The Billionaire and the Single Mom

knowledge of it hung between them, a silent understanding. He seemed to watch her more closely, as if waitin

e light fell in a room wasn't just architectural; it was curated. The single, stark sculpture in the entrance hall w

ts-checking a gutter, assessing the porch steps. The children, emboldened by his previ

ng stiffly in a rocking chair while Liam enthusiastically e

u have to sing a song, but only

ical state should not affect gameplay," Ju

rules!" Liam said, with all

twitched. "A

iving room to find Chloe showing Ju

e is happy. And this one is sad," Chloe said soft

ional state of a mineral is a fascinating concept," he

them. And they, in their innocent wisdom, were simply accepting him fo

tched them together. She was falling for him. Not for his money, not for his p

ek on business. The kids had missed him, asking daily when "Sir Julian" was retu

etter judgment, against Ms. Holloway's strict rules, she relented. They ra

emed like genuine pleasure crossed his f

!" Oliver yelled, thrusting a c

ong on the recorde

n. "The color scheme is... vibrant," he pronounced. Then he lo

ood on the porch, her heart in her throat. He let himself b

ween them, unspoken and electric. The carefully mai

ly leave. He stood with her on the porch, looking out at th

able," he said quie

he agreed. "T

e was no coldness in his tone. Only confusion. "

," Elara

er, his expression serious in the moonlight

h caught.

. You are resilient without becoming ha

The space between the

whispered, the wo

voice barely audible, "

s. He closed the distance

pent-up loneliness. It was the kiss of a man who had been starved for conne

ere both breathless. He rested his fo

judgment," he murmured, but

she b

ge this. You. Them. It is what

his chest, feeling his heart hammering aga

ficiency in the world couldn't compete with the utterly illog

e the kids did homework at the table. He'd listen to recorder recitals and critique crayon drawings with hilarious seriousness. He and Elara would tal

ht, took her down to the basement and showed her all his paintings. Landscapes, abstracts,

e perhaps was beneath the armor. She fell in

was too per

he twins. She was loading bags into the mi

God. It rea

lowly, she t

ith stress and anger. The charming facade was completely gone

ng here?" she ask

een watching. Waiting. Did you really think you could hide? Did

eave me alone, Mark. T

u ruined me! You took my children and you handed them over to that... that monster! Li

rom people in the parking lot. The twi

id, her voice shaking as s

her arm. "You're going to tell the police y

she yelled, tryi

amped down on Mark's shoul

y said t

Julian, in his typically efficient way, had arranged for discreet security to keep an eye on h

asing her arm. "This

You're violating a restraining or

isn't over! You think you've won? You've just traded one prison for another! He'll tire

hen turned and fled, disappearing betw

bing boys. The beautiful bubble had burst. The outside wo

in her ears: "Traded one prison fo

other, albeit a richer and more mysterious one? The seed of doub