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Everything but wine

Penulis: Eden
last update Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-07-08 20:22:10

The clip had only been five minutes, but Benita had replayed it eight times.

Cillian stood in front of the cameras with that unreadable calm, his words echoing in her quiet office like a bruise pressed over and over again.

“Cillian St.James,” she muttered, “it suits him.”

She paused the video, her finger hovering above the trackpad, the screen frozen on his face. That face. Hardened by grief, sharpened by purpose. He didn’t look like the man who once held her like she was the only thing tethering him to this world. He looked like someone who had let go.

She sat back, exhaling through her nose.

Retiring the Dawson name. Rewriting his legacy. Choosing his family, finally.

But where did that leave her?

Since leaving the Bellington Estate, she’d been in a state of floating—neither here nor there. Technically, she still had access to the apartment Belle bought for her, but it felt too polished, too performative. Even now, this office didn’t feel like hers. She ran her fingers across the gl
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    CillianHe woke up before his alarm, the taste of her kiss still ghosting his mouth.It had been hours. Enough time to let it fade, enough distance to convince himself it didn’t matter. But it hadn’t. It hadn’t faded, and it did matter.Benita had looked at him like she hadn’t expected him—but hoped, maybe. Her voice had said his name like she used to, soft and unguarded. And then she kissed him.A mistake. He told himself that. A lapse. They couldn’t go back, not to what they were.But God, he wanted to see her again.He sat up, dragging a hand through his hair. His suit jacket was still tossed over the chair. He hadn’t even changed when he got home. Just collapsed into bed like someone hit him with a memory and a longing all at once.Roo.Cillian exhaled through his nose, just picturing that ridiculous puffball curling up beside her, nose twitching, paws in the air. Already sleeping next to her like he belonged.Lucky dog.He dressed quickly, kept his tie loose. There was too much h

  • Too Late to Want Me; I chose your Billionaire Brother   For the quiet days that being grief

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  • Too Late to Want Me; I chose your Billionaire Brother   The new name!

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  • Too Late to Want Me; I chose your Billionaire Brother   Welcome to independence

    Benita adjusted the last of the candles on the mantle, then stepped back and took in the living room.She’d never thrown a party in her life.Not one where she had to sweep her own floors, hang up her own string lights, call the plumber because the guest toilet made a sound like it was haunted, and order wine that wouldn’t offend every possible palate.But the room was warm. Quiet jazz hummed from a vintage speaker Kent had gifted her.The scent of cinnamon and pine rose from a candle the woman at the store had convinced her to buy. Benita made a mental note to go back and thank her.Outside, the garden flowers swayed softly in the breeze. Benita exhaled.It didn’t feel like a party.It felt like a beginning.One she’d earned.Her assistant, Lola, had come early to help decorate, and now that everything was set, it didn’t look so bad. Benita set out four glasses—then paused.Was Cillian coming?“They’re here,” Lola called from the kitchen. “Told you it wouldn’t be just us.”“I wasn’t

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  • Too Late to Want Me; I chose your Billionaire Brother   Everything but wine

    The clip had only been five minutes, but Benita had replayed it eight times.Cillian stood in front of the cameras with that unreadable calm, his words echoing in her quiet office like a bruise pressed over and over again.“Cillian St.James,” she muttered, “it suits him.”She paused the video, her finger hovering above the trackpad, the screen frozen on his face. That face. Hardened by grief, sharpened by purpose. He didn’t look like the man who once held her like she was the only thing tethering him to this world. He looked like someone who had let go.She sat back, exhaling through her nose.Retiring the Dawson name. Rewriting his legacy. Choosing his family, finally.But where did that leave her?Since leaving the Bellington Estate, she’d been in a state of floating—neither here nor there. Technically, she still had access to the apartment Belle bought for her, but it felt too polished, too performative. Even now, this office didn’t feel like hers. She ran her fingers across the gl

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