Chapter 17 - THE HOUSE OF LIGHT Months passed.
The mansion no longer felt like a fortress.
It felt like a home.
Harper graduated from nursing school.
Noah celebrated by throwing a ridiculous amount of confetti across the kitchen.
Marcus complained.
Mrs. Morrison pretended to be furious.
Gabriel stood in the doorway watching Harper laugh.
She looked happy.
Not surviving.
Not pretending.
Happy.
That night, Gabriel took her to the balcony.
Boston glittered beneath them.
"I have something for you."
He opened a small velvet box.
Harper's breath caught.
Inside was an antique diamond ring.
"I built an empire because I was afraid of losing everything," he said.
She cried.
"But then I met you."
He took her hand.
"And I realized the only thing worth building is a life."
He slipped the ring onto her finger.
May you like
Harper whispered:
"Yes."
