Chapter 10 - A NEW VOW
That evening, the sun set over Lake Michigan, painting the sky in deep shades of crimson and violet.
In the grand dining hall of the Blackwood estate, the long mahogany table was set for dinner. For the past year, Victor had always eaten alone at the head of the table, surrounded by quiet servants and empty chairs.
Tonight was different.
Lily sat to his right, wearing a simple, elegant dark green dress the staff had provided. Beside her in a high chair sat Ethan, happily smashing pieces of soft steamed carrots onto his tray with his good hand.
The room felt warm, vibrant, and alive for the first time since Victor’s late wife had passed away three years ago.
Victor cut into his steak, looking across at Lily. "Dr. Vance checked your ribs this afternoon. He said the bruising is healing well."
"It doesn't hurt much anymore," Lily said, smiling as she wiped carrot puree off Ethan’s chin. "Thank you for having the doctors take such good care of me, Mr. Blackwood."
"Call me Victor," he said simply.
Lily paused, her utensil hovering in mid-air. She looked at him, caught off guard by the sudden softness in his command. "Victor... it doesn't feel right for a nanny to call you by your first name."
Victor set his glass of wine down onto the table. He leaned back in his leather chair, his dark eyes fixing onto hers with absolute seriousness.
"You aren't just the nanny anymore, Lilianna," Victor said, his voice deep and smooth. "Next month was supposed to be my wedding. The city expects a Mrs. Blackwood. The syndicate expects a matriarch. And my son needs a mother who would lay down her life to protect him."
Lily’s heart began to hammer against her ribs. "Victor... what are you saying?"
Victor stood up from his chair, walked over to her side of the table, and laid a velvet box onto the tablecloth in front of her.
He opened it, revealing a stunning, flawless six-carat black diamond ring set in platinum.
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"Marry me, Lilianna," Victor said quietly. "Not for politics. Not for an alliance. But because you are the only person in this city I trust with my son—and with my heart."
Lily stared at the sparkling black diamond, then up into the eyes of Chicago's most dangerous man—a man who had destroyed an empire just to avenge a bruise on her skin.
