CHAPTER 129: WITH PRACTICE, AND THROUGH THE SHEER HONESTY OF HER HEART.

He was patient. He would guide her slowly, teach her carefully, until she not only trusted him but also longed to explore every corner of love and pleasure by his side.

That was what love meant—not the selfish hunger of taking, but the discipline to wait and the devotion to cherish.

And if two partners shared that kind of love, there was no fear, no hesitation. Only safety. Only trust.

"I’ll be waiting outside," Roman said at last, his baritone warm, carrying a gentleness that wrapped around her like a protective shield.

His lips curved into a soft smile, one so subtle yet powerful it made Julie’s insides ache.

It was the kind of smile that killed her defenses slowly, leaving her breathless and helpless against the force of his quiet affection.

He turned, preparing to walk away, his long strides already carrying him toward the door.

But then—

Something warm, smooth, and soft slipped into his hand.

Roman paused instantly, eyes flickering down to where her delicate fingers had caught his much larger hand.

The contrast was striking—his hand broad, veined, commanding, while hers was small, trembling, yet so full of will.

Julie’s touch was light, hesitant, but it held him firmly enough to stop him.

Roman’s chest tightened, a deep stirring in his heart.

Slowly, he turned his head back, his eyes locking onto hers, waiting silently for what she would say next.

Her lips parted, shaky but purposeful. "Thank you," she whispered, the words fragile yet heavy with meaning, like glass carrying light.

It wasn’t simply gratitude for a moment. It was her heart speaking—for his protection, for his patience, for his presence in her life.

Roman’s throat tightened. He opened his mouth, but before he could shape a reply, Julie’s gaze shifted forward, her lashes lowering slightly, as though she needed courage to do what her heart already commanded.

Her fingers loosened from his hand only to rise higher. Slowly, almost uncertainly, she raised herself on her toes. Her face tilted upward, soft breath brushing against his chin.

And then—her lips touched his.

A gentle press, fleeting at first, as if testing the very air between them. It wasn’t clumsy, nor stolen—it was something deeper, something born of pure will.

The trembling of her shoulders betrayed her nerves, but her kiss carried a boldness that startled him.

Roman froze, stunned. Julie... kissed him?

The world fell away—the distant hum of life, the shadows around them, even the air seemed to still.

All that remained was the faint sweetness of her lips against his.

It was not the first time she initiated a kiss, yet this one carried a difference that set her heart ablaze.

Julie lingered just a heartbeat longer, enough for her courage to bloom, before she leaned back slightly, her face burning but her eyes holding a new light.

A girl who once blushed at the mere brush of his sleeve had just dared to reach for his lips.

Oh, how astonishing, how utterly breathtaking.

This wasn’t the shy Julie who shied away from touch, who lowered her gaze in silence.

This was a Julie who chose—with trembling, with bravery, with love. She had learned how to kiss, With practice, and through the sheer honesty of her heart.

And Roman—Roman froze only for a heartbeat before his body betrayed him.

His hand rose to cradle the back of her head, fingers sliding into her hair, anchoring her closer.

The kiss, once tentative, became a dialogue of fire and softness, of daring and surrender.

When she finally pulled back, just enough for breath to break between them, her cheeks were flushed, her eyes wide with something between pride and disbelief.

Roman’s voice came low, rough, strained with all the emotions her simple act had stirred.

"You..." He exhaled slowly, eyes never leaving hers. "You don’t know what you’ve just done to me."

Julie, heart hammering, cast her eyes down briefly before lifting them again with a shy but unmistakable smile.

Her lips curved with both nervousness and triumph, as though she had just conquered something impossible.

And in that moment, Roman knew—this kiss was not just a kiss. It was a beginning.

---

📖 Special Author’s Note – A Heartfelt Letter to My Readers

Dear Beloved Readers,

First, allow me to say this — thank you. Thank you for walking with me through the pages of this novel, through the twists and turns of Roman and Julienne’s journey, through the heartbreaks, the moments of laughter, and the fragile silences between them.

Every comment, every click, every moment you spend with these characters keeps them alive.

They are not just names written on paper — they breathe because you have chosen to read them, to imagine them, to believe in their love, their struggles, and their triumphs.

When I first began writing this story, I never imagined how far it would grow, how many Chapters would unfold, or how deeply these characters would entangle themselves in my own heart.

Roman was meant to be a mystery at first — sharp, dangerous, unreadable — but as the Chapters expanded, I realized there was so much more to him.

He is not just a King in name; he is a man broken and rebuilt by love.

Julienne, on the other hand, began as someone fragile, almost lost in the noise of a world that dismissed her. But slowly, she bloomed.

With every challenge, with every whisper against her name, she found the strength to stand taller.

And you, dear readers, witnessed that growth with me.

Sometimes when I write, I imagine you sitting quietly somewhere, phone in hand, scrolling through each Chapter late at night.

Maybe your heart races when Roman steps into a scene. Maybe you smile shyly when Julienne says something bold.

Maybe you even get angry when Rachel, Miranda, or the others stir trouble — but isn’t that what makes this story alive? The way you feel these emotions is proof that this isn’t just a story, it’s an experience.

And I want you to know — that means everything to me.

This novel is not just about love; it is about redemption, about choices, about how fragile we humans can be, and yet how strong we are when we hold onto something that matters.

I’ve written betrayal, but I’ve also written loyalty. I’ve shown pain, but I’ve also shown healing.

In many ways, Roman and Julienne’s story is a mirror of us all — imperfect people, searching for belonging, and finding that love, in all its forms, is the one thing that can both destroy and rebuild us.

Before we dive into the next Chapter of Roman and Julienne’s Heart Desire, I want to pause for a moment.

Sometimes stories move so quickly—scandals, secrets, love, betrayal, and victories—that we forget the people who are walking beside us with every Chapter: you.

You are the reason this story breathes. Each click, each moment you spend reading, each thought you give to Roman and Julie—whether you are cheering for them, questioning their choices, or even frowning at the villains—means more than I can ever put into words.

I often imagine you there: reading at night under a dim lamp, or stealing a few minutes in the middle of your busy day just to see what happens next.

Perhaps you’re laughing when Julie’s innocence turns into courage, or sighing when Roman lets his emotions show through his carefully guarded armor.

Maybe you’re rolling your eyes at Rachel’s schemes or holding your breath when Grand Lisa takes control of the room.

Every reaction you have—joy, anger, excitement—fuels this journey.

Writing this story has never been about rushing to the end. Instead, it’s about savoring each step of Roman and Julie’s relationship, about watching them stumble, fall, rise, and slowly build a love that feels unshakable.

And knowing that you, dear reader, are with me in that process—it makes all the late nights, all the edits, and all the rewrites worth it.

When I write Roman, I think of strength wrapped in silence, a man who knows the world bends to his will but still finds himself shaken by the softness of one woman.

When I write Julie, I think of resilience hidden in gentleness, a girl who the world tried to crush but who rises like dawn, lighting every shadow around her.

Together, they are imperfect, fragile, stubborn, and yet they are the very definition of what it means to fight for love.

But this is not just their story. It is also yours. Because every reader who turns these pages becomes a witness to their love—and in some ways, a guardian of it.

So, from the bottom of my heart: thank you. Thank you for giving Roman and Julie a space in your heart. Thank you for letting me tell this story, one Chapter at a time.

Thank you for your patience on slow days, for your excitement on release days, and for believing that this love story is worth your time.

This Chapter is for you.