Chapter 9 - A New Light
Six months later, the Caldwell estate was unrecognizable.
The dark, heavy curtains had been completely removed.
Sunlight poured through every single window.
The silence that used to suffocate the halls was gone.
It was replaced by the loud, joyous sound of a little boy running.
Noah still wore small braces on his ankles to help his balance.
But the wheelchair had been locked away in the basement forever.
Margaret Hargrove had been sentenced to twenty years in federal prison.
Dr. Vance had lost his medical license and was facing an identical sentence.
Ethan did not care about them anymore.
His entire world was completely focused on the beautiful woman sitting across the dining table.
Claire was reading a book, her dark hair falling softly across her shoulders.
Ethan poured two glasses of wine.
He walked over and set a glass down next to her.
She looked up and smiled.
“He has been asleep for an hour,” she said softly.
“I know,” Ethan replied.
He pulled out a chair and sat directly next to her.
He took her hand.
“I have been thinking about the day you applied for the job.”
Claire laughed lightly.
“The day I lied on my resume?”
“The day you walked into my dark house and completely changed my entire universe.”
He reached into his pocket.
He pulled out a small, incredibly delicate velvet box.
Claire stopped breathing.
Her eyes went wide.
“Ethan.”
He opened the box.
Inside rested a brilliant, flawless diamond ring.
“I spent seven years living in absolute darkness,” Ethan whispered.
“You brought the light back.”
“You gave my son his life.”
“And you gave me my heart back.”
“Marry me, Claire.”
Tears spilled completely over her eyelashes.
She didn't need to think about the answer.
She had loved him since the moment they fought side by side to save Noah.
“Yes,” she sobbed happily.
“Yes, I will marry you.”
May you like
He pulled her into his lap.
He kissed her deeply, a promise of forever sealed in the quiet warmth of their home.
