**Maroni Compound — Seven Days Later**
Snow dusted the estate roofs. The security perimeter thickened. Rival families had started bleeding—both metaphorically and literally.
Warehouse fires. Account freezes. “Accidents."
Albert's enemies were paying for the ambush.
And Emerie had not said a word against it.
She simply watched.
And waited.
**Albert's Recovery Suite — 9:43 AM**
He stood now. With crutches, careful steps. A ring box in his hand.
Emerie stood by the window, arms crossed.
“I thought we'd go outside," he said, breath fogging the glass.
“It's freezing."
He smiled faintly. “So it'll match the mood."
“Say it," she said.
He swallowed. “Will you marry me?"
She didn't answer immediately.
Instead: “Why now?"
“Because I want permanence. To show this isn't just guilt."
