LOGINShare
Chapter 74: Richard’s Opening Move
publish date:
2026-05-14 13:10:13
Latest chapter
One Night with My Ex's Billionaire Best Friend Chapter 102: The Opening Moves
After the announcement, the ballroom shifts.People approach. Not just congratulations. Business.Real business. Real interest. Real opportunities.A woman in her fifties. Sharp suit. Confident stride.“Ariana Vale? I’m Jennifer Park. CEO of TechNova. I’d like to discuss your services.”“Of course. Let’s talk.”We move to a quieter corner. Emma still sleeping. Lucian handling another investor.“I watched your presentation. The one at Blackwood Technologies. Q4 strategy. Sustainability initiative. Brilliant work.” Jennifer’s direct. No small talk. “My company’s at a crossroads. We need strategic repositioning. Market expansion. The kind of innovative thinking you demonstrated.”“We’d love to help. What’s your timeline?”“Immediate. I want to sign a contract tonight if possible. Six-month engagement. Full marketing overhaul. Budget’s not an issue. I want the best. You’re the best.”My heart pounds. First major client. At the gala. Minutes after announcing.“I’ll need to review specifics
One Night with My Ex's Billionaire Best Friend Chapter 101: Arrival
The cameras start flashing before we’re out of the car.Press. Photographers. Everyone wanting the shot. Lucian Blackwood. Ariana Vale. Baby Emma. First public appearance.Chen opens my door. Bodyguard mode. Professional.“Ready, Ms. Vale?”“No. But we’re doing it anyway.”Lucian comes around. Takes my arm. Emma sleeping in my other arm. Perfect timing.We step onto the red carpet.Flashes explode. Questions shout.“Ariana! Look here!”“Lucian! How does it feel to be a father?”“Is that baby Emma?”“What are you announcing tonight?”Lucian keeps us moving. Steady. Confident. Protective.We pause for photos. Me. Lucian. Emma. Family.The champagne dress photographs beautifully. Emma’s white dress. Evelyn’s pink blanket. Lucian’s black tux.We look like success. Like family. Like everything we fought to become.“One more! Look here!”We smile. Wave. Move inside.The ballroom is stunning. Crystal chandeliers. Gold accents. Five hundred guests. All dressed immaculately. All watching us en
One Night with My Ex's Billionaire Best Friend Chapter 100: The Morning of the Gala
Three weeks after Emma’s birth. The morning of the gala.I wake to Emma crying. Four AM. Right on schedule.Lucian’s already up. Changing her. Talking softly.“Good morning, Emma. Yes, you’re wet. I know. Terrible. We’ll fix it. There we go. Much better.”I watch from bed. This man. My fiancé. Changing diapers at four AM without complaint.“You’re good at that.”He looks up. Grins. “Practice. Three weeks of practice. I’m basically an expert now.”“Expert might be strong.”“Fine. Competent. I’m competently changing our daughter’s diaper at four in the morning.” He brings Emma to me. “She’s hungry. Your turn.”I nurse Emma. Lucian makes coffee. Our routine. Three weeks old. Already established.“Big day today,” he says.“Enormous day. Gala. Company announcement. First public appearance with Emma. Everything.”“Nervous?”“Terrified. I’m three weeks postpartum. Exhausted. Leaking. And I’m supposed to announce a company to two hundred investors while holding a newborn.”“You’ll be incredib
One Night with My Ex's Billionaire Best Friend Chapter 99: Ethan’s Last Message
Two days after Emma’s birth, a package arrives at the hospital.Small. Carefully wrapped. Return address: Boston.Ethan.I stare at it. Lucian’s sleeping in the chair. Emma’s asleep in my arms. Visiting hours over. Just us.I open it.Inside, a children’s book. First edition. “Goodnight Moon.”A card falls out. Ethan’s handwriting.**Dear Ariana,****Congratulations on Emma. I saw the announcement. She’s beautiful. You look happy. Lucian looks proud. Everything looks exactly as it should be.****I promised a gift. Something simple. Meaningful. This book was my favorite as a kid. My mom read it to me every night. It’s the first thing I remember feeling safe with. Loved with. Home with.****I want Emma to have that. Safety. Love. Home. Things I couldn’t give you. Things Lucian can. Things you both will.****I’m doing well. Boston’s good. Job’s challenging. Sobriety’s holding. Therapy’s helping. I’m becoming someone I can respect. Finally. After years of being someone I couldn’t stand.**
One Night with My Ex's Billionaire Best Friend Chapter 98: Unexpected Allies
Labor starts at three AM.Not dramatic. Not sudden. Just, pressure. Discomfort. Knowing.“Lucian. It’s time.”He’s awake instantly. “Time time? Or false alarm time?”“Time time. Call the doctor. Get the bag. We’re going.”The hospital is quiet. Middle of the night. Skeleton staff. Efficient.They admit me. Hook up monitors. Check dilation. Four centimeters.“You’ve got time,” the nurse says. “Labor’s just starting. Could be hours. Could be quick. We’ll see.”Lucian calls everyone. Julian. Marcus. Evelyn. Sophia. Mrs. Caldwell.Within an hour, they’re all here. Waiting room. Pacing. Anxious.Six hours later, I’m at seven centimeters. Exhausted. In pain. Done.“I can’t do this. I can’t. It’s too much. Too hard. I want to quit.”Lucian holds my hand. “You can. You are. You’re doing it right now.”“I want the epidural. I changed my mind. I want drugs. All the drugs.”“Okay. We’ll get the epidural. Whatever you need.”The anesthesiologist arrives. Rebecca Chen.Wait. Rebecca Chen?“Rebecca
One Night with My Ex's Billionaire Best Friend Chapter 97: The Day Before
My due date is tomorrow.I wake up knowing. Just knowing.Emma’s coming soon. Maybe today. Maybe tomorrow. But soon.Lucian’s already awake. Watching me.“You feel it too?”“I feel it. She’s ready.”We spend the morning preparing. Checking hospital bag. Reviewing birth plan. Timing practice contractions.Everything’s ready. Has been ready for weeks.But today feels different. Final. Real.Mrs. Caldwell makes breakfast. Excessive breakfast. Pancakes. Eggs. Bacon. Fruit. Everything.“You need energy. Labor’s exhausting. Eat.”“I’m too nervous to eat.”“Eat anyway. Doctor’s orders. Well, my orders. Close enough.”Julian arrives mid-morning. Unannounced. Typical.“Came to check on you. Make sure you’re not panicking.”“I’m panicking.”“Good. Normal. Healthy.” He sits. “Can I tell you something? About becoming a parent?”“You don’t have kids.”“No. But I watched Lucian become a different person the moment you told him you were pregnant. Watched him go from workaholic CEO to guy who leaves
You may also like
Rude Awakenings
Turquoise Grace1.1M viewsTriplets on Secret Mission
Lamour Toujours1.3M viewsHIRED AS A BILLIONAIRE'S WIFE
Rossy690.2K viewsShe Accepted Divorce, He Panicked
Nyx Rai692.9K viewsToo Late, Billionaire, Now You’re the One Chasing Me
Elian Grace470 viewsThe Day She Stopped Waiting
Edidion Donald253 viewsThe Contract and What We Pretend To Be
B.Shadowhunter12 viewsMidnight Heat
Miyah28 views
