All Chapters of Billionaire Romance: Mine Tonight: Chapter 81 - Chapter 90

April, post-production was a different rhythm than principal photography. Instead of twelve-hour set days, Seraphine worked mostly from the editing suite or remotely reviewing cuts, giving notes, attending sound mixing sessions. Still intensive, but more flexible. “I can do school pickup today,” she told Damien one morning. “Editing session ends at two. I’ll get Charlotte from pre-K.” “Really?” Damien looked genuinely surprised. “You haven’t done pickup in three months.” “I know. I want to. I’ve missed the daily routine.” She kissed James, who was eating breakfast with more enthusiasm than accuracy. “And I can take James to his music class tomorrow morning. Give you a break.” “I don’t need a break. But I won’t say no to one.” Damien wiped James’s face, which was covered in yogurt. “He’s very messy this morning. Practicing his food-throwing technique.” “Dada, can I have a playdate with Sophie this week?” Charlotte asked, appearing with her backpack already on. “She wants to c

Late May, the film was scheduled for a fall festival premiere likely Toronto or Telluride, possibly both. Which meant Seraphine would need to attend, ideally for several days, leaving both children at home. “September premiere means James will be almost two, Charlotte will be five,” she said to Damien while reviewing the festival schedule. “Old enough to manage without me for a few days.” “You’re trying to convince yourself or me?” “Both. Neither. I don’t know.” She looked at the calendar. “Charlotte starts kindergarten in September. That’s a major transition. Leaving during her first month of kindergarten feels terrible.” “Then we don’t go to the early festivals. We aim for later ones. Or I come with you and we bring the kids.” “Bringing two kids under five to a film festival is objectively insane.” “But possible. Patricia could come as backup. We make it a family trip.” Damien pulled up his calendar. “I’m flexible. Primary parent privilege.” “You’d really do that? Manage two

Late July, James’s second birthday fell on a Thursday in late July. Unlike Charlotte’s elaborate parties, they kept James’s celebration small just family and close friends, backyard gathering, simple cake. “He won’t remember this anyway,” Seraphine said while setting up. “No need for extravagance.” “Charlotte will remember and judge us for giving James a smaller party than she got,” Damien observed, arranging chairs. “Charlotte got a small party at two also. Her big parties started at three when she could actually appreciate them.” Charlotte appeared with strong opinions about the decorations. “James needs MORE balloons! This is not enough balloons for a birthday!” “We have twelve balloons. That’s plenty.” “But I had TWENTY balloons at my birthday!” “You had twelve balloons at your two year birthday. Twenty was at your four year birthday. James is getting age appropriate balloon quantities.” Charlotte huffed, dissatisfied with this logic. “But he’s MY brother! He deserves EXTR

Late August, the flight to Venice was long ten hours from JFK with a connection in Frankfurt. Seraphine sat in business class, courtesy of the festival, trying to work on her laptop but mostly staring out the window thinking about her children. She’d left at 5 AM, before either child woke. Kissing sleeping heads, whispering promises to return soon, feeling like she was abandoning them despite knowing logically she wasn’t. Damien had texted an hour after she left: Both kids awake. Charlotte asked for you. Managed with promise of video call tonight. We’re fine. Fly safe. Fine. They were fine without her. Which was good. Also slightly painful. At the Frankfurt layover, she called home via video. Charlotte answered Damien’s phone immediately. “MAMA! Where are you? Are you in Italy yet?” “I’m in Germany. Halfway to Italy. How was your morning?” “Good! Dada made pancakes but they were SQUARE not ROUND but I ate them anyway because I’m being FLEXIBLE!” Charlotte was very proud of her

It was September, Charlotte’s first day of kindergarten began with a wardrobe crisis at 6 AM two hours before school actually started. “I need the PURPLE dress! The one with flowers! That’s my FIRST DAY dress!” Charlotte was adamant despite the purple dress being in the laundry. “The purple dress is dirty. You have the blue dress or the pink dress. Both are beautiful first-day dresses.” Seraphine was trying to stay calm despite minimal sleep from jet lag. “But I NEED purple! First day is SPECIAL and needs SPECIAL clothes!” “Charlotte, you have ten beautiful dresses. Purple is dirty. Choose blue or pink.” What followed was twenty minutes of negotiation before Charlotte accepted the blue dress “but ONLY because it has pockets and pockets are important for kindergarten things.” At breakfast, Charlotte was too nervous to eat. “What if the other kids don’t like me? What if I can’t find the bathroom? What if Ms. Chen forgot who I am?” “The other kids will like you. You’ll learn where