Chapter 14 - THE QUESTION BENEATH THE CHICAGO SKY
Three years after the restaurant incident, Adrian took me to dinner.
Not at The Linden Room.
At a small Italian place near the lake.
He wore a dark blue suit.
I wore a simple green dress.
We talked about work.
My mother.
Mrs. Ellis.
Then Adrian became unusually quiet.
I narrowed my eyes.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"Adrian."
He smiled.
"You notice everything."
"I learned from the best."
He laughed.
Then reached into his pocket.
My heart stopped.
He placed a small velvet box on the table.
"Sophie Carter."
I covered my mouth.
He opened it.
Inside was a simple diamond ring.
Elegant.
Beautiful.
Adrian took a breath.
"The first time we met, you told me power was worthless if it didn't help someone."
My eyes filled.
"I thought you were reckless."
I laughed through tears.
"You weren't entirely wrong."
He smiled.
"But you were brave."
His voice softened.
"And you changed the way I saw everything."
I swallowed.
Adrian continued.
"I can't erase my past."
He looked directly at me.
"But I can keep choosing a better future."
Tears slipped down my cheeks.
"Will you marry me?"
I smiled.
"Yes."
He exhaled.
Then laughed.
I leaned forward and kissed him.
May you like
And for the first time in my life, I understood that love wasn't someone rescuing me.
It was two people choosing to grow together.
