Aaron didn't want to admit it, but he'd been an emotional wreck since seeing his daughter at the top of the aisle. He'd held back tears through sheer force of will, but Keeley had started bawling during the ceremony, and her tears were nearly contagious.

After the first dance, a few faster-paced songs played, giving the couple time to chat. Michael and Mandy were telling their small group about their month-long European honeymoon when the next slow song began. Michael excused himself.

A father-daughter dance wasn't scheduled, but he wanted a few minutes alone with his daughter on her wedding day. Things would be different afterward; her new family would be her priority.

"Mind if I borrow her for a moment?" Aaron asked Noah gruffly.

He cheerfully handed Violet over and found his mother to dance with her. Decades had passed since he'd last formally danced at a high-society event, but he still remembered the basics, moving far beyond an awkward circle.

Violet was surprised. "Dad! I didn't know you could dance!"

"I'm a man of many talents," he replied dryly.

Aaron didn't want to spoil the mood by explaining how he'd learned ballroom dancing. She was happy and didn't need reminders of his negative past.

She smiled, and his heart ached. Violet looked so much like her mother when she smiled, though otherwise, she resembled him more. Their little girl had blossomed into a beautiful, wonderful young woman.

He couldn't believe the time had come to let her go. Unlike her brothers, she'd never really wanted to leave home. She was content with her parents.

He'd sometimes wondered if she'd ever move on. He'd wanted that for her—everyone leaves the nest eventually—but now that she had, he felt the loss keenly.

They'd still probably see each other a few times a month, living in the same city, but she wasn't a Hale anymore. As a married woman, her husband and future children would be her priority.

He smiled softly. "Be sure to visit us, okay, Vi?"

She laughed lightly. "You're acting like I'm moving away! We'll still be at your house, taking advantage of Mom's cooking."

Violet grew serious as they waltzed. "I hope you know how much I appreciate you and Mom. You gave me the best childhood, and you've loved and supported me through everything.

"Especially you… you didn't have good role models, but you're the most amazing father. It couldn't have been easy, but you didn't let your past hold you down. Thank you. I love you, Daddy."

It had been years since she'd called him that, claiming it was childish. But now, she looked at him with the same adoration she'd shown as a child.

Aaron hadn't told his children much about his past, not wanting to burden them. Violet knew the most because of her questions about Michael, so her praise meant the world to him.

He was now closer to tears than he'd been all day. "I love you too, Vi."

[The following promotional material was removed]

At the end of the song, they hugged for a minute before she returned to her husband. A sense of satisfaction flooded him. He'd truly done it. The past was completely behind him, in more ways than one.

The final piece fell into place when he and his brother began mending their strained relationship. It had been awkward at first, and he wasn't sure he could trust Michael's claimed changes.

But Mandy was an excellent influence. He'd quit his underworld contacts cold turkey and returned to school to learn current technology, hoping to return to app development.

Without his false persona, he seemed far less sinister. Michael smiled more since his wife arrived, revealing a decent sense of humor that didn't involve mocking others.

The real Michael Gray wasn't bad. Spending time with him wasn't a chore; Aaron actually looked forward to it, just like with his other friends.

Aaron rejoined his group and found them discussing the upcoming Nobel Prize award ceremony.

"You should come with us," Keeley said. "Families of laureates are invited to the banquet, and I don't have any relatives besides Aaron and the kids. Brothers-in-law count, right?"

Michael was genuinely touched. "We'd love to. We're free then, right, Mandy?"

His wife shook her head. "We're only busy spending Christmas Day with Britt's family. They're with Jason's parents on Christmas Eve." Brittany nodded in agreement, keeping an eye on her son.

"Come to our house then," Aaron offered. "Keeley always makes too many treats."

His brother grinned. "That would be great."

Aaron relaxed, thinking of his loved ones happily forging ahead. No one would control his children as he had been controlled.

Not following his father's footsteps had produced a ballerina, a baseball player, a rocket scientist, and a chef. Following their passions was more important than inheriting the family business. Jeremy would capably lead Hale Investments without burdening his children.