Chapter 9 - Claire’s Choice
Gabriel proposed badly.
Not with a ring first.
With a contract.
Claire stared at twelve pages.
“What is this?”
“Property protections.”
“You’re proposing marriage through estate planning?”
“I was advised clarity matters.”
“By Dominic?”
“Yes.”
“Never ask him for romance advice again.”
Gabriel sighed.
Claire laughed.
Then he put the papers away.
“Fine.”
They stood in the nursery.
Same room where Leo had once been taken.
Now bright.
Safe.
No hidden cameras.
Leo, nearly two, slept.
Gabriel looked at Claire.
“I loved Elena.”
“I know.”
“I still do.”
“I know.”
“I don’t want that to hurt you.”
“It doesn’t.”
“Sometimes it will.”
“Probably.”
He nodded.
“I love you.”
Claire’s eyes filled.
“I know.”
“That’s arrogant.”
“You stare at me like you’re trying to memorize whether I’m real.”
He almost smiled.
She continued:
“I love you too.”
Gabriel knelt.
Ring this time.
Simple.
Claire smiled.
“Better.”
“Will you marry me?”
She looked toward Leo.
Then back.
“Yes.”
No replacement.
No erased wife.
No fairy tale pretending history disappeared.
May you like
Choice.
That was enough.
