No One Lasted More Than Three Days Caring for the Paralyzed Mafia Boss — Until a Shy, Penniless Maid Walked In and Did Something That Left His Entire Household Speechless

He was going to discover why Fay Willis hadn't run.

It wasn't because she was brave. Brave people had principles, and principles were easy to break. He had spent his entire adult life learning how to break people.

Fay was different.

She was exhausted, underpaid, and clearly one unexpected expense away from losing everything. Yet she had looked at him during his worst moment and treated him as if he were simply another difficult problem on her schedule.

It irritated him more than fear ever could.

At six fifteen, she entered carrying breakfast.

Two eggs. Toast. Coffee.

"You're late," Dominic said.

Fay checked the clock.

"I'm three minutes early."

"Then you're three minutes late for the time I wanted you here."

She placed the tray on his table.

"Would you like me to invent a time machine, or can I get started?"

Dominic stared at her.

Then, unexpectedly, he laughed.

It was a short, rough sound, as though his body had forgotten how to produce it.

Fay looked up.

"Was that a laugh?"

"No."

"Sounded like one."

"Get out."

"After you eat."

He reached for the coffee, and she noticed his hand trembling slightly. She said nothing. She had learned that acknowledging every weakness only made a proud person more defensive.

Instead, she opened the curtains.

Sunlight entered the room for the first time in months.

Dominic's expression darkened.

"Close those."

"No."

His head turned slowly.

"What did you say?"

"Sunlight is free. I'm not wasting it."

"Fay."

It was the first time he had used her name.

She glanced at him.

"Dominic."

For a moment, neither moved.

Then he looked away.

"Leave them open."

It was a small victory, but Fay accepted it without celebration.

Later that morning, she discovered something strange.

A narrow door stood behind the bookcase in Dominic's bedroom. It was locked, and the brass handle had been polished recently, unlike the rest of the room.

When she asked Mrs. Gable about it, the housekeeper's face became rigid.

"The room is private."

"I wasn't planning to move in."

"Then don't ask about it again."

Fay returned to work.

That afternoon, she heard shouting from the study downstairs.

Dominic's younger brother, Vincent Corso, had arrived.

Unlike Dominic, Vincent wore expensive suits, smiled easily, and spoke to the staff as though kindness were another accessory he could put on when convenient.

Fay was carrying folded towels past the study when she heard him say, "The board won't wait forever. The company needs a functioning head."

"My company is functioning," Dominic replied.

"You're in a wheelchair, Dominic. You can't even attend meetings without someone pushing you into the room."

A glass shattered.

Vincent sighed.

"That's exactly what I'm talking about."

Fay continued walking, but another sentence stopped her.

"You should sign the papers before the doctors declare you permanently incapacitated. Let me manage things until you're ready."

"I'm not signing anything."

"Then don't complain when the shareholders remove you."

The study fell silent.

When Vincent emerged, he found Fay standing near the staircase.

His smile returned immediately.

"You must be the new maid."

"Fay."

"How long have you been here?"

"Three days."

He glanced toward the study.

"Three days? Impressive. Most people don't make it that far."

"Maybe they don't like the coffee."

His smile tightened.

"You're funny."

"Not intentionally."

Vincent walked away.

That evening, Fay brought Dominic his medication and found him staring at a framed photograph on his desk.

A beautiful woman stood beside him, her dark hair blowing in the wind. Dominic's arm was wrapped around her waist. His expression was softer than Fay could have imagined.

"Your wife?" she asked before she could stop herself.

Dominic turned the photograph facedown.

"She's dead."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be."

Fay set the water beside him.

"I wasn't asking you to forgive me."

He studied her for a long moment.

"Everyone who works here has an opinion about my accident. My brother thinks I'm finished. Mrs. Gable thinks I'm broken. The doctors think they understand what happened."

"And what do you think?"

Dominic looked toward the locked door behind the bookcase.

"I think someone wanted me in this chair."

Fay's fingers tightened around the empty glass.

Before she could respond, a sudden crash came from behind the locked door.

Both of them turned.