Page 56 of A Billionaire's Second Shot

I’m writing this because I don’t know how to say it out loud. I miss you. I miss your laugh, your stubbornness, the way you always knew what I needed before I did. I thought I was doing the right thing by letting you go, but it feels like I’ve cut out a part of myself. I don’t know how to fix this, but I want to. I need to.

Tears blur the words as I read, the pain and longing in his voice cutting straight to my heart. Each letter holds a piece of him—a vulnerability he rarely shows, a love he’s carried quietly for so long.

By the time I finish the last letter, my cheeks are wet with tears, and Levi is watching me with an expression I can’t quite place.

“Why didn’t you send these?” I ask, my voice breaking.

“Because I was scared,” he says, his voice soft but steady. “Scared you wouldn’t want to hear from me. Scared I’d already lost my chance.”

“You never lost your chance,” I whisper, setting the scrapbook aside and taking his hands in mine. “You just... had to wait until we were ready.”

The weightof the past feels lighter now, replaced with something softer, something brighter. I look at Levi, and for the first time, I feel like this isn’t just about redemption or secondchances. It’s about us—who we are now, who we’ve fought to become.

“Thank you,” I say, my voice trembling. “For this. For everything.”

“You’re worth it,” he replies, his lips curving into a soft smile. “Every moment, every fight, every second—I’d do it all again for you.”

I lean forward, pressing my forehead to his, my heart full. “I think... I think I finally believe we can do this.”

“We can,” he says, his voice firm but filled with tenderness. “We already are.”

And as we sit there, surrounded by the memories of our past, I feel a quiet certainty settle over me. This isn’t just a second chance—it’s the beginning of something real, something that feels like home.

Chapter Forty-Four

Levi

The boardroom is tense, a symphony of murmurs and shuffling papers as the members settle into their seats. The air is thick with anticipation, every gaze flicking between Damon and me like we’re combatants preparing to face off in the ring. Tania sits beside me, poised and calm, her presence grounding me as I prepare to dismantle Damon’s lies once and for all.

Damon, of course, looks as smug as ever, reclining in his chair with an air of practiced indifference. It’s the same expression he’s worn since the day I met him—the look of a man who believes he’s untouchable.

Today, that changes.

“Gentlemen,”the chairman begins, his tone curt as he scans the room. “We’re here to address the accusations raised against Nichols Corp regarding the merger. Mr. Hardwick, as the sourceof these claims, you’ll have the opportunity to present your evidence. Mr. Nichols, you’ll have the chance to respond.”

“Gladly,” Damon says, his grin widening as he rises from his seat. He paces the room, his movements calculated, his tone dripping with faux concern. “Let me start by saying that my intentions here are purely professional. It’s my duty to ensure the integrity of our business dealings, and when I came across certain... irregularities in the merger documents, I felt compelled to act.”

He pauses, letting the weight of his words hang in the air. “The evidence speaks for itself,” he continues, gesturing to the folder in front of him. “Inflated projections, questionable accounting practices—it’s all here.”

He sits, his smirk firmly in place, and I feel Tania’s hand brush mine under the table. It’s a small gesture, but it’s enough to steady me.

“Mr. Nichols,” the chairman says, turning to me. “Your response?”

I stand,my gaze sweeping the room. “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. First, let me make one thing clear: these accusations are baseless, and they are nothing more than an attempt to sabotage Nichols Corp and my reputation.”

I pick up a folder from the table, opening it to reveal the evidence we’ve meticulously compiled over the past few days. “We’ve conducted a thorough investigation into these claims, and what we found was not just a lack of merit—it was proof of deliberate fabrication.”

I pass the documents to the board members, their expressions shifting as they skim through the pages. “The so-called irregularities Mr. Hardwick mentioned? They don’t exist.What does exist is a trail of falsified documents and altered communications, all traced back to Mr. Hardwick’s office.”

The murmurs in the room grow louder, a ripple of disbelief and outrage spreading through the group. Damon’s smirk falters, replaced with a flicker of uncertainty.

“May I add something?”Tania asks, her voice calm but commanding.

The chairman nods, and she stands, addressing the room with the same poise she displayed at the press conference.

“As someone who has worked closely with Mr. Nichols throughout this merger, I can personally attest to the integrity of his actions,” she says. “The evidence we’ve provided doesn’t just refute these accusations—it exposes a deliberate attempt to undermine this company. An attempt orchestrated by Mr. Hardwick.”

Her words land like a hammer, the weight of them silencing the room. I glance at her, my chest swelling with pride. She’s brilliant, confident, and completely unshakable.

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