Chapter 9 - THE MAN WITHOUT THE KANE EMPIRE
Three years after the hallway incident, Adrian Kane was no longer the most feared mafia boss in Manhattan.
Some newspapers still called him that.
History sticks.
But the organization that had made his name dangerous had fractured.
Vincent imprisoned.
Old operations dismantled.
Illegal income streams forfeited or prosecuted.
Legitimate Kane Holdings restructured under independent leadership.
Adrian remained wealthy.
Very wealthy.
But wealth and unchecked power are not the same thing.
He spent more time as Noah's father.
Less as everyone's problem.
One Tuesday afternoon, he sat across from me in my office at Croft & Bell.
“I need advice.”
“Billable?”
He smiled.
“You're ruthless.”
“What?”
“I'm considering selling the remaining logistics division.”
“Why?”
“I don't want Noah inheriting something simply because my surname is on it.”
That was growth I could measure.
“What does he want?”
“He's eight.”
“He probably wants dinosaurs.”
“Space.”
“Then perhaps don't burden him with intermodal freight.”
Adrian laughed.
We discussed sale terms.
Then he became suspiciously quiet.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“Adrian.”
He reached into his jacket.
I froze.
“If that's a ring, I will throw you out of my office.”
He stared.
“Why?”
“Because you do not propose where I work.”
He slowly removed—
a pen.
I covered my face.
He laughed until someone outside my office asked whether everything was okay.
Two months later, he proposed at home.
No restaurant.
No security staff.
No audience.
Noah was at Miriam's house.
Adrian cooked dinner badly.
Then stood in the kitchen.
“I had a speech.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“You become unbearable with speeches.”
“Fair.”
He took a small box from the drawer.
This time it was actually a ring.
“Evelyn Hart.”
I stared.
“I loved Sophia.”
“I know.”
“I will always love her.”
“I know.”
“I love Noah more than anything.”
“I know.”
“And I love you without needing you to become either of them.”
My eyes filled.
Good speech despite himself.
He continued:
“I don't need someone to save me from who I was.”
Pause.
“I want someone who knows exactly who I am now and is still free to say no.”
He opened the box.
“Would you like to marry me?”
Not:
Will you become Noah's mother?
Not:
Will you complete our family?
Would you like to?
“Yes.”
He exhaled.
“Thank God.”
I laughed.
Then:
“Prenup.”
He blinked.
“What?”
“I want one.”
“Okay.”
“You have family trusts. I have my career. Noah needs estate clarity.”
“Okay.”
“No offense?”
He smiled.
“Evelyn, after my family history, I want contracts for breakfast.”
May you like
Excellent answer.
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