A billionaire Bargain

ing of Mia's words, the brokenness in her eyes, and the weight of the secrets Mia had kept for so long. It wasn'

had Damien done to Mia? How deep was her connection with him? Why hadn't Mia told her the truth? The mo

t expecting anyone else. But when she saw Mia standing there, her f

oice barely audible. "W

, hesitant, like she was unsure of what to say. She closed the door behind her softly but

voice shaky, filled with regret. "I never wanted to h

stop the frustration from boiling up inside her. "Why didn't you tell me everything from the sta

scared, Lily. I was so scared. Afraid that you'd leave me, that you wouldn't understand. And... and afraid of what Damien wo

ice tinged with disbelief. "What does he have to do wi

ions too much to contain. "I... I don't know how to tell you this," she sobbed. "I've been so caught up in everyt

is grip this whole time?" she asked, her voice rising. "And you cou

sorry, Lily. I thought I was protecting you, but I don't know

I can forgive you for this, Mia. Not right now. I need time to p

erstand," she whispered, barely able to speak. "I'll gi

walked out of the apartment, leaving Lily standing alone in the emptiness that followed. The door clicked shut,

-

swered questions, the sense of betrayal. She sat down on the couch, her body feeling numb, too drained to even process what had just happened. She

lie down, lost in her tho

walked slowly toward the door, her mind still reeling. When she opened it, her breath hitched in he

g to keep her voice steady

th that all-too-familiar confidence. "I figured you might be in need of some company after

she didn't respond. She didn't hav

?" Lily demanded, her voice edged wi

n bothering to give her a direct answer. "You'll find out w

w the truth, but Damien was always so slippery, never giving her a straight answer. She took a deep br

ve been thinking about us," he said, his voice smooth and d

velvet box from his pocket and placed it on the table in front of her. The

he said, his gaze fixed on her, w

ened, after all the secrets, after all the pain. She opened her mouth to say something, but the words fel

re simply done with the conversation. "Think about it," he said casually. "But

ving the diamond ring. Was this the end of everything? Or was this t

words hanging in the air like a th

table in front of her, a symbol of everything that was both wrong and potentially right in