Page 38 of A Billionaire's Second Shot

What if he hurts me again? What if this time, it’s even worse?

I press the mug to my lips, the warmth seeping into my hands as I stare out the window. The thought of losing him again isunbearable, but so is the thought of opening myself up to the possibility of heartbreak.

How do you reconcile love with fear? How do you take a leap of faith when the ground beneath you has already crumbled once before?

Later that night,I find myself standing by the bedroom window, watching the city lights flicker like distant stars. The air feels heavy, the weight of my indecision pressing down on me.

“Do you ever think about what could’ve been?” I whisper, more to myself than to anyone else.

But when I turn, Levi is there, leaning against the doorframe. His expression is soft, his eyes filled with something I can’t quite name.

“All the time,” he says, his voice barely audible. “But more than that, I think about what could still be.”

The words make my chest tighten, and for a moment, I don’t know what to say. I don’t know how to balance the love I still feel for him with the fear of losing myself all over again.

But as he steps closer, his hand brushing mine lightly, I realize that maybe, just maybe, I don’t have to have all the answers right now.

Maybe it’s enough to just let myself feel.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Levi

The box feels heavier in my pocket than it should. Small and velvet-lined, it carries the weight of every mistake I’ve made and every hope I have for a future I’m not sure I deserve. I’ve spent days rehearsing what I want to say, but now, standing in the glow of the city lights on the penthouse balcony, every word I’d planned seems to vanish.

Tania is leaning against the railing, her hair catching the faint breeze. She’s quiet tonight, contemplative, and the air between us feels charged with unspoken tension. I’ve waited for the right moment, but now that it’s here, doubt creeps in, clawing at the edges of my resolve.

What if she says no? What if I lose her all over again?

No. I can’t think like that. I have to try.

“Tania,” I say softly, stepping closer.

She glances at me, her eyes reflecting the glow of the city below. “What’s up?”

I take a deep breath, my heart pounding as I pull the box from my pocket. Her gaze drops to it, and for a moment, time seems to stand still.

“Levi...” she whispers, her voice filled with something I can’t quite place.

“I know this isn’t what you were expecting,” I begin, my voice steady but thick with emotion. “And maybe it’s too soon, or maybe it’s long overdue. But I can’t keep waiting for the perfect moment, Tania. Because the truth is, there’s no perfect moment without you.”

Her breath catches, and I take her hand, holding it gently as I kneel before her. The city lights blur around us, but all I see is her—beautiful, strong, and the only person who’s ever made me feel like I could be more than the man I’ve always tried to be.

“Tania Caldwell,” I say, my voice trembling slightly. “You are everything I never knew I needed. You challenge me, ground me, and make me want to be better. I don’t want to spend another day pretending I can live without you.”

I open the box, revealing the simple yet elegant ring I chose weeks ago. “Will you marry me?”

For a moment, she doesn’t say anything. Her eyes dart between the ring and my face, and I can see the war waging inside her. I brace myself, my chest tightening with every passing second.

“Levi,” she says finally, her voice trembling. “I... I can’t.”

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. My hand falters, and I stand slowly, searching her face for some sign that she doesn’t mean it. But her eyes are filled with tears, her expression resolute.

“You can’t?” I repeat, my voice barely above a whisper.

She shakes her head, stepping back slightly. “I’m sorry. I just... I don’t know if I can trust this. Trust you.”

“Tania,” I say, my voice thick with emotion. “I’m not the man I was before. I swear to you, this isn’t about the deal or the merger. This is about us.”

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