After a moment, he opened his eyes and looked directly at me.

I was still standing by his side, my apron stained with dust and rain, my hands trembling.

“Nina,” Alexander said, his voice barely a whisper.

“Yes, Mr. Romano?” I asked.

He reached out and took my hand again, his grip slightly stronger than before.

He looked up at Marcus, then at his sister.

“Without this woman,” Alexander said, his voice carrying a solemn weight, “I would not be breathing right now. She saw what none of you saw.”

Sofia looked at me, her eyes filled with a quiet gratitude that replaced the suspicion of the past few hours.

“Thank you, Nina,” Sofia said, her voice soft. “The Romano family does not forget its debts.”

“She is no longer a maid in this house,” Alexander said, his eyes never leaving mine. “She is under my personal protection. She goes where I go.”

I looked down at our joined hands, the coldness of the night finally beginning to fade from my bones.

“Thank you, sir,” I whispered.

Marcus nodded slowly, a gesture of rare respect from the cold attorney.