Chapter 9 - The Confession
The estate was completely secured by dawn, with all of Vincent’s loyalists either arrested or eliminated.
The quiet, orderly routine of the Romano house had returned, but the atmosphere was entirely different.
Nina was packing her small suitcase in the servant's quarters, assuming she would be quietly dismissed with a generous payout.
She had crossed the line from maid to accomplice, and there was no going back to her old life.
A gentle knock on her door interrupted her thoughts.
Alexander stood in the doorway, looking healthy, powerful, and incredibly handsome in a tailored suit.
“Where do you think you are going?” he asked, his eyes scanning her open suitcase.
“My job is done here, Mr. Romano,” Nina replied softly, trying to hide the heartbreak in her voice.
Alexander stepped into the small room, gently closing the door behind him.
He walked over to her and gently took the folded clothes out of her hands.
“I told myself that my place was to keep my head down and leave your world alone,” Alexander whispered, repeating her exact words from the night of the storm.
Nina looked up at him, her breath catching in her throat as tears welled in her eyes.
“I didn't want anything from you, not your money, not your name, I just wanted you safe,” he continued, stepping closer.
He reached out and gently cupped her face in his large, warm hands.
“You saved my life, Nina, and you stole my heart while doing it.”
He leaned down and kissed her, pouring all of his fierce passion and profound gratitude into the touch.
May you like
Nina kissed him back, finally surrendering completely to the love she had hidden for so long.
There would be no more pretending, and there would be no more distance between them.
