Chapter 192
Claire's POV
I stepped out of Seattle City Hall, clutching Daniel's hand tightly. The piece of paper in my purse felt heavier than it should - our marriage certificate, proof that Daniel Brown was now officially my husband. My husband. The word still felt foreign on my tongue.
"So," Daniel said, his voice low as we walked toward the parking lot. "We're really doing this? Not telling anyone yet?"
I nodded, glancing down at the diamond ring on my finger. It caught the weak winter sunlight, sending tiny rainbows dancing across our joined hands.
"It's for the best, at least until my father recovers and the company stabilizes." I twisted the ring nervously. "I should probably take this off before I go back to the office."
Daniel stopped walking, his jaw tightening slightly. "You don't have to."
"I do. The board members would notice immediately."
He exhaled slowly, his breath forming a small cloud in the cold air. "What about when we're alone? Will you wear it then?"
I squeezed his hand. "Always. Maybe I could wear it as a necklace, tucked under my clothes when I'm at work."
His eyes softened as he pulled me closer. "Claire, it doesn't matter if you wear the ring or not. The paper is signed. You're mine now."
I leaned up and kissed his cheek. "And you're mine, darling."
His ears turned bright red at the term of endearment, and I couldn't help but smile. Daniel, former Navy SEAL who had faced death countless times, blushing because I called him "darling."
"I'll see you tonight?" I asked.
He nodded, reluctantly letting go of my hand. "Tonight."
---
A week later, I sat on my couch scrolling through emails while Daniel prepared dinner in my kitchen. The smell of garlic and herbs filled the apartment as he moved confidently around the space. We'd fallen into a routine of sorts - he stayed at my place most nights, but still kept his apartment. The arrangement worked, but something about it bothered me.
I set down my phone and walked to the kitchen, wrapping my arms around his waist from behind. "I've been thinking."
"Should I be worried?" He turned his head slightly, a small smile on his lips.
I pressed my cheek against his back, feeling the solid warmth of him. "Since we're legally married now, maybe we should stop this back-and-forth between apartments. Maybe you should just... stay here. All the time."
His body tensed under my hands. He turned off the stove and turned to face me, his expression suddenly intense. "Are you sure?"
"Of course I'm sure. It's silly to keep pretending we don't live together when we essentially do."
The smile that spread across his face was unlike any I'd seen before - unguarded, bright, almost boyish. His eyes crinkled at the corners, and I noticed tiny flecks of gold I'd never seen before.
"Then I'll stay," he said simply, pulling me into a tight hug.
I buried my face in his chest, struck by how different he seemed in this moment - completely relaxed, totally present. It gave me a strange sense of satisfaction to know I could make him feel this way.
---
That night, after Daniel fell asleep, I checked my phone for updates on my father's condition. Maria, our family's longtime housekeeper and cook, had texted that everything was stable. As an afterthought, she mentioned that Nathan hadn't been home in days, apparently preferring to stay at his university dorm.
I frowned, typing out a quick message to my brother.
Need to talk. When are you free?
The response came just after midnight, jolting me from my half-sleep state.
Busy with finals. Lunch tomorrow at campus? 12:30 at the main quad.
I typed back a quick confirmation and turned off my phone, snuggling closer to Daniel's warmth.
---
The Seattle University campus buzzed with activity as students rushed between classes. I spotted Nathan sitting on a bench near the fountain, hunched over a textbook. He looked different here - more relaxed, dressed in jeans and a university sweatshirt instead of his usual carefully selected outfits.
"Studying hard?" I asked, sitting beside him.
He glanced up, closing his book. "Organic chemistry waits for no one." He studied my face. "You look good. Marriage agrees with you."
I stiffened. "How did you—"
"Your left hand," he said, nodding toward where my wedding ring hung on a thin gold chain around my neck. "You're playing with it. New habit?"
I dropped the ring immediately. "That's actually what I wanted to talk to you about. What exactly did you say to Daniel about me?"
Nathan's expression turned guarded. "What did he tell you?"
"Nothing specific. Just that you warned him about me." I leaned closer, lowering my voice. "What gave you the right to interfere in my relationship?"
"If he truly loved you, he would believe in you regardless of what I said," Nathan replied, his voice maddeningly calm.
"That's not an answer."
He shrugged, looking away. "I was testing him. Seeing if he deserved you."
"That wasn't your decision to make," I snapped, anger flaring hot in my chest. "I don't need you to vet my relationships, Nathan."
"Don't you?" His eyebrows rose. "You've always been too trusting, Claire. You see the best in people."
I laughed sharply. "That is absolutely not true, and you know it."
He smiled faintly. "Maybe not with business, but with people you care about? Absolutely."
Before I could argue further, a tall student with dark curly hair approached us. "Nathan! There you are. We've been waiting for you at the library."
Nathan stood, suddenly animated. "Kai! Sorry, got caught up. Kai, this is my sister, Claire. Claire, this is my roommate, Kai Morrison."
Kai's eyes widened. "The Claire? Nathan's sister? Man, he talks about you all the time."
I raised an eyebrow at Nathan, who looked slightly embarrassed. "Does he now?"
"Oh yeah. Nathan's sister this, Nathan's sister that. All good things!" Kai laughed.
As we walked toward the dining hall, two more students called out to Nathan, both greeting me as "Nathan's sister" with genuine warmth. I watched in amazement as Nathan chatted easily with them, making jokes and discussing classes.
"You're popular," I remarked when we were alone again.
Nathan shrugged, but I caught the slight smile on his lips. "It's easy here. Nobody knows about... you know. The private jet, the family drama, my status as the bastard son. I'm just Nathan."
I felt a pang in my chest. "You seem happy."
"I am." His expression turned serious as we entered the dining hall. "Which is why I wanted to tell you my plans. I've been accepted to Stanford for their masters program."
I stopped in my tracks. "Stanford? That's... Nathan, that's amazing!"
"I might stay for a PhD after that," he continued, grabbing a tray. "I'm not sure if I'll come back to Seattle at all."
I followed him through the food line, processing this information. "So you're leaving the family business behind?"
"Or maybe I'll come back with a PhD and challenge you for control of the company," he said with a small smile. "Who knows?"
I grinned, feeling oddly proud. "I'll be waiting. Don't hold back when you do."
"You know I won't."
As we sat down to eat, I studied my brother's face. There was something different about him here - a confidence, a lightness I'd never seen before. For the first time, he wasn't William Stanton's illegitimate son or my little brother who needed protection. He was just Nathan, a brilliant student with his own path.
"What?" he asked, noticing my scrutiny.
"Nothing." I took a bite of my salad. "I'm just glad you found your place."
His eyes met mine, and for a moment, I caught a glimpse of something complicated there - pride, determination, and maybe a hint of regret. I wondered what he was thinking, what he wasn't saying. Had he tested Daniel out of jealousy? Protectiveness? Or something else entirely?
But Nathan simply smiled and changed the subject to his upcoming finals, the moment passing like a cloud across the sun.