Chapter 18 - The Man Who Finally Let Her Choose
Six months later, Corrine still worked at Butler Holdings.
But not as Louis’s assistant.
She had accepted a new position overseeing an employee protection and ethics program created after the investigation.
Her office was three floors below his.
Louis complained about the distance.
Corrine ignored him.
Victor awaited trial.
Dawson had pleaded guilty to assault, extortion-related offenses, and conspiracy charges.
Evelyn remained with the company after cooperating with investigators.
Marcus recovered.
And Butler Holdings survived.
More importantly, so did Corrine.
Some nights were still difficult.
A sudden phone call could make her heart race.
A man raising his voice in a restaurant could bring back memories.
Healing wasn’t a dramatic transformation.
It was hundreds of ordinary mornings when fear no longer made the first decision.
Louis understood that.
He never asked why she wasn’t “over it.”
He never treated her like glass.
One Friday evening, he asked her to dinner.
Corrine narrowed her eyes.
“You’re behaving strangely.”
“I’m always strange.”
“More than usual.”
They drove outside the city.
Louis stopped beside a small house overlooking a lake.
Corrine frowned.
“What is this?”
“My mother’s house.”
He had never brought anyone there.
Inside, almost nothing had changed.
Photographs.
Books.
An old piano.
Louis led Corrine onto the porch.
Sunset reflected across the water.
Then he reached into his pocket.
Corrine immediately held up one hand.
“If that is a ring, do not kneel.”
Louis stopped.
“Why?”
“Because the last time you announced I was your wife, you forgot to ask me.”
He laughed.
“Fair.”
He remained standing.
Then he opened the box.
The ring was simple.
Elegant.
Nothing like the enormous diamond they had used for their fake marriage.
Louis looked at her.
“The first time I called you my wife, I did it without permission.”
Corrine’s eyes filled.
“The second time, I want your answer first.”
He took a breath.
“Corrine Harris, will you marry me?”
She stared at him.
Louis waited.
He didn’t rush her.
Didn’t interpret her silence.
Didn’t fill it.
He simply waited.
Corrine smiled through tears.
“You’ve improved.”
“Is that a yes?”
“I haven’t decided.”
Louis blinked.
She laughed.
Then kissed him.
“Yes.”
His arms wrapped around her.
“Yes?”
“Yes, Louis.”
He slipped the ring onto her finger.
Corrine looked down at it.
Then back at him.
“One condition.”
“Anything.”
“No secret wedding.”
Louis smiled.
“Agreed.”
“And no press statement before my mother knows.”
“Agreed.”
“And I choose the cake.”
“That seems excessive.”
She hit his arm.
Louis laughed.
Months later, standing in a garden surrounded by people they loved, Corrine walked toward him without fear.
No pretending.
No strategy.
No enemy watching.
When the officiant asked whether she chose Louis Butler, Corrine looked directly into the eyes of the man who had once tried to protect her by speaking for her.
Now he waited for her answer.
“I do.”
And Louis smiled.
But their story still had one final circle to close.
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Because after the wedding, Corrine asked him to take her back to the place where their greatest lie had begun.
The parking garage.
