The mirror reflected a woman I barely recognized. I was wearing a floor-length, emerald-green silk gown that matched the color of my eyes—a gift from Andrew that had arrived at my door earlier that afternoon with a simple note: "For the light of my life." My hair was swept up in an elegant chignon, and the only jewelry I wore was a delicate silver necklace. Tonight wasn't just another corporate event. Tonight was the Aegis Global Charity Gala, and it was the night Andrew—no, Oliver Thompson—was officially stepping out of the shadows.
As I walked down the grand staircase of the manor, I saw him waiting at the bottom.
Andrew was in a midnight-black tuxedo, looking every bit the powerful king of an empire. But when he saw me, the cold, business-like edge he usually wore melted away. He looked at me with an intensity that made my breath hitch.
"You look... breathtaking, Emily," he whispered, offering his arm.
"You don't look too bad yourself, Mr. CEO," I teased, though my heart was pounding.
"Yo! Look at the power couple!" Leo's voice boomed from the hallway. He was also dressed in a suit, though he had left his top button undone and refused to wear a tie. "If you guys don't break the internet tonight, I'll be very disappointed. Remember the plan, Andrew! Confidence! Charm! And don't forget the announcement!"
"I've got it, Leo," Andrew said, giving him a firm nod.
We stepped into the limousine, the city lights blurring past us. Andrew held my hand the entire way, his thumb stroking my knuckles. He was nervous. I could feel the tension in his grip. This was the first time he was presenting himself—and us—to the high society of New York since the task force had been disbanded.
The Grand Ballroom of the Plaza Hotel was a spectacle of crystal chandeliers, flowing champagne, and the elite of the city. As we entered, the room went silent for a split second before the whispering began.
"Is that him?"
"And is that the doctor?"
"They look... incredible together."
Andrew didn't shy away. He kept me close, navigating the room with a grace I hadn't seen before. He spoke to investors and politicians with ease, but his attention always flickered back to me, making sure I was okay.
Halfway through the night, Andrew stepped up to the podium. The room fell quiet.
"Good evening, everyone," Andrew's voice boomed, steady and commanding. "Tonight is about more than Aegis Global. It's about the future of this city. That is why I am announcing a fifty-million-dollar endowment to the Aegis Medical Wing to fund research for trauma and emergency care."
The room erupted in applause.
"But on a personal note," Andrew continued, his eyes finding mine in the crowd. "The last few months have been a journey of rediscovery for me. Many of you know me as the man who returned from the past. But I wouldn't have been able to face that past without someone very special by my side."
He gestured for me to join him. I walked up to the stage, my legs feeling like jelly. Andrew took my hand and looked at the crowd.
"Emily Rose has been my anchor. My partner. And from this day forward, I want the world to know that she is the heart of the Thompson legacy."
It wasn't a proposal—not officially—but it was a declaration. He was claiming me in front of everyone who had doubted him, everyone who had hunted him.
As we stepped down from the stage, the applause was deafening. But as we reached the floor, a man I didn't recognize approached us. He was older, with graying hair and a sharp, scarred face. He was dressed in a suit, but he didn't look like a businessman. He looked like... a fighter.
"Oliver Thompson," the man said, his voice a low rasp.
Andrew's grip on my hand tightened instantly. His entire body went rigid. "Silas?"
My heart stopped. Silas. The man William had sent away to the Mediterranean. The man who knew Andrew's darkest secrets. What was he doing here? In the middle of New York?
"Don't worry, kid," Silas said, a small, knowing smile on his face as he looked at me. "I'm not here to cause trouble. I just wanted to see for myself if the ghost had finally found his home."
He looked at Andrew, his eyes softening. "You did good, Parker. You did real good."
Before security could intervene, Silas vanished back into the crowd, leaving us standing there in the middle of the celebration.
Andrew looked at me, his eyes wide. He looked like he wanted to run after him, but he stayed. He chose to stay with me.
"Is everything okay?" I whispered.
Andrew looked around the room, then back at me. A slow, genuine smile spread across his face—the first time I had seen him truly happy and at peace.
"Yeah," Andrew said, pulling me close for a dance as the orchestra began to play. "Everything is exactly where it's supposed to be."
As we danced under the golden lights, I realized that the shadows might always be there, lurking at the edges. But as long as we were together, the light would always be stronger.