Chapter 7 - SOPHIA’S TWENTY-DOLLAR RULE
Two years after Sophia first entered Wonderland Toys, Alexander took Elena to dinner.
Sophia stayed with Elena’s friend Maribel.
This was important because Sophia had previously attempted to hide behind a restaurant plant during one of their dates.
Alexander had noticed.
Eventually.
Elena looked at him across the table.
“You’re nervous.”
“No.”
“You reordered the forks.”
He looked down.
He had.
“Fine.”
“Why?”
Alexander reached into his coat.
Elena immediately said:
“No.”
He froze.
“I haven't done anything.”
“You reached for a pocket.”
“Fair.”
He removed a small ring box.
Elena closed her eyes.
“Oh.”
“That sounded terrible.”
“No.”
He laughed nervously.
“I had a speech.”
“Of course.”
“It’s four minutes.”
“Absolutely not.”
He smiled.
Then closed the box again.
That surprised her.
“What are you doing?”
“Skipping the performance.”
Alexander took her hand.
“When you met me, you had every reason to distrust what my money could do to your life.”
She listened.
“I can't make that imbalance disappear.”
“No.”
“I don't want you dependent on me.”
Her eyes filled.
“I don't want Sophia grateful to me.”
He continued.
“I want to marry you because the best part of my day is when you call and tell me I've done something ridiculous.”
“That happens often.”
“Exactly.”
She laughed through tears.
“Elena Morales, will you marry me?”
She stared at him.
Then:
“I have conditions.”
“Of course.”
“Prenup.”
“Yes.”
“Separate ownership of Morales & Moon.”
“Yes.”
“Sophia’s trust remains independent.”
“Yes.”
“No giant society wedding.”
He hesitated.
“How giant is giant?”
“Alexander.”
“Fine.”
“And if you ever secretly buy my company—”
“I will be buried beneath Fifth Avenue.”
“Correct.”
Then she smiled.
“Yes.”
Alexander stared.
“Yes?”
“Yes.”
He kissed her.
Then his phone rang.
Sophia.
Of course.
He answered.
“Did she say yes?”
Elena stared.
“You told her?”
“No.”
Sophia said:
“I know your face.”
“How can you see my face?”
“Maribel is video calling from the next table.”
Alexander turned.
Maribel waved from across the restaurant.
Elena covered her face.
Their wedding took place six months later in the courtyard behind Wonderland’s original workshop.
Thirty-seven guests.
Sophia wore a yellow dress and carried no flowers because she said petals were “wasteful.”
Before the ceremony, she pulled Alexander aside.
“I have something.”
She handed him the crumpled twenty-dollar bill.
The same one.
He stared.
“You kept this?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I was saving it.”
“For what?”
She smiled.
“To pay you.”
Alexander almost cried.
“Sophia—”
She laughed.
“I know dads are free.”
Then she became serious.
“This is my rule.”
“What rule?”
“If you marry Mom, you have to keep it.”
The twenty dollars?
“Yes.”
“And if you ever forget how we met, look at it.”
Alexander swallowed.
“What am I supposed to remember?”
“That kids shouldn't have to buy people.”
He nodded.
“Anything else?”
“Don't be mean when you’re rich.”
He laughed through tears.
“Anything else?”
She hugged him.
“Stay.”
Alexander held her.
“I’ll do my best.”
Sophia pulled back.
“No.”
His heart tightened.
“What?”
“Say it right.”
He understood.
Not impossible forever-promises.
Truth.
“I will keep choosing to stay.”
She nodded.
“Better.”
At the ceremony, Elena carried Mateo’s photograph inside a small locket attached to her bouquet.
Alexander never asked her to remove him from the day.
Why would he?
Love did not require historical demolition.
After the vows, Sophia stood between them for photographs.
A reporter outside tried to ask whether this was “the fairy-tale ending to the homeless girl story.”
Alexander stopped.
Elena tensed.
He answered:
“No.”
The reporter blinked.
“What?”
“This is a wedding.”
He looked toward Sophia.
“Not a marketing campaign.”
May you like
Then they went inside.
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