Chapter 7 - THE WOMAN WHO TAUGHT HIM TO TRUST AGAIN
Lily had never expected to become important to Roman Kane.
She was a housekeeper.
He was a billionaire businessman with a reputation that frightened powerful men.
Their worlds weren't supposed to overlap.
But after the motel, the forged letters, and the discovery at the lake house, Roman began seeking her company.
Not because he needed another employee.
Because she told him the truth.
One evening, he found her in the estate library.
She was returning books she'd borrowed for Arthur.
Roman leaned against the doorway.
“You read?”
Lily raised an eyebrow.
“Occasionally. When I'm not stealing chicken.”
Roman smiled.
“I deserved that.”
“Yes, you did.”
He approached.
“What are you reading?”
She held up a novel.
“Something with a happy ending.”
Roman looked amused.
“Those exist?”
“In books, sometimes.”
He studied her.
“And in real life?”
Lily hesitated.
“I hope so.”
Roman's expression softened.
They stood in silence.
Then he asked, “Why did you help Arthur?”
She shrugged.
“Because he needed help.”
“That's not enough.”
“It is to me.”
Roman looked at her.
For years, people had approached him wanting money, influence, protection, or power.
Lily wanted none of those things.
She had risked her job to feed elderly people he had forgotten.
And when he discovered her secret, she hadn't begged.
She'd explained.
Simply.
Honestly.
Roman stepped closer.
“Lily.”
She looked up.
“Yes?”
“I owe you an apology.”
She blinked.
“For what?”
“For assuming the worst.”
She smiled faintly.
“You didn't accuse me.”
“I thought about it.”
“But you followed me and asked questions.”
Roman nodded.
“My father used to say suspicion was the price of power.”
Lily studied him.
“Maybe trust is the price of being happy.”
The words settled between them.
Roman looked at her.
Then, slowly, he reached for her hand.
Lily didn't pull away.
He stopped.
“May I?”
She smiled.
“Yes.”
He lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles.
A small gesture.
Gentle.
Unexpected.
Lily's heart stumbled.
Roman looked at her.
May you like
And for the first time in years, he wasn't thinking about enemies.
He was thinking about the possibility of love.
