Chapter 8 - THE DINNER THAT LEFT THE DUKE FAMILY SPEECHLESSSix months after Claire officially became Roman's girlfriend, Susan organized another family dinner.
Claire should have been suspicious.
Susan was unusually cheerful.
Lily was hiding something.
Roman was strangely quiet.
Margaret kept smiling at Claire.
“What is happening?”
“Nothing,” Roman said.
“Your entire family looks guilty.”
“We often do.”
“Crime family joke?”
“Technically.”
Claire stared.
Dinner went normally.
Then dessert arrived.
Claire had made chocolate cake.
Susan stood.
“I'd like to say something.”
Roman closed his eyes.
“Aunt Susan.”
“Quiet.”
He obeyed.
Claire almost laughed.
Susan raised her glass.
“A year ago, Roman came to my bakery—”
“Your bakery?” Claire interrupted.
Susan waved.
“Emotionally mine.”
Claire laughed.
Susan continued.
“And told me Claire was his girlfriend.”
Roman corrected:
“You were at her bakery.”
“Details.”
Susan looked at Claire.
“You threw flour at him.”
“Correct.”
“And I knew immediately.”
“Knew what?”
“That you were perfect.”
Roman sighed.
Claire smiled.
Then Susan's expression became emotional.
“You didn't just make Roman happier.”
She looked at Lily.
“You helped bring this family back together.”
Claire's throat tightened.
Margaret stood.
“I agree.”
Then Lily.
“Me too.”
Claire looked at Roman.
“Did you arrange this?”
“No.”
For once, she believed him.
Then Lily walked toward Claire carrying something.
Not flowers.
Not jewelry.
A folder.
Claire frowned.
“What is that?”
Lily handed it over.
Inside were legal documents.
Claire's stomach dropped.
“Roman.”
“Read.”
She did.
The Duke family owned the building beside Claire's bakery.
Had owned it for decades.
Roman had transferred it.
Not to Claire.
To a charitable trust.
The building would become a culinary training center for young people leaving foster care.
Claire stared.
“What?”
Roman explained.
“You told me once that you wanted to teach.”
Claire remembered.
Months earlier.
One conversation.
She had forgotten.
He hadn't.
“The trust is independent,” Roman said. “You don't own it. I don't own it.”
Claire continued reading.
“You funded it?”
“Partly.”
She looked at him suspiciously.
“Normal donor level?”
“No.”
“Roman.”
Susan laughed.
Roman continued.
“The board controls it.”
“Who is on the board?”
Roman smiled.
“You.”
Claire froze.
“And four independent directors.”
“You built me a school?”
“No.”
He shook his head.
“I funded the possibility.”
Her eyes filled.
“You decide what it becomes.”
That distinction mattered.
He hadn't bought her a dream.
He had opened a door and left her in control of whether she walked through it.
Claire looked around the table.
Everyone was watching.
Then Roman stood.
He reached into his jacket.
Claire immediately shouted:
“No.”
Everyone burst out laughing.
Roman stopped.
“What?”
“If that's a ring, I swear—”
“It isn't.”
Claire narrowed her eyes.
Roman removed a small white card.
He handed it to her.
She opened it.
One sentence.
I have another proposal. No compensation involved.
Claire laughed so hard she cried.
Roman took her hand.
“Claire Bennett.”
The family became silent.
Roman lowered himself onto one knee.
Claire stopped laughing.
“Oh, you liar.”
“I said the card wasn't a ring.”
He removed the ring from his pocket.
Susan gasped.
Lily covered her mouth.
Roman looked up at Claire.
“The first time I called you my girlfriend, it was a lie.”
Claire's eyes filled.
“The second time, it was hope.”
Her hand trembled.
“And every day since you've actually been mine—”
Claire raised an eyebrow.
Roman corrected immediately.
“Since you've voluntarily chosen to associate with me.”
Everyone laughed.
“Better.”
Roman smiled.
“You've made my life louder, harder, less predictable, and infinitely better.”
Claire began crying.
“You taught me that no means no.”
Susan whispered:
“Eventually.”
Roman ignored her.
“That protection isn't ownership.”
Margaret lowered her eyes.
“That family isn't built by fear.”
He looked toward Lily.
Then back at Claire.
“And that the strongest woman I've ever met doesn't need me to rescue her.”
His voice softened.
“She just lets me stand beside her.”
Claire covered her mouth.
“Will you marry me?”
She looked around.
Lily crying.
Susan crying.
Margaret crying.
Two bodyguards pretending not to cry.
Then Claire looked down at Roman.
The man she had once covered in flour.
“Yes.”
Roman stood.
She kissed him.
The entire Duke family erupted.
Then Claire pulled back.
“One condition.”
Roman looked concerned.
“What?”
“No one ever calls me Mrs. Duke at the bakery.”
He smiled.
“Agreed.”
“And no security men behind the counter unless they can pipe frosting.”
Anthony raised his hand.
“I've been practicing.”
Everyone turned.
Claire stared.
“Seriously?”
Anthony shrugged.
“Slow afternoons.”
May you like
Claire laughed.
And for once, the Duke family was speechless for the best possible reason.
