Moving into the East Wing felt like entering an entirely different universe.

For five years, Lily and I had lived in a small, windowless two-room apartment above the garage, where the pipes clanked all night and the draft from the lake made the winters unbearable.

Our new quarters consisted of a massive, sun-drenched four-room suite overlooking the formal rose gardens. There were plush velvet sofas, a private fireplace, a fully stocked kitchen, and a master bedroom with a king-sized bed wrapped in Egyptian cotton.

Lily spent her first afternoon jumping up and down on her new bed, her joyful giggles filling the spacious rooms.

"Mommy! Look! I have my own closet!" she cheered, pointing to the walk-in wardrobe lined with custom wooden shelves.

I stood by the tall arched window, looking out over the pristine grounds of the estate. A part of me was still waiting to wake up from a dream, terrified that Vanessa would suddenly walk through the door and snatch it all away.

A gentle knock on the frame of the open door pulled me from my thoughts.

Nathaniel stood in the hallway, holding two large gift boxes wrapped in silver paper.

"Am I interrupting?" he asked softly.

"Not at all," I replied, stepping forward. "Mr. Cross, you really didn't have to give us all of this. The suite is far too grand for just the two of us."

"First of all, call me Nathaniel," he said, stepping into the room and placing the boxes on the table. "We are colleagues now, Elena. And secondly, this wing has been empty for ten years. It needed life, and you brought it."

He gestured to the boxes. "A small welcome gift for your new role."

Lily scampered over from the bedroom, her eyes wide with curiosity. "Is it for me?"

"Open it and see," Nathaniel smiled.

Lily tore through the silver paper, revealing a magnificent wooden dollhouse, complete with hand-carved furniture and miniature light fixtures that actually turned on. She gasped in absolute delight.

"It's the house from the fairy tale!" Lily squealed, throwing herself onto the rug to set up the tiny chairs.

I looked at Nathaniel, deeply touched by his thoughtfulness. "Nathaniel... this is incredible. You shouldn't spend so much money on us."

"It’s nothing," he said, his voice dropping softly as he looked at me. "Seeing her smile after what she went through last night is worth more than anything I own."

He stepped closer to me, the faint scent of cedar and expensive cologne lingering in the air between us. The atmosphere in the room suddenly shifted, growing quiet and intimate.

"How are you holding up, Elena?" he asked gently. "Really?"

I looked down at my hands, feeling a wave of vulnerability wash over me. "I'm still adjusting. For years, I forced myself to be invisible—to never complain, never push back, just survive. Having you stand up for me last night... it felt like someone finally saw me."

Nathaniel reached out, his fingers lightly touching my chin, gently lifting my gaze to meet his.

"I've seen you for five years, Elena," Nathaniel whispered, his brown eyes dark with intense emotion. "I saw how hard you worked, how fiercely you loved your daughter, and how much grace you carried even when people were cruel to you. I only regret that I didn't step in sooner."

My breath hitched in my throat. The proximity between us was electric, every nerve ending in my body suddenly hyper-aware of his touch.

Before either of us could say another word, Thomas, the security chief, appeared at the doorway, looking grave.

"Mr. Cross," Thomas said urgently. "We have a problem. The board of directors has just called an emergency meeting at the corporate headquarters downtown. Richard Lowell is claiming you breached your fiduciary duty by canceling the merger."

Nathaniel’s hand slowly pulled back from my face, his gentle expression instantly hardening into corporate steel.

"They want a war," Nathaniel said quietly, turning to Thomas. "Prepare the helicopter. Elena, come with me."

"Me?" I asked, surprised.

"You are the General Manager of this estate now," Nathaniel said, looking at me with absolute trust. "And your testimony regarding Lowell Management's financial abuse is the key to destroying them forever."