Chapter 9 - The Promise
The legal proceedings against Celeste and her father reached their climax in a crowded courtroom. The evidence was overwhelming, and the trial was swift. Celeste was sentenced to fifteen years for attempted murder, conspiracy, and fraud, while her father faced a decade for his role in the sabotage.
On the evening of the sentencing, Adrian and Hannah stood on the balcony of the mansion, watching the stars reflect over Lake Michigan.
“It’s finally over,” Adrian said, his voice quiet.
Hannah leaned against the railing, feeling the cool wind on her face. “It feels like a lifetime ago that I was just a maid with a dust cloth.”
Adrian turned to her, taking both of her hands in his. “You were never just a maid, Hannah. You were the light in a very dark house.”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, velvet box. He didn't say a word, just opened it. Inside sat a simple, elegant ring—a diamond set in gold, reflecting the moonlight.
“I don't have a history of doing things the right way,” Adrian admitted, his voice thick with emotion. “But I want to do this the right way. I want you to be my wife. I want us to be a family. Not for the estate, not for the business, but for us.”
Hannah looked at the ring, then into Adrian’s eyes. She saw no shadows, no secrets, no demands—only the man who had learned to love because she had showed him how.
May you like
“Yes,” she whispered.
He slid the ring onto her finger, and as he pulled her into a kiss, the house—the vast, empty, cold mansion—seemed to finally feel like a home.
