Chapter 9 - THE CHOICE
Six months later, Adrien stood before a courtroom and announced something nobody expected.
He was restructuring Blackwood Holdings.
The criminal assets would be surrendered.
Illegal partnerships would be terminated.
The company would focus exclusively on legitimate development, hospitality, technology, and affordable housing.
Reporters asked why.
Adrien gave one answer.
“Because wealth means nothing if you can't live with yourself.”
Claire watched from the back of the room.
When he finished, he walked directly toward her.
“How did I do?”
She smiled.
“You survived.”
“High praise.”
She laughed.
Their relationship had changed.
There were no secrets now.
No hidden meetings.
No anonymous photographs.
No fear.
Adrien had even learned to cook.
Badly.
Very badly.
One Saturday morning, Claire entered the kitchen and found smoke everywhere.
“What happened?”
Adrien stood beside a frying pan.
“Breakfast.”
“That is not breakfast.”
“It was supposed to be.”
She laughed until she cried.
He stared at her.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“What?”
“You're happy.”
Adrien went quiet.
“I am.”
She walked toward him.
“Do you remember the first night?”
“The forty-seven dollars?”
“Yes.”
“I'll never forget it.”
“You were so angry.”
“I was humiliated.”
“You looked like you wanted to buy the entire restaurant just to prove you could.”
“I did buy the restaurant.”
Claire stared.
“You what?”
Adrien smiled.
“I still own it.”
She punched his shoulder.
“You're impossible.”
He caught her hand.
“But you love me.”
She smiled.
“Yes.”
The word seemed to stop time.
Adrien's expression softened.
“Say it again.”
“No.”
“Claire.”
“You heard me.”
“I want to hear it again.”
She leaned closer.
“I love you.”
He kissed her forehead.
Then he reached into his pocket.
Claire frowned.
“What is that?”
“A receipt.”
She unfolded it.
The restaurant.
One dinner.
Forty-seven dollars.
Underneath, Adrien had written:
The best money I ever owed.
Claire's eyes filled with tears.
“You kept the receipt?”
“For six months.”
“Why?”
“Because it reminds me that the most valuable thing in my life cost forty-seven dollars.”
She looked at him.
“No.”
May you like
He smiled.
“You.”
