Chapter 7 - The Choice
Months later, Grace considered leaving.
She had received a job offer from another estate.
Higher salary.
Better hours.
No connection to the Whitmore family.
She told Ethan.
He was silent.
Then he said,
“You should take it.”
Grace looked surprised.
“You don't want me to stay?”
“I want you to choose.”
Those words mattered.
Because for the first time, someone wasn't asking Grace to stay because they needed something from her.
She accepted the new position.
But she continued visiting Noah.
Eventually, Ethan asked her to dinner.
Not as her employer.
As a man.
Grace hesitated.
“You're my former employer.”
“Former.”
“You're also the father of the baby I rescued.”
“I know.”
“And you're rich.”
He smiled.
“Unfortunately.”
She laughed.
Their relationship developed slowly.
No grand declarations.
No rushed romance.
Just conversations.
Coffee.
Walks.
And trust.
One evening, Ethan admitted,
“I thought money protected people.”
Grace looked at him.
“Did it?”
“No.”
He smiled.
“You did.”
Grace shook her head.
“No. I just did what anyone should have done.”
May you like
Ethan looked at her.
“That's exactly why you're different.”
