He moved beside her and took the spoon from her hand, taking over the mixing. “Let me help.”They worked quietly for several minutes. Finally he set the spoon down and turned to face her fully. “Chloe, look at me.”She did, eyes guarded.“I’m falling in love with you,” he said, the words rough but steady. “Not the contract, Not the image or the heirs or the protection. You. The woman who calls me on my bullshit, who builds something real with her own hands, who loves those babies so fiercely it makes me want to tear down every wall I’ve ever built. I want this marriage to be real. The life we’re building. All of it. I’m terrified of losing you, but I’m more terrified of going back to the empty version of myself I was before you walked into my office.”Chloe’s breath caught. Her hand moved to her belly, then slowly reached out to rest on his arm. She didn’t pull away. The touch lingered, warm and tentative, like a bridge neither of them had fully crossed yet.Before she could respond,
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