Page 44 of The Sound of Secrets

I lifted an eyebrow and offered a soft apology. “I’m sorry. I can’t be good at everything.”

She pushed off the frame and moved so she was standing in front of me. She tilted her head back and stared at me with wide, eager eyes. I could see the entire galaxy and everything that ever mattered in the swirling hazel depths. “That’s okay. I’ve had a lot of awful proposals, so I figured if I just do the opposite, it’ll turn out all right.”

I inhaled when she dropped to a knee in front of me and held up a ring that looked like it belonged to an ancient king at some point.

“Winchester Halliday, will you marry me? Not because you have to. But because you want to.”

I was breathless and lightheaded. Never in a million years did I imagine she would be the one to take this type of initiative. I thought I was going to have to diligently work for years to prove to her I could be the husband she wanted and deserved.

I took the ring from her and put it on my finger. It was a perfect fit, even if it was something that clashed with my normal style.

“I got the ring in Europe while you were in the hospital. I found it in a little shop in Rome. I don’t know why it called to me, but it did. I couldn’t leave without it. The owner told me it belonged to a Roman Emperor. That was probably a lie. But it’s not anymore. I wanted to marryyou before I knew I wanted to marry you. I want your answer to be ‘yes’ with everything in me, Chester. You’ve worked so hard and lived out other people’s dreams for so long, it’s your turn to be Peter Pan. I’ll happily be your Tinker Bell.” She made a fluttering motion with her hands that made me laugh. For this being arguably the most poignant moment of my life, it felt light and airy. It was full of color and life. As important as this time was, it still felt fun. It was a memory I knew I would look back on with a smile and was going to be a story I’d enjoy telling anyone who would listen. Especially the family I knew we were going to build together. I needed to tell my niece I definitely wouldn’t screw this up.

Channing wanted kids of her own. She didn’t keep that desire a secret. I was happy to give her what she wanted, because in this life, she was theonlywoman I ever saw being the mother of my children, be they biological or not.

“You can’t ever be Tinker Bell, because I love you desperately.” There were no unrequited feelings where she was concerned. I reached down and pulled her to her feet. I wrapped her up in a rib-cracking hug and whispered, “Yes. Of course I’ll marry you. Re-marry you.” I wasn’t going to let it slide that we were already husband and wife as far as I was concerned. I chuckled and moved back so I could hold her face in my hands. “If I allowed myself to have a dream proposal, this would be it, Harvey. In return, I’ll give you your dream wedding.”

One that wasn’t in a hurry at the courthouse. One where she could share with those she loved. One with a million photos and memories she wouldn’t want toforget. I would get this one right and make sure she never had a reason to regret agreeing to be my wife.

After my impassioned promise, I put every ounce of my heart and soul into the kiss we shared.

It was a kiss that tied us together forever. Channing was the only thing I’d ever wanted to keep for myself, and I defied all odds to make her mine. She was the first thing I’d ever had to really work for, and the reward for my effort was sweeter than I ever imagined.

It was a bonus that it was also a kiss that made my cock hard and could make me forget my name.

“I can’t believe I have a wedding ring before you do.” I glanced at the ornate accessory and vowed that the only way it was coming off my hand was if I lost the whole finger. “I’m going to fix that immediately.”

Channing wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed me much softer than I’d kissed her. It finally felt like the start of something between us…and not the inevitable end.

“I don’t carewhenI get a ring. I carewhyI’m getting it.” Her eyebrows lifted and a playful smile tugged at her lips. “Funny enough, for as many times as I’ve been married, I’ve never had or worn a wedding ring.”

I loved it was another major first I could give her in her already full life. She’d been denied the traditional marriage experience in the past and was left with a bitter taste in her mouth. In fact, she had so many more experiences than I did; I needed to learn from her. It was well past time I left the ivory tower and experienced what it was like to live a life with both feet firmly planted on the ground. I no longer sought to be revered for my wealthand feared for my influence. I didn’t want my name to move mountains. I wanted it to help others reach the peak. What I desired most was to feel every bit of raw, rough reality alongside the woman who taught me it was better to feel everything than it was to be afraid of being powerless.

The best way to bring a god down to earth was to let them fall in love with a mortal.

Winnie

The private jet sat quietly on the tarmac. It used to take my uncle all over the globe to meet with world leaders and business giants, and now it was used to fly emergency aid and medical professionals to war-torn and disaster-riddled regions. I’d flown on the luxury airliner many times, but never by myself. I’d also never planned a one-way flight with no return in sight.

My Aunt Channing sniffed next to me. She was doing her best to hold back tears and control her emotions. However, she was currently six months pregnant with a surprise third baby, and her hormones were all over the place. My two little cousins, who felt more like my little brothers, clung to each of my hands asking if they could run and play with all the shiny, dangerous things dotting the airfield. They were still too young to understand I was leaving for a long time and would no longer be around to play with them. There wouldn’t be any more bedtime stories and cartoon marathons. In the process of growing up, I was going to miss them doing the samething. I couldn’t even promise my aunt I would make it back in time for the birth of her first little girl. The timing was going to conflict with my midterms, and I was worried that if I ran home from college in a different country as soon as I started, I might not have the willpower to return. I fought long and hard to get my uncle and father to let me study abroad. I refused to let all my effort go to waste.

Initially, I toyed with the idea of going to an art school because I could stay close to home and remain wrapped in the Halliday protective bubble. Everyone thought I would be more fragile after I was kidnapped by my grandfather. For years, my family treated me like I might shatter at the slightest challenge. Rather than fall apart, I wrapped myself in armor and turned into a warrior. I refused to be gullible or optimistic ever again. The world was harsh and cruel. I didn’t want to be a victim for the rest of my life. I took control of my mental health so I wouldn’t fall victim to my own mind like my mother and grandmother, and I took control of my own agency so that I would be more than aHallidaylike my father and uncle. I also had no interest in following in my uncle’s footsteps. I didn’t want Halliday Inc. to rule my whole life.

However, in my senior year of high school, my Uncle Alistair convinced me to do an internship at the company, just to see if I was really willing to walk away from my legacy. To my surprise, while I still hated the real estate side of the business, I loved the design and project planning part that he integrated when he took over. I followed Bellamy around for a full year and decided Iwanted to be just like her when I grew up. She reminded me a lot of my uncles — after they softened and fell in love. She was smart and ambitious. She demanded respect and recognition. I wanted to emulate all the points she had that I found lacking in myself. So, I decided to go to one of the top business schools in the world. I initially picked HEC in Paris. However, when the fight about moving overseas started, I compromised and landed on IESE Business School in Spain. They also had classes in the US and Germany, so if I really got homesick, I could transfer with ease.

I shook the boys loose and hugged my aunt. I patted her back and whispered through the emotion clogging my throat, “I won’t be gone forever. You and Uncle Win will always be home for me.”

She sniffed again and squeezed me as tightly as her round belly would allow. She was a wonderful aunt, but I got to watch her be an even better mom over the years. I was endlessly thankful I had her in my life. She did her utmost to heal broken hearts, and she was the reason the name Halliday had an entirely new meaning. Now, when that name was mentioned, it brought to mind a loving, caring family unit. One that was deeply involved with charity and giving back. They were invested in preserving the arts and helping to end strife and suffering on a global scale. Win was still an intimidating figure, but now he fought for others instead of himself.

“I’m just… going to miss you so much. You haven’t even left yet, and I feel an empty place in my heart.” She took a deep breath and pulled away so she could look me in the eye. I was significantly taller than her now. She had to tilt her head back to stare at me. “I hope you know how proud of you I am. How proud we all are. All I want for you is to be happy, Winnie.”

I tucked some of my hair behind my ears and forced a small smile. “I’m working on it.”

Over the years, I’d watched her and Uncle Win marry in an extravagant and legendary ceremony, and my father and Uncle Alastair also fall in love. My dad met a surgical assistant who was unbothered by his scars and slowed mental response. At first, I was convinced she was an opportunist after his money, but regardless of how awful I treated her, or how hard Win made her life, she stuck around and was determined to be with my father. They eloped, just like he and my mother did back in the day, which made me realize if I wanted to keep him in my life, I needed to root for his happiness. I got a pretty awesome stepmom out of the deal and was certain I would add half-siblings to my ever-growing family within the next year.

Uncle Alistair was also head over heels for the woman who had been his sworn enemy. He’d been chasing after Bellamy for the last two years and had yet to thaw her icy exterior. She thought he was too young and that he needed to focus on his career. Her continued refusal broke his heart, but he said he couldn’t give up on her. Initially, we thought it was all talk, but he even stopped sleeping around and living so carelessly. Bellamy was my idol. I could only encourage him from behind and hope he changed her mind.

I bent to pick up the only bag that hadn’t already been loaded on the plane. This one had my personal stuffthat I would need to survive the long, lonely fight with my sanity intact. I knew if I asked the pilot to turn around and bring me back, he would do it without question. I needed the distraction to prevent that from happening.

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