Chapter 9 - “DON’T BE SCARED”
Alexei proposed when Sophie was eleven.
He asked Maria privately first.
Good.
Then Sophie.
Not for permission.
For honesty.
“I want to marry your mother.”
Sophie stared at him.
“Are you scared?”
Alexei laughed.
“Yes.”
She nodded solemnly.
“Don’t be scared.”
Maria nearly cried.
“I’m a doctor.”
Of course.
They married the following year.
Small ceremony.
No mafia spectacle.
No fifty black SUVs.
Dmitri complained because he had already arranged twelve.
Maria made him cancel ten.
Sophie carried the rings.
Dropped one.
A dog found it.
The ceremony paused twenty-two minutes.
Perfect.
Maria signed a prenup with independent counsel.
Separate inheritance protections.
Sophie’s future protected.
Alexei’s assets protected.
Maria’s career protected.
Nothing about marriage required financial fog.
Alexei said:
“Your romance language is paperwork.”
Maria replied:
“You survived one attempted murder because your family had too much unchecked access.”
May you like
He signed.
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