Corisande dropped Merewyn’s hearing aids into a glass of champagne and mocked the elderly woman that she was better off completely deaf.
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Chapter 16 / 17
Chapter 16
Corisande and I did not become engaged again.
Not immediately.
We spent a year apart.
Then dinner.
Then another.
No ring.
No father arranging anything.
She built distance from Ambrose’s business and started managing her own foundation.
Not redemption through charity.
Just independence.
One night she asked:
“Do you trust me?”
“More than last year.”
She laughed.
“Terrible romance.”
“Accurate romance.”
Better.
Then:
“Would you ever marry me?”
“Maybe.”
That used to terrify her.
Now she nodded.
“Fair.”
Progress.
Mother still distrusted her.
Also fair.
May you like
Trust did not need unanimous family approval either.
We let time do work no speech could.
