Saturday night, after dinner with Jessica.
The dinner had gone very well. Jessica immediately liked Marcus. Marcus was charming and thoughtful. They laughed together. They shared stories. Jessica saw exactly why Emma had fallen in love with Marcus.
But now, as midnight passed and the house was quiet, Marcus felt unable to sleep.
Marcus was lying in bed while staring at the ceiling. Emma was sleeping peacefully beside him, but Marcus's mind was racing with different thoughts.
Marcus thought about the lawsuit. Mr. Thomas's call earlier that day had mentioned that Daniel's legal team had submitted additional documents. Documents that were complicated and extensive. Documents that would require deep analysis.
Marcus also thought about what Jessica had said before dinner ended. Jessica said with a sincere tone: "You know, when Emma first told me about this business arrangement, I thought she was going to get hurt. But now I see that you really care about her. You're really trying to be a better person. That's all that matters."
What matters. What truly matters in life.
Marcus realized that years ago, he would have answered that question with: money, success, power, respect from the business community.
But now? Now Marcus realized that the things that truly mattered were completely different.
Marcus carefully got out of bed so as not to wake Emma. Marcus went to the balcony of their house.
The night air was cool and fresh. The city spread out below them with thousands of lights twinkling like stars.
Marcus thought about the first time he met Emma. He remembered how Emma looked nervous and desperate. Emma needed money for her sister's surgery. Emma was willing to enter into a business arrangement without knowing what would happen.
Marcus remembered that at that time, he thought of Emma as a solution to his problem. A simple transaction. Emma gets money, Marcus gets a wife who meets the requirement of the will. Everyone is happy.
But things didn't turn out as anticipated.
Instead of staying detached and professional, Marcus had fallen in love. Marcus had discovered that having someone who truly understood you, truly supported you, truly cared about you, was worth infinitely more than any amount of money or success.
Marcus thought about Lily too. A little girl who had survived surgery and was now thriving. Marcus realized that being part of Lily's recovery had given him a sense of purpose that he had never experienced before.
Watching Lily move around with more energy. Watching Lily draw with the pencils that Emma and he had bought. Hearing Lily laugh with genuine joy. That had meant more to Marcus than closing the biggest business deal in the history of his company.
Marcus also thought about Daniel. A half-brother who was bitter and angry. Marcus realized that Daniel was suffering too, in a different way. Daniel felt rejected and undervalued. Daniel felt like he was never enough for his father.
Marcus understood that feeling. Marcus had experienced that feeling too, before Emma came and helped Marcus realize that his value didn't depend on external validation or material success.
Marcus wondered whether the offer that he had given to Daniel would actually make a difference. Wondered whether Daniel was willing to try to heal a relationship that had been damaged for so long.
"Marcus?"
Marcus turned around. Emma had come to the balcony. Emma was wearing a soft sweater and looked sleepy.
"Hi," said Marcus. "Sorry if I woke you."
"You didn't wake me," answered Emma while standing beside Marcus. "I realized you were gone. I knew you were probably thinking about something. You always go to the balcony when you need to think."
"You know me too well," said Marcus with a smile.
"What are you thinking about?" asked Emma while leaning against the railing.
"About life," answered Marcus simply. "About how much everything has changed. About how a few months ago, I was a completely different person. About how you changed me."
"I didn't change you," said Emma. "You already had all this goodness inside you. I just helped you see it."
"No," Marcus shook his head. "Emma, you did much more than that. You showed me that I don't need to hide from people that I care about. You showed me that vulnerability is not weakness. You showed me that real strength is about being present for other people. About caring. About putting people above business and money."
Emma took Marcus's hand. "And you showed me that I deserve to be valued. That I deserve to be loved not because of what I can do, but because of who I am. That I deserve to have a life that is bigger than just survival."
They stood together in silence, watching the sleeping city.
"I'm scared sometimes," admitted Marcus. "Scared that this is too good to be true. Scared that something will happen and ruin everything. Scared that the lawsuit will go bad and everything will collapse."
"I'm scared too," admitted Emma. "Scared that we moved too fast. Scared that feelings might change. Scared that real life pressure will be too much for this relationship to handle."
"But?" prompted Marcus, knowing that there was more that Emma wanted to say.
"But," continued Emma, "I also know that whatever happens, we can face it together. We've already proved that we can work through difficulties. We've already shown that we're willing to communicate. We've already demonstrated that our love is strong enough to weather storms."
Marcus pulled Emma close. Marcus embraced her from behind, both of them looking out at the city.
"Thank you," said Marcus. "For being real with me. For not pretending that everything is perfect. For acknowledging that fear exists, but choosing to stay anyway."
"That's what love is," answered Emma. "It's not about the absence of fear. It's about choosing love despite fear. It's about believing in someone more than you believe in doubts."
"I believe in you," said Marcus. "Completely. Totally. Absolutely."
"And I believe in you," answered Emma. "Even when you doubt yourself."
They stood on the balcony for a long time. The stars in the sky began to fade as the dawn approached. The city lights began to dim as the sky slowly brightened.
The first light of a new day began to creep over the horizon. Beautiful colors of orange and pink and soft purple.
"Look," said Emma while pointing at the sky. "A new day is coming."
Marcus looked at Emma's face as it was illuminated by the soft light of dawn. Emma looked beautiful. Emma looked peaceful. Emma looked like a person who had truly found her place in the world.
"Yeah," agreed Marcus. "A new day is coming. A new day full of possibilities."
"And we will face it together," added Emma.
"Together," repeated Marcus. "I like how that sounds. Together."
They went back inside as the sunrise continued to paint the sky with beautiful colors. They went back to bed. Emma slept against Marcus's chest. Marcus finally found the peace that he had been searching for.
Marcus didn't worry about the lawsuit anymore that night. Marcus didn't worry about future uncertainty. For the first time in a very long time, Marcus was completely present in the moment. Completely content in the simple fact that he had someone that he loved and someone who loved him back.
That was enough. That was more than enough.
That was everything.