Chapter 14: New Beginning
234 Words
One month later.
No penthouse. No gala. No fake smiles.
Just a small office with Hale Industries on the door and Aiden’s name next to mine.
Partner. Not secretary. Not contract wife. Partner.
“First day as CEO,” I teased, handing him coffee.
Aiden took it and pulled me into his lap. “First day as a dad in 5 months.”
We both laughed. It felt weird. Good weird.
My mom was out of chemo. In remission. Sitting in the office next door, organizing files because she refused to "just sit".
The twins were healthy. Kicking every time Aiden talked in meetings.
Vanessa tried one last lawsuit. It got thrown out.
The press moved on to the next scandal.
Tonight was different though. No cameras. No board.
Aiden took me to the rooftop of our new building. Fairy lights. A small table. Just us.
He got down on one knee.
My heart stopped.
“Zuri,” he said. “The first time I married you, it was for a contract. This time...”
He pulled out a simple ring. “This time it’s for me. For us. For the twins. Will you marry me? For real?”
Tears fell before I could answer.
“Yes,” I whispered. “A thousand times yes.”
He slipped the ring on. Then kissed me.
Not to prove a point.
Just because he wanted to.
- Writer
