And somehow, that honesty made him trust her even more.
She slowly released his hand and walked toward the door.
The millionaire watched her move away, unsure whether the most genuine connection he had ever felt was about to disappear.
The door handle turned under her fingers.
And in that moment, he had to face a painful truth.
Caring about someone meant accepting that they had the freedom to leave.
The mansion could not stop her.
His money could not stop her.
His loneliness could not stop her.
All he could do was wait and see what she chose.
The room remained quiet except for the rain outside.
He looked at the empty space between them and realized something important.
For the first time in many years, he was not trying to purchase an outcome.
He was allowing another person to decide.
That was a feeling he had almost forgotten existed.
