Chapter 18: A Heartbeat Away
The steady beep... beep... beep... of the heart monitor was the most beautiful sound Emily had ever heard in her entire life.
It had been three days since the surgery.
Emily sat beside Leo's bed in the sunlit recovery room of the Vance estate’s private medical wing. The pale, sickly complexion that had haunted her brother for years was gone. There was a flush of healthy pink in his cheeks.
Leo slowly opened his eyes, blinking against the sunlight. He looked at Emily and offered a weak, tired smile. "Hey, Em."
"Hey, buddy," Emily choked out, tears of pure joy spilling down her cheeks. She gently kissed his forehead. "You did so great. You're going to be completely fine now."
"Does this mean I don't have to eat hospital Jell-O anymore?" Leo mumbled sleepily.
"You can have whatever you want," Daniel said, walking into the room. He was dressed casually in dark jeans and a fitted gray sweater, looking more relaxed than Emily had ever seen him. "I have a five-star private chef waiting to make you literally anything on earth."
Leo grinned, his eyes fluttering shut as the pain medication pulled him back to sleep. "Pizza... please."
Emily laughed softly, brushing her brother's hair back. She stood up and walked over to Daniel, wrapping her arms around his waist and resting her head against his chest.
"Thank you," Emily whispered. "For everything. You saved us."
"You saved yourselves," Daniel murmured, resting his chin on top of her head. "I just provided the backup."
He gently pulled away, taking her hand and leading her out of the room so Leo could rest. They walked out onto the grand stone balcony overlooking the sprawling, manicured gardens of the estate. The afternoon sun cast a golden glow over the world.
"Arthur is back in federal lockup," Daniel told her quietly. "He woke up from surgery screaming for his lawyers. When they explained the morality clause my grandmother slipped in... they say he nearly had a stroke. He's facing life without parole. He will never hurt you again."
Emily looked out at the horizon, letting the cool breeze wash over her. "And Vanessa? Marcus?"
"Awaiting trial. They'll both serve decades for the conspiracy against Leo. The Rossi cartel is dismantled. It's really over, Emily."
Emily looked down at her hands. "So... the contract is fulfilled. I'm safe. Leo is safe."
"The contract," Daniel repeated, his voice suddenly thick with emotion. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the folded, original piece of paper Emily had signed all those weeks ago—the two-million-dollar fake engagement agreement.
Daniel held it up, and then, slowly and deliberately, he tore the contract in half. Then into quarters. He let the pieces flutter away into the wind.
"I don't want a fake fiancé anymore, Emily," Daniel said, his gray eyes locking onto hers with burning intensity.
He took a step back and slowly dropped to one knee on the stone balcony.
Emily gasped, her hands flying to her mouth.
Daniel reached into his pocket and pulled out a small velvet box. He flipped it open, revealing a breathtaking, flawless diamond ring that sparkled like a fallen star in the sunlight.
"Emily Sinclair," Daniel said, his voice entirely steady but filled with absolute devotion. "You walked into my life and turned my entire world upside down. You are the bravest, fiercest, most beautiful woman I have ever known. I don't want to spend another day pretending. I want it all to be real. Will you marry me?"
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Emily didn't hesitate. She threw herself into his arms, pulling him up from his knee and kissing him with everything she had.
"Yes," she sobbed happily against his lips. "Yes, completely real. Always real."
