Chapter 10 - The Promise Leo Made Wasn't to Protect Me—It Was to Give Me a ChoiceThe next morning, Leo took me somewhere unexpected.
A small house.
Not a mansion.
Not a penthouse.
Just a home near the lake.
“What is this?”
“Our house.”
I stared.
“You bought a house?”
“No.”
He handed me the keys.
“We're buying it.”
I frowned.
“We?”
He nodded.
“If you want.”
“Leo.”
“I don't want you living in my house because you owe me.”
I stared.
“I don't owe you.”
“I know.”
“You don't own me.”
“I know.”
“Then why this?”
“Because I want you to choose.”
He looked at me.
“This house can be yours.”
I couldn't speak.
He continued:
“You can live here.”
“You can leave.”
“You can work.”
“You can travel.”
“You can stay with me.”
“Or not.”
“The choice is yours.”
Tears filled my eyes.
Nobody had given me a choice in years.
My husband had taken my children.
The court had taken my control.
Researchers had taken my blood.
Everyone had made decisions for me.
Leo was the first person to give one back.
I looked at the house.
Then at him.
“I'll stay.”
His eyes softened.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I want to.”
He smiled.
That was when our relationship truly began.
Slowly.
No rush.
No pressure.
We dated.
We learned each other's habits.
He learned that I hated expensive restaurants.
I learned that he couldn't cook pasta.
Daniel learned that I could beat him at chess.
Lily learned to sleep through the night.
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My children learned they could trust Leo.
And I learned that love didn't have to come with a price.
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