Chapter 9 - The Woman He Chose in Public
Marriage counseling was awful.
Serena loved it.
Matthias hated it.
Which made Serena love it slightly more.
Their therapist, Dr. Maya Bennett, was unimpressed by money, reputation, or Matthias’s ability to intimidate boardrooms.
“You lie by omission,” she told him during their third session.
“I protect information.”
“That is a very expensive phrase for lying.”
Serena laughed so suddenly she snorted.
Matthias looked betrayed.
“You’re enjoying this.”
“Immensely.”
But the sessions became harder.
Matthias admitted that Fiona’s attention had flattered him.
Serena admitted she had spent years minimizing her needs because she feared being seen as difficult by his family.
They discussed his father.
Her work.
Money.
Power.
The baby.
Trust.
And the hotel.
Especially the hotel.
“I did not sleep with Fiona,” Matthias said.
Serena nodded.
“I believe you now.”
Relief crossed his face.
“But emotional betrayal doesn’t require sex.”
His relief disappeared.
“I know.”
“That is what I need you to understand.”
“I do.”
Months passed.
Trust returned slowly.
Not as innocence.
As evidence.
Matthias told Serena where he was going without being asked.
He stopped making decisions for her.
He never accessed her phone.
Never questioned male coworkers.
Never used security as an excuse to control her.
Serena returned to St. Catherine part-time.
Matthias became the primary parent on her night shifts.
The first time Serena came home at 7:00 a.m., she found him asleep on the sofa with Lily sprawled across his chest and a parenting book open on the floor.
She took a photograph.
Later, she made it his phone wallpaper.
He pretended to object.
By autumn, the Dre Group had been dismantled and restructured.
Illegal subsidiaries were liquidated.
Victims of the construction accident received compensation.
Eleanor established a foundation for the workers’ families.
Charles accepted a plea agreement that would keep him in federal prison for years.
Dominic Hensley went to trial.
Fiona testified.
So did Matthias.
When reporters asked about the scandal, Matthias refused to present himself as a hero.
“I benefited from a system I should have questioned earlier,” he said. “Cooperating after the damage does not erase that.”
Serena watched the interview from home.
That sentence mattered.
The old Matthias would have rewritten history.
The new one was learning to live with it.
In December, an invitation arrived.
Christmas at Eleanor’s house.
Serena stared at it.
“One year.”
Matthias stood behind her.
“We don’t have to go.”
“I want to.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes.”
This Christmas looked different.
Twenty people instead of sixty.
No investors.
No politicians.
No strategic guests.
Children ran between furniture.
Eleanor cooked badly.
Roman arrived carrying a bottle of wine and three presents for Lily despite insisting he disliked children.
Fiona did not attend.
But she sent Serena a letter.
Serena read it privately.
Fiona apologized without excuses.
She had accepted a job in Seattle after the trial.
Daniel was recovering.
Serena wrote back two words.
Be well.
That was enough.
Dinner began at seven.
Serena wore dark green.
Lily wore red.
Matthias wore the sweater Serena had bought him even though he claimed it made him look “domesticated.”
“That’s the point,” she said.
After dessert, Matthias stood.
Serena immediately became suspicious.
“What are you doing?”
“Nothing dramatic.”
Roman coughed.
Matthias glared.
Then he looked at Serena.
A year earlier, he had brought Fiona through those doors and expected Serena to tolerate humiliation quietly.
Tonight he crossed the room alone.
He stopped in front of his wife.
“I need to say something.”
Serena’s heart accelerated.
Matthias looked around the room.
“My entire life, I was taught that private feelings should remain private.”
Roman muttered, “This is going to be long.”
Eleanor elbowed him.
Matthias continued.
“That philosophy nearly cost me everything.”
He looked at Serena.
“So I want this part said where everyone can hear it.”
Serena’s eyes filled.
“My wife saved my life long before anyone fired a weapon.”
He took her hand.
“She did it by refusing to let me become comfortable as the worst version of myself.”
Serena whispered, “Matthias.”
“I’m not proposing. We’re already married.”
Laughter moved through the room.
“I’m also not asking her to forgive me publicly.”
His thumb brushed her wedding ring.
“I just want everyone who watched me disrespect her last Christmas to watch me say this one thing clearly.”
He looked directly into her eyes.
“I choose Serena.”
Silence.
“Not because she is my wife. Not because she is Lily’s mother. Not because she stayed.”
His voice roughened.
“I choose her because she is the bravest, most infuriating, compassionate person I know.”
Serena cried.
Matthias smiled.
“And because she taught me that being chosen means nothing if the other person was never free to leave.”
Roman looked suspiciously interested in the ceiling.
Serena stepped forward.
She kissed her husband.
Not because an audience was watching.
Because she wanted to.
Later, after everyone left, they stood beside the same fireplace where their marriage had nearly ended.
Matthias touched her cheek.
“Are we okay?”
Serena considered.
“No.”
He blinked.
She smiled.
“We’re better than okay.”
Then Lily began screaming upstairs.
Serena laughed.
“Your daughter.”
“Our daughter.”
“She wants you.”
“How do you know?”
“Trauma nurse intuition.”
Matthias started upstairs.
His phone rang.
He glanced at the screen.
Unknown number.
He answered.
His expression changed.
Serena’s smile disappeared.
“What?”
Matthias lowered the phone.
“That was the federal prosecutor.”
“About Hensley?”
“No.”
He looked stunned.
“My father.”
Serena’s stomach tightened.
“What happened?”
Matthias swallowed.
“He wants to see me.”
“Why?”
May you like
Matthias looked toward the dark windows.
“Because he says Hensley wasn’t the person who ordered the hit last Christmas.”
