The doorbell rang at 6 PM, two days before we were set to leave for Bora Bora.
I was in the bedroom packing or attempting to pack, since I kept getting distracted by Adrian suggesting I didn't need quite so many clothes for a tropical island.
"We're going for two weeks, not two days," I protested.
"And we'll spend most of that time in swimsuits. Or less." His grin was wicked.
"Adrian Blackwood, are you suggesting"
The doorbell cut me off. We both froze.
"Expecting someone?" Adrian asked.
"No. You?"
"No." He moved to the window, looked down at the driveway. His expression shifted to surprise. "It's your father."
My stomach clenched. "What's he doing here?"
"Only one way to find out." Adrian headed for the door. "Want me to send him away?"
Part of me wanted to say yes. My father and I had been rebuilding slowly, carefully, but we weren't close. Not yet. Maybe not ever.
But he'd come all this way.
"No. I'll see him."
We went downstairs together. Margaret had already let my father into the foyer. He stood there looking uncomfortable, holding a wrapped package.
"Sophia." He smiled tentatively. "Adrian. I hope I'm not intruding."
"Dad. What are you doing here?"
"I wanted to see you before your honeymoon. And I brought you something." He held out the package. "A wedding gift. I know I already gave you something at the wedding, but this... this is different."
I took it, surprised by how light it was. "You didn't have to"
"Please. Open it."
I unwrapped it carefully. Inside was a photo album, leather-bound and clearly old. I opened it to the first page and my breath caught.
My mother. Young, laughing, standing in front of a house I didn't recognize.
"That's her college apartment," my father said quietly. "Before we were married."
I turned the page. More photos of my mother at graduation, at her first job, at various parties and gatherings. Photos I'd never seen before.
"Where did you get these?"
"They were in storage. Your mother's things, from before we married. After she died, I couldn't look at them. It hurt too much. So I boxed everything up and put it away." He moved closer. "But after the trial, after everything came out about Miranda and Vivian, I realized I'd been running from her memory. Trying to replace her instead of honoring her."
I turned another page. A photo of my mother holding a baby me, probably a few months old.
"She loved you so much," my father continued, voice thick. "From the moment you were born, you were her whole world. She had plans for you, dreams. She wanted you to be strong, independent, fearless. Everything she was."
Tears blurred my vision. "I wish I remembered her better. I was only thirteen when she died."
"You were. But Sophia.." he gestured at the album, "..you became exactly what she hoped you'd be. Despite everything Miranda and Vivian did. Despite Ethan. You're strong, you're successful, you found someone who loves you the way you deserve. Your mother would be so proud."
The tears spilled over. Adrian's arm went around my waist, steadying me.
"Thank you," I whispered. "This is thank you."
"There's something else." My father reached into his jacket, pulled out an envelope. "From me. Not a physical gift, but something I think is even more important."
I opened it. Inside was a legal document. I scanned it quickly, not understanding at first, then.
"You're transferring Mother's company back to me?"
"It should have always been yours. Miranda manipulated me into giving her control after your mother died, and then she and Vivian systematically stole from it. But I've been working with lawyers for months now. Untangling everything, removing their names, restoring it to what your mother intended." He smiled. "It's yours, Sophia. Free and clear. The company, the patents, all of it. Your inheritance, as it should have been from the start."
I couldn't speak. The company was worth millions. And more than that it was my mother's legacy.
"Dad, I don't know what to say."
"Say you'll forgive me. For being weak. For choosing Miranda over you. For not protecting you the way I should have." His voice broke. "I failed you, Sophia. And your mother. But I want to do better. I want to be the father I should have been all along."
I looked at Adrian. He nodded slightly your choice.
I set down the album and documents, then stepped forward and hugged my father.
He stiffened in surprise, then wrapped his arms around me tight.
"I forgive you," I said against his shoulder. "It's not easy. And it's going to take time to rebuild trust. But I forgive you."
"Thank you." He pulled back, wiping his eyes. "That's more than I deserve."
"Probably," I agreed, but I smiled. "But you're my father. And you're trying. That counts for something."
"I am. I'm trying." He looked at Adrian. "Thank you. For making her happy. For protecting her when I couldn't."
"Always," Adrian said simply.
"Well." My father cleared his throat awkwardly. "I should let you finish packing. You have a honeymoon to get to."
"Stay for dinner," I heard myself say. "We're not leaving until the day after tomorrow. Stay. Have dinner with us."
My father's face lit up. "I'd like that. Thank you."
Dinner was surprisingly pleasant.
My father told stories about my mother I'd never heard how they met, their first date, the day I was born. Margaret outdid herself with the meal, and even Adrian seemed to relax, joining in the conversation.
"Your mother was terrified of flying," my father said, laughing. "We went to Hawaii for our honeymoon and she white-knuckled the entire flight. But she refused to let fear stop her from living. That's the kind of person she was."
"I didn't know that," I said. "About her being afraid of flying."
"She had a lot of fears. Heights, deep water, losing the people she loved." His expression turned sad. "But she faced them all. That's what made her brave not the absence of fear, but doing things anyway."
"Like Sophia," Adrian said, squeezing my hand under the table.
"Yes. Exactly like Sophia." My father smiled at me. "You're so much like her. Sometimes when you laugh, I hear her. It used to hurt, after she died. Now I'm grateful for it."
After dinner, my father prepared to leave.
"Thank you for coming," I said at the door. "And for the gifts. All of them."
"Thank you for forgiving me. For giving me another chance." He hugged me again. "Have a wonderful honeymoon. You've earned it."
"We will."
After he left, I carried the photo album upstairs. Adrian followed.
"You okay?" he asked.
"Yeah. I think I am." I set the album on the nightstand, ran my fingers over the cover. "It's strange. A month ago, I was so angry at him. Now..."
"Now you're healing. That's allowed."
"Is it? After everything"
"Yes." He pulled me close. "Sophia, holding onto anger doesn't hurt the people who wronged you. It hurts you. Your father is trying to make amends. You're letting him. That's not weakness. That's growth."
"When did you get so wise?"
"I've always been wise. You just didn't notice because you were distracted by my good looks."
I laughed, swatted his chest. "Insufferable."
"You love it."
"Unfortunately, I do."
We finished packing together, and I placed the photo album carefully in my carry-on. I wanted it with me, wanted my mother with me in some way on this honeymoon.
That night, wrapped in Adrian's arms, I felt something I hadn't felt in years maybe ever.
Complete peace.
The past was finally, truly behind me. Ethan was in prison. Vivian was facing her demons. Miranda was awaiting trial. My father was trying to do better.
And I had Adrian. My husband. My partner. My future.
"Can't sleep?" Adrian's voice rumbled against my back.
"Just thinking."
"About?"
"How happy I am. How lucky." I turned to face him. "A month ago, I woke up three years in the past, terrified and alone. Now I'm here, with you, about to go on an incredible honeymoon. It feels surreal."
"Good surreal or bad surreal?"
"The best surreal." I kissed him softly. "Thank you. For everything."
"Stop thanking me. I didn't do anything except fall hopelessly in love with my fake fiancée."
"Fake fiancée turned real wife."
"Best promotion ever."
I smiled against his lips. "Go to sleep. We have an early flight in two days."
"Two days is forever away."
"Adrian.."
"Fine, fine. Sleep." He pulled me closer. "But for the record, I'm never going to get tired of this."
"Of what?"
"Falling asleep with you. Waking up with you. Every moment in between."
My heart squeezed. "Me neither."
The day of departure arrived with typical chaos.
Last-minute packing adjustments. Making sure Margaret had everything she needed while we were gone. Confirming security arrangements for the house. Endless emails from Lucas about business that could and couldn't wait.
"We're going on honeymoon, not disappearing forever," I told Adrian as he typed yet another response to Lucas.
"I know, I know. But the Titanium Tech deal is at a critical stage."
"Adrian.."
He looked up.
"The deal will still be there when we get back. Lucas is more than capable of handling things for two weeks. And if there's a real emergency, he can call." I took the phone from his hands. "But for the next two weeks, you're mine. Not the company's. Mine."
A slow smile spread across his face. "Possessive."
"Learning from the best."
"I like it."
"Good. Now finish packing. The car will be here in an hour."
We made it to the private airfield with twenty minutes to spare. James had arranged for Adrian's private jet because of course he had.
"Your grandfather really went all out," I said, climbing the stairs to the plane.
"He loves you. And he's thrilled I finally found someone to put up with me."
"Put up with you? I married you. That's more than putting up with."
"True. You're stuck with me now."
"Happily stuck."
The interior of the jet was luxurious—leather seats that reclined into beds, a small dining area, even a bedroom in the back.
"This is insane," I breathed, taking it all in.
"This is how we travel," Adrian said, as if private jets were perfectly normal.
I guess for him, they were.
We settled into our seats as the pilot announced takeoff. I watched through the window as we lifted off, the city shrinking below us.
"Excited?" Adrian asked.
"Terrified, actually. I've never been great with flying."
His eyebrows rose. "You didn't mention that."
"It's not that bad. Just... turbulence makes me nervous."
"Like your mother."
I looked at him in surprise. "How did you know."
"Your father mentioned it at dinner. About her being afraid of flying." He took my hand, threaded our fingers together. "But she didn't let it stop her. Just like you won't."
"You're comparing me to her a lot lately."
"Because you're alike. Brave, strong, beautiful." He pressed a kiss to my knuckles. "I wish I could have met her. Thanked her for raising such an incredible daughter."
"She would have liked you. Once she got past the 'Devil CEO' reputation."
"You think?"
"I know. She always said I should find someone who challenges me, who makes me better. You do both."
"Good. Because you challenge me too. Make me want to be more than just a ruthless businessman."
"You were always more than that. You just didn't let people see it."
"I let you see it."
"I know. Thank you for that."
We flew in comfortable silence for a while. I dozed against Adrian's shoulder, finally relaxed.
When I woke, we were somewhere over the Pacific. Adrian was working on his laptop despite my earlier lecture.
"I thought we agreed no work," I said sleepily.
"This isn't work." He turned the screen so I could see. "This is research."
I blinked at the screen. It showed various articles about Bora Bora best restaurants, activities, hidden beaches.
"You're researching our honeymoon destination?"
"I want it to be perfect. Want to make sure we don't miss anything important."
"Adrian, we could spend two weeks sitting on the beach doing nothing and it would be perfect. Because we'd be together."
"I know. But" he hesitated, looking almost vulnerable, "..I've never done this before. Never been on vacation with someone I actually wanted to be with. I don't want to mess it up."
My heart melted. "You won't mess it up. That's impossible."
"You have a lot of faith in me."
"Yes. I do." I kissed him softly. "Now close the laptop. We have hours until we land. Let's just... be."
"Be?"
"Together. No planning, no research, no emails. Just us."
He considered, then closed the laptop. "Okay. Just us."
He reclined both our seats back, pulled a blanket over us. I curled into his side, perfectly content.
"Sophia?" His voice was quiet.
"Mm?"
"There's something I need to tell you. Something I've been keeping from you."
My eyes opened. "That sounds ominous."
"It's not bad. I hope it's not bad. But I should have told you before we got married, and I didn't, and now" he took a breath, "..I'm nervous about how you'll react."
I sat up slightly, studying his face. He looked genuinely anxious.
"Adrian, what is it?"
"Do you remember when we first met? When you came to my office?"
"Of course."
"I told you I'd been trying to take down Ethan Cole for years. That he'd been sabotaging my business."
"Yes."
"What I didn't tell you was why I was so focused on him specifically. Why I had such detailed information about his operations."
My stomach tightened. "Why?"
Adrian met my eyes. "Because I'd been investigating him for two years. Since the day I saw you at that charity gala. Since the day I realized you were engaged to him."
"I don't understand."
"I saw you across the room. You were wearing this blue dress, laughing at something your father said. And I..." he swallowed, "..I couldn't breathe. Couldn't think. You were the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen."
"Adrian.."
"Let me finish. Please." He took my hand. "I found out you were engaged to Ethan Cole. And something about that felt wrong. So I started digging. Looking into his background, his business, his finances. And the more I found, the more I realized he was using you."
"You investigated Ethan because of me?"
"Yes. I told myself it was just business. That I was looking for leverage against a rival. But the truth is, I was trying to protect you. Even though I'd never spoken to you. Even though you didn't know I existed."
I tried to process this. "So when I walked into your office."
"I'd been waiting for you. Hoping you'd figure out the truth about Ethan. Ready to help the moment you did." He squeezed my hand. "Sophia, I meant what I said at our wedding. I've been in love with you since that charity gala. Everything I did gathering evidence, building a case against Ethan, even agreeing to the contract marriage it was all because I wanted you safe. And I wanted you mine."
"You never said.."
"I know. I should have told you before the wedding. But I was afraid you'd think I manipulated you. That you'd question whether any of this was real."
"Is it real?" My voice came out smaller than I intended.
"Sophia, look at me." He cupped my face. "Everything between us is real. My feelings, my commitment, my love all real. The only thing I kept from you was how long I've felt this way. But I swear to you, I never manipulated you. Never lied about what I felt. I just... didn't tell you the whole truth."
I stared at him, trying to absorb this.
Adrian had been protecting me for two years. Before I knew he existed. Before I even knew I needed protecting.
"Say something," he pleaded. "Please."
"I'm trying to decide if I should be angry or touched."
"Angry I can handle. Just please don't doubt us. Don't doubt what we have."
"I don't." The words came out clear, certain. "Adrian, I'm not angry. I'm... I don't even know what I am. But I'm not angry."
"No?"
"No. Because" I laughed slightly, "..it's actually kind of romantic. In a stalker-ish, overprotective way."
Relief flooded his face. "Romantic?"
"You fell in love with me from across a room and spent two years trying to save me from a bad relationship. That's either romantic or creepy, and I'm choosing to go with romantic."
"Thank God." He pulled me close, buried his face in my hair. "I was so worried you'd."
"Think you were like Ethan? Manipulating me?" I pulled back to look at him. "Adrian, Ethan controlled me. Isolated me. Made me doubt myself. You've done the opposite. You've supported my choices, respected my agency, believed in my strength. That's not manipulation. That's love."
"It is. I do love you. So much."
"I love you too." I kissed him, deep and sure. "All of you. Including the slightly obsessive part that's been protecting me for two years."
"Only slightly obsessive?"
"Okay, very obsessive. But I'll allow it."
"Generous of you."
"I try." I settled back against his chest. "Any other secrets I should know about?"
"None. I promise. That was the only thing I was keeping from you."
"Good. Because I'm all out of surprise capacity for today."
He laughed, the sound rumbling through his chest. "Deal. No more surprises."
We flew on through the night, wrapped in each other, all secrets finally revealed.
And as I drifted off to sleep in Adrian's arms, 35,000 feet above the ocean, I realized something:
I'd been given a second chance at life.
And I'd used it to find real love. Real partnership. Real happiness.
Everything else the revenge, the justice, the victories was just bonus.
This, right here, was the real prize.
Forever with the man I loved.
And that was worth dying for.
Worth living for even more.
END OF CHAPTER 11