A sniper's bullet took my ability to walk. For two years, I made everyone in my mansion pay for what I couldn't get back. Then Emma Carter arrived. She needed a paycheck, not my approval. She cleaned through my temper, refused to follow my worst orders, and stayed when pain left me unable to hide how badly I needed help. I started listening for her footsteps. Watching the clock. Finding excuses to keep her in the room. Then one night, I woke with someone beside me. My hand reached for the gun beneath my pillow—until I saw my maid asleep in my bed. Everyone else knew better than to get that close. Emma was becoming the one person I couldn't bear to send away.