I've spent years thinking love was something people earned after proving they were worth staying for.”
She smiled.
“You never had to earn it from me.”
His eyes filled.
“You saved my children.”
“You saved me too.”
Vincent reached into his pocket.
Emma stared at the small velvet box.
“Vincent.”
“I had a speech.”
She laughed nervously.
“Go ahead.”
He opened the box.
Inside was a simple ring.
“I don't know how to promise you a normal life.”
She smiled.
“I don't need normal.”
“I don't know how to promise there will never be danger.”
“I know.”
“I don't even know how to make pancakes without burning them.”
“That one concerns me.”
He laughed.
“But I can promise this.”
He took her hand.
“You will never have to wonder whether you belong here.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Vincent.”
“You are not the nanny.”
He swallowed.
“You are not the woman who took a bullet for my children.”
“You are the woman who taught me how to be their father again.”
He knelt.
“And you're the woman I want beside me for the rest of my life.”
Emma cried.
“Yes.”
Vincent blinked.
“What?”
“Yes.”
He slipped the ring onto her finger.
She pulled him up.
Then kissed him.
The twins were watching from the upstairs window.
Lily clapped.
Noah yelled, “She said yes!”
Vincent laughed.
Emma buried her face against his chest.
“This family has no privacy.”
“You married into it.”
“I haven't married anyone yet.”
“Noted.”
One month later, they married in the garden.
No giant ballroom.
No politicians.
No criminal associates.
Only family.
Aaron stood beside Vincent.
Marcus, recovering from his injuries, walked Emma down the aisle with Daniel.
The twins were flower girl and ring bearer.
When Emma reached Vincent, Lily whispered,
“Daddy, don't cry.”
Vincent smiled.
“I’m not.”
He was.
Everyone laughed.
The ceremony was simple.
Beautiful.
When Vincent kissed Emma, the twins cheered louder than anyone.
Then Emma whispered against his lips,
“You finally have a home.”
Vincent looked at her.
“No.”
May you like
He kissed her again.
“We do.”
