Chapter 23 - The Marriage Ethan Chose
Ethan and Naomi eventually married when Emma was ten.
Not because ten-year delay romantic destiny.
Because after years of co-parenting, counseling, rebuilding trust, they decided.
Small ceremony.
No corporate guests except close friends.
No trust deadlines.
No strategic date.
No merged family assets automatically.
Separate counsel reviewed agreements.
Patricia joked:
“This family finally learned lawyers should be independent.”
Naomi replied:
“Barely.”
No grand church.
Garden ceremony.
Emma stood beside them.
No “she brought them together.”
She was their daughter, not marriage glue.
Noah attended.
Vanessa sent no message—appropriately moved on.
Ethan did not compare weddings.
One failed.
One chosen with knowledge.
That was enough.
After ceremony, Ethan checked phone.
Naomi laughed:
“Not again.”
He put it away.
Family joke.
No dramatic baby cry.
May you like
Just dinner.
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