All Chapters of The Billionaire's One-Night Baby: Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

Celeste Before I could even gather my thoughts, Amara’s curious voice piped up, cutting through the thick silence. “Mommy…” she tugged at my arm, her wide eyes flicking between me and him. Then, with a sudden spark of recognition, she tilted her head. “Isn’t he the guy from the park? And… and at your work too?” My heart plummeted. I opened my mouth, desperate to say something—anything—to steer her away, but Sebastian beat me to it. “Yes,” he said, his voice smooth, steady. His eyes never left mine as he added, “That was me.” Amara gasped, delighted by her own memory being confirmed. She let go of my hand and gave a little wave. “Hi!” The corners of his mouth twitched—just slightly—but enough to betray the shadow of a smile. “Hi.” His reply was low, but there was something warmer in it than the clipped tone he reserved for me all week. I stood frozen, every instinct screaming for me to step in, to end this, to pull Amara back into my arms. And yet… I couldn’t. The words stuck

Celeste For a second, I thought I misheard Nicholas. My heart stopped, stuttering in my chest as the words hung in the air, sharp and unrelenting. He did. My gaze snapped to Sebastian before I could stop myself. He stood a few steps behind Nicholas, posture composed, expression unreadable. His hands were tucked neatly into the pockets of his linen trousers, but his eyes—those impossibly steady eyes—were locked on me. He didn’t flinch. He didn’t deny it. A cold wave crashed over me, flooding my chest with equal parts disbelief and anger. “You—” I started, my voice tight. “You did this?” He didn’t answer right away. The silence stretched, thick and suffocating, until finally, he said, “Yes.” Just one word. Simple. Final. Like it was the most natural thing in the world. I blinked at him, the lobby spinning for a moment. “Why?” My voice cracked despite my best effort to keep it even. “Why would you—” “Because it’s better,” he interrupted smoothly, his tone clipped but steady. “Th

CelesteThe resort’s glass doors slid open, and the salty breeze hit me like a rush of reality. Amara bounced ahead, her tiny floatie clutched in one hand, pointing toward the beach with a grin that stretched from ear to ear. Her excitement was infectious, and I found myself smiling, despite the nerves twisting in my stomach.I tugged at my sheer white cover-up, its lightweight fabric barely swaying with the breeze, but enough to brush against my thighs. Beneath it, my red bikini clung like a second skin, bold and confident even if I wasn’t entirely ready to own it. The halter top framed my collarbones, the subtle curve of my chest visible enough to feel the heat of every glance. The high-waist bottoms hugged my hips, accentuating curves I normally kept hidden behind pencil skirts and office blouses. My hair was clipped into a messy half-bun, a few loose strands brushing my cheek, and yet even with all these measures, I could feel the world—or at least the people near the beach—watchi

CelesteAmara’s laughter carried over the beach, sweeter than the ocean breeze. She splashed one last time before tugging at Sebastian’s hand. “Come on! Let’s build a castle before the sun goes down!”Sebastian blinked, clearly unprepared for her demand. “A castle?”“Yes!” Amara’s eyes shone with determination. “Mommy said sandcastles are magic if you make them before sunset.”I froze. I didn’t even remember telling her that, but leave it to my daughter to trap me with her imagination.Nicholas clutched his chest dramatically. “Oh no. Poor Sebastian. The mighty CEO turned into a royal architect for a tiny queen.”Tristan only chuckled, pushing his sunglasses up the bridge of his nose. “It suits him.”I bit my lip, hiding a smile. The idea of Sebastian kneeling in the sand, building towers with Amara, was so absurd it almost felt impossible. Almost.Amara tugged harder. “Please?”And then, to my shock, Sebastian actually crouched down beside her. His dark swim shorts brushed the sand,

CelesteBy the time we finished dinner, the night air had cooled, brushing softly against my skin as we left the dining hall. Amara walked between Nicholas and Tristan, still animated, recounting every detail of Sebastian’s story as though it had been a grand epic. Sebastian, however, excused himself after dinner, claiming there was something he needed to take care of.I managed a polite smile, though inside, exhaustion pressed down on me. The day had stretched me thin—sun, sea, Sebastian. More than enough to leave me restless and unsettled.When we reached our rooms, Nicholas bowed dramatically. “Parting is such sweet sorrow, little princess. But fear not—we shall meet again!”Amara giggled, giving him a clumsy curtsey before slipping her hand into mine. “Goodnight, Uncle Nic! Goodnight, Uncle Tristan!”Tristan gave her a faint smile, and Nicholas winked. Then the cousins disappeared down the corridor, leaving me blessedly alone with my daughter.Inside our room, I exhaled, finally l