My Ex-Girlfriend’s Older Sister Got Stood Up At An Art Gallery… So I Asked, “Can I Sit with You ?
Chapter 11
The wedding was delayed for nearly a year because of the corporate investigation.
Neither Amelia nor I minded.
We wanted the truth settled first.
During that year, we discovered more about our fathers.
They had built the company together.
They had also created a trust for their children.
The trust contained shares in several companies.
Not just Carter-Harrison Holdings.
The combined value was enormous.
But the rules were simple.
The heirs could keep everything.
Or use the money to rebuild what Victor had damaged.
Amelia chose the second.
So did I.
We created scholarships.
Veteran support programs.
Small-business grants.
Legal assistance for corporate whistleblowers.
Sophie joined the foundation.
Clara retired from the company.
She spent her time painting.
One day, she showed me a portrait.
Me and Amelia.
Standing together.
“You made me look taller,” I said.
She laughed.
“You are taller.”
“Not in real life.”
“Let me have this.”
Amelia entered.
She looked at the painting.
Then at us.
“I love it.”
Clara smiled.
“My daughter finally looks happy.”
Amelia sat beside her.
“I am.”
Later that night, Amelia and I walked through the garden.
“The company is finally stable.”
“Good.”
“Do you miss security work?”
“Sometimes.”
“Will you go back?”
“Maybe part-time.”
She smiled.
“Why?”
“I like protecting people.”
She squeezed my hand.
“You don’t have to protect me.”
“I know.”
“Then why are you always there?”
I looked at her.
“Because I want to be.”
She smiled.
“I think that’s the difference.”
“What?”
“Before, people protected me because they wanted something.”
She looked at me.
“You stay because you want nothing.”
“That’s not true.”
“What do you want?”
I smiled.
“You.”
She laughed.
“That’s one thing.”
“And a dog.”
She burst out laughing.
“Absolutely not.”
“You’ll change your mind.”
“I won’t.”
Three months later, we adopted a golden retriever.
She named him Oliver.
I reminded her of the conversation.
She rolled her eyes.
“Don’t.”
I laughed.
Our life became ordinary.
And that was the most extraordinary part.
