Epilogue
One year later
The past year of Inigo’s life had gone by at a fast pace.
He’d won several races during the Formula One season and had finished in the top five.
Keke and Marco were both overjoyed with that result and were looking at ways to improve for the coming season, but everyone agreed he was on the right track.
Everyone had said that his happiness off the track had brought him the results he’d never been able to achieve by himself.
Dante had left the Moretti Motors team and gone to work in MotoGP.
After revealing that he’d been drinking the night of the leak with Curtis Hemlin, another engineer on the team, an investigation had been launched.
It turned out, Curtis had been the one leaking Inigo’s times to the bookies.
Curtis had been fired and was under criminal investigation.
Malcolm’s undercover gambling had helped them get the proof they needed that Curtis was the saboteur.
Dante had offered heartfelt apologies to both Marielle and Bianca, and Inigo was glad the other man had found a fresh start.
Malcolm and Helena had been married in the fall; practically the entire town of Cole’s Hill had been there.
Malcolm had written his own vows and made Helena and all the women in attendance swoon at his promises to be his own man and try to avoid temptation.
Malcolm really seemed to be a new man after all he’d been through.
Most surprising of all, his sister and Marielle were becoming friends. Once the ugliness of Jose’s behavior was out in the open, the two women were both able to move past it. Which was more than Inigo could have hoped for.
Now he couldn’t help watching Marielle across the room at Scarlet’s New Year’s Eve party.
The last year had been a busy one for her as well.
She’d been honest about her affair with Jose, and that had won her more followers because she’d told the truth.
She’d taken on more brand work, and Inigo was in awe of how she managed everything.
He noticed her height, as always, but also the way her hair hung down her back. The dress she wore was one of those shimmery shift dresses she favored, leaving the majority of her back bare. Inigo had taken advantage of that all evening, loving the feel of his hand on her bare skin.
The edges of her tattoo were visible. She’d had a tiny race car added underneath the poison apple. She no longer thought of herself as a sinner, she’d told him, now that they were living together in their truth.
Tonight he hoped to ask her to be his wife.
The last year had tested them, and they’d found their own way of living together while he traveled around the world and trained and she worked.
He was already talking to Keke. In a few years, after he’d won a championship, he hoped to retire from driving and move up into management at Moretti Motors.
“Sweetie,” his mom said, coming over to him and handing him a glass of champagne. “I had hoped I wouldn’t have to tell you this, but it’s time to ask Marielle to marry you.”
“Mom.”
“I thought you’d do it last year when you were both home for Thanksgiving,” she added.
“You can’t be in charge of this,” he said to her.
“In charge of what, son? You know your mom only has your best interests at heart,” his father said as he came over, putting his hand on his shoulder and squeezing.
“I do,” his mom said. “You need to put a ring on Marielle’s finger. She’s not the kind of woman who will wait forever.”
“Listen to her, son,” his father said.
“I love you both, but I will do this when I’m ready,” he said, hugging them. He walked away, a bit irked that they were pressing him on the very night when he intended to propose.
He’d had the ring for three months now, an exquisite bespoke piece that his sister-in-law Pippa had designed for him and had made at House of Hamilton, the royal London jewelers. He’d been waiting for the right moment and knew that it was tonight.
Marielle glanced over at him and waggled her eyebrows, then she crooked her finger at him, beckoning him toward her. He moved slowly across the room, and then when he was a few feet from her, he went down on one knee.
She just stared at him.
“Are you doing this?”
“I am,” he said. “Marielle, you own me heart and soul, and I can’t imagine my life without you by my side. Would you please do me the honor of marrying me?”
The music had stopped, and everyone had turned to stare at them, but he had eyes only for her. She was the only one here who mattered at this moment, and she knew it.
She nodded. “Yes!”
He got to his feet, took out the ring and put it on her finger. He lifted her into his arms and whispered against her lips, “I love you.”
She put her hands on either side of his head and kissed him back long and deep. “I love you too.”
Applause broke out, and their families all came over to congratulate them. Inigo’s life had always seemed better as he’d raced through it, not letting anything touch him. But he knew that it had been empty without this woman he loved by his side.
A powerful Greek magnate.
A secret child.
A marriage demanded—not desired.
Step into the next scandal in Her Secret Heir.
by USA TODAY bestselling author
Katherine Garbera.
Keep reading for an excerpt!