Roman and Julienne's heart desire
Chapter 47: My wife.

Chapter 47: My wife.

"Hm, seriously..." Lisa muttered as she sat back in the car, arms folded, brows drawn in quiet contemplation.

A small smile crept across her face as she sat alone in the passenger seat, gazing out the window. "But she is beautiful," she murmured to herself, "and she seems kind..."

Then her smile faded slightly, a thoughtful crease forming on her forehead. "But instead of the one he was kissing, I prefer the one he hid behind him..."

Her eyes narrowed.

"Wait..." Her voice sharpened, breath catching. "Why did he hide her behind him?"

There was a long pause, then Lisa’s eyes widened in sudden realization. "Oh God. Is she the one?"

She spun around to Albert, her driver. "Turn. Turn the car, Albert. Let’s go back to Roman. Now."

Albert, without a word, swerved the vehicle into a tight U-turn. They hadn’t driven far from the mansion, and within minutes, they pulled up to in front of Grand door of Roman’s mansion.

Lisa was already half out the door before the car stopped, her footsteps quick and impatient as she rushed inside.

So eager.

Upstairs, in the bedroom, Julie sat quietly on the edge of the bed.

Her fingers were laced tightly in her lap, mind wandering through everything that had happened.

The mansion felt impossibly large and silent, yet heavy with unseen eyes and expectations.

A knock echoed on the door.

Julie stood, brushing her dress down nervously. She expected a maid. But when she opened the door, her breath caught.

There, standing firmly with hands planted on her waist, was an older woman—sharp-eyed and elegantly dressed, with the air of a queen in exile.

Lisa.

Julie froze.

Lisa’s eyes scanned her, slowly and deliberately, before she gave a single, approving nod.

"You are indeed the one," she said, turning on her heel. "Come with me."

’ Oh my did she realize it,’ Julie said in her mind and she fold her fingers because of nervousness.

Julie, who knew exactly who this woman was, didn’t dare hesitate. She followed obediently, her heart hammering in her chest.

Meanwhile, in the bathroom, Roman stepped out, a towel draped casually around his neck, steam curling around him. He glanced toward the bed, expecting to see Julie there. But the room was empty.

"Julie?" he called out lightly, running a hand through his damp hair.

Silence.

He quickly pulled on a shirt and strode out of the bedroom, checking the hallway.

Still no sign of her. A flicker of concern passed through him as he descended the staircase.

Downstairs, in one of the mansion’s quiet sitting rooms, Julie was perched nervously on a velvet couch, her hands clasped tightly in her lap.

Lisa sat across from her, studying her like a scholar inspecting a rare manuscript.

Her sharp eyes twinkled with something between amusement and pride.

"You know," Lisa finally said, tilting her head, "seeing that you’re in my grandson’s bedroom says quite a bit."

Julie’s cheeks flushed, and she opened her mouth to speak, but the words tangled in her throat.

"You’re his girlfriend, right?" Lisa pressed, lips twitching at the corners.

Julie’s eyes widened. She parted her lips again—just as a voice came from above.

"Grandma?"

Both women looked up.

Roman stood at the top of the stairs, his eyes immediately locking onto Julie’s.

Relief and confusion flashed across his face as he descended with purposeful steps.

Julie swallowed hard.

Lisa just leaned back in her seat, smiling faintly. "Well," she muttered under her breath, "this is about to get interesting."

Roman took the steps two at a time. As he reached the bottom, his sharp eyes flicked from Julie’s tense expression to Lisa’s calmly curious one.

There you are, Lisa thought, keeping her face composed. Protective already. That’s a good sign.

"Grandma," he said, his voice low but edged with caution. "What are you doing?"

Lisa didn’t look at him. She kept her eyes on Julie, watching her reaction instead.

"I could ask you the same thing, Roman," Lisa said lightly. "Hiding a woman behind you like a secret? That’s not like you."

Julie shifted uncomfortably in her seat, her fingers twisting in her lap.

Nervous. But not fake. Not desperate to impress—just scared she won’t fit.

That’s real. That’s good.

Roman moved closer to her, his eyes softening the moment he saw how anxious she looked.

Without hesitation, he reached out and gently took Julie’s hand in his.

"She’s not a secret," he said, looking down at Julie. "She’s my wife."

Julie’s head turned quickly to him, surprised by how easily he said it—without shame, without pause.

Lisa blinked. "Wife?"

Roman turned to face her fully, standing tall. "Yes," he said simply. "We got married. Quietly."

Wife. The word hit Lisa like a warm breeze.

For a moment, she said nothing.

After all that pain... he found someone new. Someone he chose. Not someone who played with him like a toy and ran to his enemies.

"Married," she repeated, almost to herself. Then, slowly, a smile spread across her face.

After all these time that she keep nagging him to settle down now he finally deed and Lisa feel like it a dream.

"Well, that explains the way you looked at her." Her eyes twinkled as she glanced at Julie.

"And the way you hid her—like some precious jewel you didn’t want the world to touch."

Julie blinked, heart thudding.

Lisa stood and approached them, her gaze never leaving Julie. "You must think I’m here to interrogate you," she said gently. "But I only came back because I had a feeling."

Julie opened her mouth, trying to speak, but Lisa held up a hand.

"I saw something earlier," Lisa said, her tone softer now. "Something real. You’re not like the others. You’re not clinging to him for power or name. You were scared—for him. That said everything."

She’s not using him. She’s protecting him. Like he’s something fragile. Like he’s worth something. My God, Roman... you chose right this time.

Lisa turned to Roman. "She’s not what I expected," she said. "But she’s exactly what you need."

Roman gave a quiet nod, pulling Julie just a little closer.

"I know," he said.

He says it like a man who’s sure. Not like the wounded boy who wouldn’t speak for days after her. That girl... she nearly broke him. But this one? She might save him.

Lisa looked at them one more time—together, steady, unshaken—and then she stepped forward and cupped Julie’s cheek.

"I’m glad he married you," she whispered. "It’s about time someone brought light into this cold house."

Julie’s eyes misted over. "Thank you," she said softly.

She means it. I can feel it. This girl isn’t pretending to care. She already does.

Lisa straightened with a small, satisfied huff. "Now, I need tea. And you—" she pointed at Roman, "—you better not mess this up."

Roman chuckled. "Yes, Grandma."

Good. He’s smiling again. A real one. When was the last time I saw that?

"And you—" she turned to Julie again, warmth now fully in her eyes, "—call me Lisa. Or Grandma, if you like."

Julie smiled, genuinely now. "Okay... Grandma."

Lisa patted her hand and walked toward the kitchen like she owned the whole estate—which, technically, she once did.

He’s finally free of that shadow. And this girl... maybe she’ll give him a future that doesn’t hurt to remember.

As she left, Roman turned to Julie and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

"I told you she’d like you," he murmured.

Julie let out a shaky breath. "You didn’t tell me she’d love me."

Roman smirked. "Well... you are hard not to love."

Julie rolled her eyes, but her smile lingered and suddenly Roman pull her to himself.

Lisa moved through the familiar hallways of the mansion with the quiet confidence of someone who had walked them for decades.

The house had grown quieter over the years—more guarded, colder somehow. But today... today, it felt different.

She stepped into the kitchen, opened the cupboard, and began preparing tea like she used to when Roman was a child and would come home scraped and scowling.

Her hands moved easily—boiling water, choosing the tea leaves, warming the cups.

’ So, she’s the one.

Not a fling. Not a fragile rebound. A wife. A real choice.’ She said in her head.

She smiled to herself as she poured hot water over the tea leaves, the steam curling into the air like the quiet breath of contentment.

’He looked peaceful. I haven’t seen that look on Roman’s face since.’

Her expression darkened for a second, remembering the other girl.

’ The one who betrayed him like it meant nothing. All that charm, all those lies... I should’ve trusted my gut back then.’ she sighed shaking her head.

She stirred the tea slowly, letting the bitterness of that memory dissolve.

" But this girl... Julie. She’s different. She didn’t cling to him. She didn’t perform. She sat there like she didn’t want to be a burden. Like she didn’t know she already mattered."

Lisa chuckled softly, a sound that surprised even herself.

’ And the way he looked at her—God, Roman, you’ve grown up. You’ve finally chosen someone with your heart and not just your pride.’ she said her head.

She carried the teapot to the counter, letting it steep as she leaned against the marble edge, fingers tapping thoughtfully.

’ Now, who is this girl, really? Where’s she from? What kind of family raised a woman who could soften my grandson’s walls like that?’

Lisa made a mental note to ask Julie soon—gently, of course. She didn’t want to scare her off, but she was curious, and rightly so.

And when were they going to tell the rest of us? A secret wedding? Really, Roman? That boy thinks just because he signed papers it counts.

She shook her head fondly.

They need a ceremony. A real one. With music and vows and flowers.

Something beautiful—something she deserves. Something he deserves, too, even if he doesn’t think so.

A small, satisfied smile tugged at her lips.

"Yes. I’ll ask them. Not today—today, I’ll let them breathe. But soon. There will be a celebration. This family needs one. And they need to be seen. Loved. Properly." Lisa said smiling at herself.

Lisa poured herself a cup of tea and walked toward the window. She looked out over the garden, sunlight breaking through the clouds.

" It’s been a long time since I felt hope in this house. But it’s here now.

She sipped her tea, eyes warming with memory and something softer—something like peace." She said breathing in the air.

"Thank you, Julie. You’ve done what none of us could. You gave Roman back his heart." Her voice great full as she thought of them, both Julie and Roman.