Chapter 8 - Gabriel Asked Me to Leave His World—But I Chose to Stay
One morning, Gabriel handed me an apartment key.
“What is this?”
“Your own place.”
I frowned.
“I thought we lived together.”
“We do.”
“Then why?”
“Because I don't want you to stay because you feel trapped.”
My heart softened.
He had spent years controlling every part of his world.
But with me, he was learning to let go.
I hugged him.
“I don't need another place.”
“Then what do you need?”
“You.”
He kissed me.
Months passed.
Our lives became ordinary.
Beautifully ordinary.
I worked at the hospital.
Gabriel ran legitimate businesses.
His mother visited often.
My mother finally stopped apologizing for everything.
My sister got married.
For the first time, holidays felt safe.
Then Gabriel proposed.
No reporters.
No giant party.
Just the two of us at Laurel Corner Café.
He placed the ring beside a bowl of soup.
I laughed.
“Seriously?”
He smiled.
“This is where everything started.”
“You mean the day I fed your mom.”
“Yes.”
He took my hand.
“You thought you were helping a stranger.”
“I was.”
“You changed my life.”
“You changed mine.”
He knelt.
“Emily Carter, will you marry me?”
I cried.
“Yes.”
The wedding was small.
Family.
Friends.
No criminals.
No weapons.
No secrets.
My mother walked me down the aisle.
Gabriel looked at me like I was the only person in the room.
After the ceremony, his mother hugged me.
“You saved my son.”
I smiled.
“No.”
May you like
She shook her head.
“You reminded him who he could be.”
