Chapter 10 - A NEW DAWN
Adrian froze, his eyes snapping back to mine, wide with disbelief.
“Evelyn,” he whispered, his voice shaking. “You don't owe me anything. Our deal was a transaction. You
helped me destroy the people who ruined my family. You deserve a fresh start, without the shadow of my past.”
“I’m not staying out of obligation, Adrian,” I said, reaching up and gently placing my hands on his chest,
feeling the rapid, heavy beat of his heart. “For twenty-six years, I lived in a world where everyone had a price tag.
You are the only person who ever looked at me and saw someone worth fighting for. You didn't just give me my
freedom. You gave me a partner.”
A slow, breathtaking smile broke across Adrian’s face—a smile entirely free of the bitterness and anger that
had defined him for a decade. He wrapped his powerful arms around my waist, pulling me flush against his chest.
“I spent ten years thinking about nothing but tearing things down,” he murmured, his blue eyes burning with
a warmth that made my soul sing. “I never thought about what I would build once the dust settled. Let me build a
life with you, Evelyn. A real one. No masks. No secrets.”
“No masks,” I agreed, a tear of pure joy slipping down my cheek.
He leaned down and kissed me—a deep, passionate, and desperate promise of a future we would create
together.
Three years later.
The Portside Marina development was finally complete. The waterfront plaza was alive with the sound of
laughing families, live music, and the gentle lapping of the bay. In the center of the plaza stood a beautiful bronze
statue of Arthur Cross, dedicated to his memory as an honest builder who loved his city.
I stood on the balcony of the new Cross Enterprises headquarters, looking out over the water. I wore a
simple, elegant white summer dress, my hair blowing gently in the sea breeze.
Adrian walked out to join me, wearing a relaxed linen shirt. He slipped his arms around my waist from
behind, resting his chin on my shoulder.
“The opening ceremony was a success,” he whispered, kissing the side of my neck. “Your forensic
accounting report on the city's infrastructure funds saved us three million in tax write-offs, by the way. I married a
genius.”
“You married your match,” I corrected him, turning in his arms and smiling up at him.
U N M A S K E D R E V E N G E
23
My father and Marcus were still serving their sentences in a federal penitentiary, their names forgotten by the
city they had tried to exploit. My mother lived quietly in a small cottage upstate, funded by a modest monthly
allowance I sent her—enough to keep her comfortable, but not enough to buy influence. I had closed that chapter of
my life, leaving the toxicity behind.
Adrian reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, velvet box. He opened it to reveal a simple, elegant
platinum band set with a single, brilliant sapphire that matched the color of his eyes.
“We had a wedding three years ago,” Adrian said, his voice dropping into a soft, emotional register. “But it
was a farce. It was a deal made in the dark. Today, Evelyn, under the sun, with no masks and no debts, I want to ask
you a real question.”
He looked into my eyes, his soul completely bare. “Will you marry me? For real this time?”
I smiled, my eyes blinking back tears of pure happiness as I held out my hand.
“Yes, Adrian,” I whispered. “A thousand times, yes.”
As he slipped the ring onto my finger and pulled me into a kiss, the sun broke through the clouds,
May you like
illuminating the harbor in a brilliant, golden light. The shadows of our past were gone, and before us lay a blank
canvas, waiting for us to paint our new beginning.
