Chapter 9 - THE MAN WHO COULD BUY ANYTHING ASKED FOR SOMETHING FREE
Two years after Marin first entered the Vain mansion, Cassius sold the last major business connected to the violent side of his family’s old empire.
Not every rumor disappeared.
Not every associate forgave him.
But Vain Holdings became what public filings increasingly showed:
Logistics.
Commercial real estate.
Hospitality.
Security technology.
Legal businesses under independent oversight.
Cassius remained wealthy.
Very.
Still intimidating.
Still capable of making a boardroom go silent by looking at someone too long.
Marin worked at St. Agnes.
Promoted after eighteen months.
Laya finished cardiac rehabilitation and enrolled in graduate school for social work.
Edith declined gradually.
Dementia does not negotiate with happy endings.
But she lived at home.
Comfortable.
Surrounded by people she recognized when memory allowed.
On one spring afternoon, Marin sat with her beside the lake.
Edith looked at her.
Not Celia.
Marin.
“I know who you are today.”
Marin smiled through tears.
“Good.”
“My son loves you.”
Marin laughed.
“Subtle.”
Edith smiled.
“He was never subtle.”
No.
Then:
“Are you going to marry him?”
Marin nearly choked.
“Mrs. Vain.”
“Edith.”
“Edith.”
The old woman patted her hand.
“Don’t marry the house.”
Marin went still.
“What?”
“Marry him.”
Then:
“Make sure he knows the difference.”
That evening, Marin told Cassius.
He became quiet.
“My mother said that?”
“Yes.”
“She likes you better than me.”
“Correct.”
Then Cassius did something unusual.
He wheeled himself away.
Marin stared.
“Where are you going?”
“Bedroom.”
“Why?”
“Because something I planned for next month now feels embarrassingly late.”
She narrowed her eyes.
“Cassius.”
He ignored her.
Twenty minutes later he returned.
No orchestra.
No photographers.
No servants lined up.
A small box sat on his lap.
Marin covered her face.
“You cannot be serious.”
“I am unfortunately very serious.”
“Your mother manipulated you.”
“Yes.”
“Good to know.”
He opened the box.
The ring was old.
Not enormous.
Beautiful.
“It belonged to Adriana.”
Marin went completely still.
“No.”
Cassius immediately closed the box.
“Okay.”
She blinked.
“That’s it?”
“You said no.”
“No, idiot.”
He frowned.
“I mean I cannot wear your dead wife’s ring.”
Understanding.
Then, slowly, Cassius laughed.
“Oh.”
“Yes. Oh.”
“I thought—”
“I know what you thought.”
He looked embarrassed.
Remarkable.
Marin sat beside him.
“Why that ring?”
“Because it matters to me.”
“I know.”
“And that is why it should remain hers.”
Cassius looked at the box.
Then nodded.
“You’re right.”
He put it away.
Marin leaned over.
“Kiss me before this becomes unbearable.”
He did.
A week later, they chose a ring together.
Smaller.
New.
The proposal happened in the kitchen.
Anton furious because they were blocking the stove.
Cassius asked:
“Marin Holloway, will you marry me?”
She looked at the man who once believed asking and ordering were nearly the same thing.
Then:
“Yes.”
Anton shouted:
“Move first, celebrate later!”
May you like
Romance in the Vain household.
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