THE FORGERY
540 Words
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_Day 10. 10:00 AM. Police Station._
Sophia was in handcuffs.
"I didn’t do it!" she screamed. "Eleanor told me to! She gave me the signature sample!"
Lily and Damian watched through the glass.
Detective Ruiz turned to them. "She’s singing. Says Mrs. Hart Sr. paid her $2 million to forge the prenup and frame you."
Damian’s jaw tightened. "My mother."
"Looks like it." Ruiz handed him a file. "We found the wire transfer. And emails."
Lily took Damian’s hand. "What happens now?"
"She goes to jail. And we go after Eleanor." Damian looked down at Lily. "Are you ready for that?"
Lily thought about brunch. About the binder. About Eleanor crying at the wedding.
"Yes," she said. "Because she tried to destroy us."
---
_Day 10. 2:00 PM. Hart Tower. Eleanor’s Office._
Eleanor was packing.
When Damian walked in, she didn’t look up.
"Took you long enough."
"Why, Mom?" Damian asked. "Why would you do this?"
Eleanor stopped. "Because you’re my son. And you were going to ruin everything for a girl with a contract."
She looked at Lily. "I was protecting you."
"By committing fraud?" Lily asked.
"By protecting the company!" Eleanor slammed a drawer. "Sophia was stable. She was from money. You’re a nobody."
Damian stepped between them. "Lily is my wife. And she’s the reason the stock is up 8 percent this week."
Eleanor laughed. "Don’t you see? They’ll never accept her. The board. The shareholders. They want a Hart. Not a Carter."
"Then they’ll learn," Damian said. "Because I’m not giving her up. Not for the company. Not for you."
Eleanor stared at him. Then her face softened.
"I just wanted you to be happy," she whispered.
"Then let me be," Damian said. "With her."
Eleanor nodded. Picked up her purse.
"Fine. But don’t come crying to me when this all falls apart."
She walked out.
---
_Day 10. 8:00 PM. Penthouse._
It was quiet.
No press. No board. No Sophia.
Just Lily and Damian. And takeout.
"We did it," Lily said.
"We did," Damian agreed. He pulled her onto his lap. "The contract is void."
Lily froze. "What?"
"I had Adesina shred it. This morning." Damian kissed her temple. "You don’t owe me 82 more days. You don’t owe me anything."
Lily turned in his arms. "Then why are you still here?"
"Because I want to be." Damian took her hand. The one with no ring.
"Lily Carter. Will you marry me? For real. No contract. No deadline. Just forever."
Lily stared.
8 days ago she was counting down.
Now...
"Yes," she whispered. "Yes, Damian. Forever."
Damian pulled out a ring. Simple. Gold.
Slid it on her finger.
"Marry me tomorrow," he said. "Courthouse. Judge. You, me, tacos."
Lily laughed and cried at the same time. "Yes."
---
_Day 10. 11:59 PM._
Lily lay in Damian’s arms.
Ring on her finger.
No contract on the table.
Her phone buzzed.
_Mia: HE PROPOSED?? SEND PICS_
Lily sent a photo of the ring.
_Mia: I’M SOBBING. TEAM DAMIAN FOREVER._
Damian kissed her hair. "Sleep?"
"Sleep," Lily agreed.
For the first time since Day 1, there was no countdown.
No rules.
No secrets.
Just Day 10.
and now forever
_THE END... for now_ 😉
To be continued.
- Writer
