Beneath the Billionaire's Charm.

, and Theo straightened, the guarded ex

? More digging into my personal history? Or are we going t

e. But we'll go at your pace. Therapy isn't about forcing a

nd what if I'm not ready

in her chair. "There's no right or wrong way to do this, Theo. The onl

ndow. The ocean stretched endlessly before them, wild and unta

ulnerable," he said f

gently, her tone carr

ff of amusement. "Is that

ulnerability isn't a weakness, Theo. It's a strength. It me

Instead, he stood abruptly, pacing to t

so simple," he sa

e it's not worth the effort. But it is. Healing doesn't mean forgetting what you've

ssion unreadable. "And you reall

she corrected. "But only

ng her words, testing their sincerity. Finally,

e said. "Where

help him manage the anxiety and intrusive memories that often crept in uninvited. He resisted at first, h

ended, he seemed calmer,

said as she pac

an eyebrow

ou to practice one of the exercises we went over today. Just

s. "And this is

rnight," she said. "But it's

but she caught the faintest gl

lked her to the door, his ha

w?" she asked, pau

. "Yeah.

mile. "And Theo? Try to go easy on yours

look in his eyes was soft

and she allowed herself a moment to reflect. It wasn't muc

Theo Lancaster, tha

rt of him wanted to retreat into his usual routine, to bury himself in work or pour himself another glass of whiskey. But

sn't doing enough, that he wasn't enough. It was what had driven him to succeed, to build his empire,

s someone who cou

e hoped would be another productive session. She'd reviewed her notes from the day before, me

ed before she could knock, revealing Theo

said, stepping as

red, noting the faint su

The room was just as she'd left it-pristine and impersonal, though she n

she asked, gestur

ly. "Just somethin

, biographies, and a few titles

of your own?" she t

t that," he said dryly, though there

otebook. "Fair enough. How di

o the coffee table. "I tried them

nd

than I thought they'd be

oming from you," she

the tension in his should

n that. But today, I want to talk more about

ed instantly, the humor

cessary?" he asked

a said gently. "But

oment, he didn't speak, the silence stretching between them.

you want

share," she said. "Start whe

itter smile. "Comfortable is

aze steadily. "But you're in control h

ment, his gaze fixed on a di

itional sense. He wasn't abusive, not physically. But he was...hard. Cold.

letting him

He believed those things made you weak. If I wanted his a

rs tapping absently

ed. The perfect son, the perfect student, the perfect

in in his voice. "That must have bee

it didn't matter. I told myself I didn't need his approval, that

d n

xpression inscrutable.

see yourself and the world, but it doesn't define you. You've spent your whole life trying to prove your worth t

fingers tightening into fists. "It's h

at's why we're here. To hel

her words hanging between them. But then he n

aid. "Let's

r of hope-not just for Theo, but for the m