บททั้งหมดของ The Billionaire’s Discarded Bride : บทที่ 61 - บทที่ 70

Caleb pov "You're right, I don't get to claim anything." I moved to stand beside her at the railing, careful not to touch. "But I want you to know what I've learned, how I've changed. I've been in therapy for years trying to undo the damage my father did. I've cut ties with everyone who knew the truth and stayed silent. I've restructured my entire company to prioritize ethics over profit.""Congratulations," she said sarcastically. "You became a decent human being. Want a medal?""I want a chance." The words came out raw. "Not for us, I know that's gone, but for Tom. I want to be his father, to make up for lost time, to give him everything I never had growing up."She looked at me then, really looked at me, and I saw the conflict in her amber eyes, the war between the part of her that wanted to protect Tom from me and the part that knew he deserved to have his father."Words mean nothing, Caleb," she said finally. "You can stand here and apologize and explain all you want, but it doe

Caleb pov She was sad about me, about what I'd done to her, about raising Tom alone while I'd been living in ignorance. The guilt sat heavy in my chest."Hey Tom, you know your mommy loves you more than anything, right?""I know." Tom placed a blue block carefully. "She tells me every day. And she works really hard to give me good things. That's why I try to be good and not make her sad."This three-year-old was trying to protect his mother's feelings, trying to be good so he wouldn't add to her burdens, and I wanted to gather him up and promise him that he'd never have to worry about that again."You can just be a kid, buddy," I said. "You don't have to try to be good all the time. Kids are supposed to be messy and loud and ask for puppies."Tom looked at me seriously. "Really?""Really, that's the best part of being a kid."He seemed to think about this, then deliberately knocked over our tower with a gleeful shout. Blocks scattered everywhere and Tom laughed so hard he fell over.

Bella pov "Fine, but I want final approval on all PR statements.""Done, and I want you to review the legal strategy against Jade and Richard."We spent the next hour going over details, falling into the easy rhythm of business discussion. This I could handle, Caleb the CEO was someone I could spar with professionally without the emotional complications."The board meeting is at 2:00 tomorrow at Black Tower," Caleb said as we wrapped up. "I'll send a car.""I have my own car.""I know, but arriving together sends the message we want."He was right again, which was annoying. "Fine, but I'm not pretending we're friends.""I'm not asking you to." His grey eyes were serious. "Just professional colleagues who happen to share a child."That afternoon, Tom had a meltdown about his shoes (the blue ones were "sad" apparently), and Caleb handled it with patience I didn't know he possessed. He sat on the floor with Tom, validated his feelings about the sad shoes, and helped him pick happy shoes

Bella pov We sat in awkward silence until the food arrived. Then I focused on my salad, grateful for something to do with my hands."You were brilliant in there," Caleb said finally."Just doing my job.""It was more than that, you commanded that room. Even Walsh was impressed and he's impossible to impress.""Is this the part where you tell me you're proud of me?" I set down my fork. "Because I don't need your approval, Caleb.""I know you don't, but you have it anyway." He met my eyes. "Bella, I'm not the enemy here. We're on the same side.""We're on Tom's side," I corrected. "That doesn't make us allies.""Doesn't it?" He leaned back, studying me. "We just spent two hours presenting as a unified team. We're living under the same roof, raising our son together, building a business partnership. At what point do you admit we're more than just reluctant co-parents?""We're not more," I said firmly. "We're two people making the best of a complicated situation.""Keep telling yourself

Bella POVI made it back to the penthouse in record time, my mind still spinning from what happened in the elevator. The kiss, the confession, the way my body had betrayed me completely.Tom was in the living room with Maya, building what appeared to be a penguin village out of blocks."Mommy!" He jumped up and ran to me. "Look what Aunt Maya and I made! It's Antarctica!""It's amazing, baby." I knelt down to hug him, grateful for the normalcy. "Did you have a good day?""The best! We played penguins and had mac and cheese and she let me watch three whole episodes!" Tom was bouncing with excitement. "Is Daddy coming home soon?"The casual way he said "Daddy" and "home" made my chest tight."Soon, he had some work to finish." I stood, meeting Maya's knowing eyes over Tom's head."Tom, why don't you show me the penguin emperor?" Maya suggested. "I don't think I saw him yet."Tom raced back to his blocks, already narrating the emperor penguin's backstory, and Maya moved closer to me."Yo