Chapter 14 - THE QUESTION I WAS AFRAID TO ASK
A year after the first gala, Leandro and I were sitting beside the lake.
The sun was setting.
The water glowed gold.
He looked peaceful.
For the first time since I'd met him, he seemed comfortable in his own skin.
I watched him for a moment.
Then asked:
“Do you ever regret meeting me?”
He turned.
“What?”
I swallowed.
“Everything that happened. The investigation. The scandal. The danger.”
He stared.
Then laughed softly.
“Clare.”
I looked away.
He took my hand.
“Meeting you was the first good thing that happened to me in years.”
My eyes filled.
He continued.
“You didn't save me.”
I looked at him.
He smiled.
“You reminded me I was still capable of living.”
I squeezed his hand.
“And you reminded me I deserved to be seen.”
We sat quietly.
Then Leandro reached into his pocket.
My breath caught.
“Leandro?”
He smiled nervously.
“I've been carrying this for three weeks.”
He opened a small velvet box.
Inside was a diamond ring.
“Clare Donnelly.”
My eyes filled.
He continued.
“I don't want a perfect life.”
His voice trembled.
“I want a real one.”
He smiled.
“With you.”
I began crying.
“Will you marry me?”
For a moment, I couldn't speak.
Then I laughed through tears.
“Yes.”
Leandro blinked.
“Yes?”
I nodded.
“Yes, you stubborn man.”
He laughed.
Then kissed me.
May you like
And for the first time in my life, I didn't feel like someone had chosen me despite my body.
I felt chosen because I was myself.
