The wind howling off the New York cliffs sounded like a desperate animal, but inside the Moretti estate, the only sound was the harsh scrape-scrape-scrape of Nora’s brush against Italian marble.

Three Months Later

Spring had arrived at the cliffside estate. The snow had melted, giving way to lush green pine trees, blooming mountain wildflowers, and warm golden sunlight streaming through the crystalline glass windows.

The grand courtyard of the Moretti estate was filled with gentle music and the sweet scent of white lilies.

Giovanni Moretti stood on the stone patio, looking sharp and commanding in a tailored dark blue suit. Though he still used a cane, his posture was regal, his eyes bright, and his laughter echoed across the grounds as he spoke with his top advisors. He had officially reclaimed his title as patriarch of the family, leaving the heavy operations to Lorenzo while he enjoyed his retirement.

From the grand glass doors, Lorenzo emerged, carrying a tiny bundle wrapped in a soft pink blanket.

Beside him walked Nora. She looked stunning in a flowing lilac dress, her hair styled softly, her skin radiant with health and happiness. Gone was the terrified, frail maid in oversized clothes; in her place stood a confident, beautiful woman who was loved and respected by everyone on the estate.

Lorenzo carefully handed the small bundle into his father’s waiting arms.

Giovanni looked down at the newborn baby girl. The infant opened her wide, dark blue eyes, letting out a soft, sweet coo.

"Look at her," Giovanni whispered, tears of joy filling his eyes. He reached out a finger, and the tiny baby instantly wrapped her small hand around his thumb. "She is perfect."

"Her name is Lily," Nora said softly, leaning against Lorenzo’s side as they looked at the baby together. "Lily Giovanni Vance."

Giovanni looked up at Nora, his weathered face filled with profound emotion. "She will never know cold, my sweet girl. She will never know fear. She will have the world at her feet."

Lorenzo placed a gentle, protective arm around Nora’s waist, pulling her close. Over the past three months, their bond had grown far beyond gratitude. What had started as a master and a maid had bloomed into a deep, unspoken love—a connection built on trust, respect, and mutual protection.

Lorenzo looked down at Nora, his gray eyes full of warmth. "The new nursery wing is finished in the Manhattan estate," he murmured into her hair. "Whenever you're ready to start our new life."

Nora looked around the estate—the place where she had once scrubbed stone floors on her hands and knees in the freezing dark. She looked at Giovanni, who was smiling as he rocked little Lily, and then up at Lorenzo, the man who had become her protector and her heart.

She smiled, resting her head against Lorenzo’s chest, feeling the strong, steady beat of his heart.