Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Billionaire Married Me, Then Forgot How to Love Me: Kabanata 11 - Kabanata 20

(Serena)We don’t speak.We just move.Our bodies in tune. We circle the same fire, just waiting to fall into it.James brushes the hair from my face and kisses me like he’s trying to pour all his regrets into that one kiss. I try to accept it all. I want to.Like he’s tasting the woman he almost lost and promising himself he won’t let that happen again. At least that’s what I hope.His fingers trail over my jaw, down my throat, over my shoulder. Featherlight. Intentional. He knows what he’s doing—knows how to wake my body up one inch at a time.I reach for him, but he grabs my wrist gently, pinning it above my head. “Let me take care of you,” he murmurs, eyes locked on mine.And I let him. Who can say no to this?He kisses my collarbone, the hollow of my throat, the rise of each breast like he’s learning me all over again. His mouth is slow, open, deliberate.Every kiss is like a yes. Every touch, an apology he can’t quite say aloud.I feel the tension in my chest easing, slowly givi

(Serena)It’s almost midnight but Theo’s image is on our front doorstep.We see him on screen when the electronic doorbell chimes. He looks like a gangster from the hood, only super well dressed. He’s African American, six foot five, with a powerful build.Honestly, his presence is enough to make grown men cry. He looks like the epitome of a man’s man and sounds like it. What isn’t so obvious outwardly is that Theo is gay.He’s open, he’s out, and he’s proud. And no one is about to argue with him. Because despite him being Jame’s most trusted employee and friend, he’s also, according to James, a trained and lethal killing machine if he needs to be.James is still shirtless, hair damp from the shower, towel around his waist. I’m curled in the lounge chair by the window, wrapped in a robe.But the second I see Theo’s face on the screen, my stomach sinks. I know this means my husband is about to fly off somewhere. It always does. I should be used to it.But all I can think is not now. Pl

(James)I’m just getting out of my limousine with Theo when I hear her.“James.”She’s here. Theo gives me a look and heads for the jet.I turn to Savannah. “How did you know I was here?”“Your mother told me.”I’m not even going to ask how my mother knew. She knows when anyone in any Hale Industries takes a crap.“Why are you here, Savannah? It’s after midnight. You’ve been in hospital.”“I need to get this stuff with my parents sorted. I tried talking to them today. They hate me. I cannot be in a hotel room when I have the baby…”“Okay. I’ll talk to your parents as soon as I get back. You need to get home and rest.”“It’s just so hard to sleep. To shut off my brain. I’ve made such a mess of my life James. This baby deserves more… deserves a better mother.” Tears begin to roll down her face.I hate that she’s so scared. I hate that I didn’t go find her and fight for her. Maybe that’s all she needed. Like Serena, to feel chosen. Now it’s too late and all I can do is be there for her.

(Serena)Everything in here at Serena’s Bakery has a place. And every person knows theirs.Front of house is calm and professional. Customers linger, chatting over coffee and bakery treats or waiting in line to take boxes back to offices and apartments. It’s a steady flow, curated but welcoming.This isn’t chaos. It’s order. My kind of order. This is hard work but definitely my zen.I can almost forget all the current turmoil of my life here. Almost.“Serena—” Alex, my floor manager, pokes his head through the swinging door. “Special order pickup’s here early.”“I’ll grab it.” I head into the cool room and get the boxes of sandwiches, cookies, slices and mini muffins onto the trolley.I make my way out front. The displays look amazing, the coffee aroma is amazing. The atmosphere out here is welcoming and warm.I greet the customer personally, double-check their order with them, and thank them. They leave smiling. That’s what matters. Not just what we make — how we make them feel.When

(Serena)“I just wanted to apologize. I didn’t want to come to the house… I figured that would be too much,” Savannah says as she approaches the counter.Like she cares now about being ‘too much’.She nods like we’re on the same page. “I made such a scene. But the pains were real. Braxton Hicks. False labor. My body preparing apparently…”“James told me,” I say not wanting her to think I care.“This place is beautiful,” she adds, eyes skimming around the bakery. “Very you.”I raise my eyebrows. “You don’t know me.”“Maybe not,” she concedes. “But I can still see it.”I’m not sure why she’s here playing friends.A few customers mill behind her. Alex handles them like clockwork, giving me space.Savannah shifts her weight, glancing down at her perfectly manicured, neutral French nails. “I was really sorry to hear what you went through. When you lost the baby.”I keep my expression still. “Nothing stays sacred for long when the press gets wind of it.”“I didn’t hear it from the press.”I