Page 171 of My Big, Fat, Accidental Billionaire Husband

Three dots appear, disappear, appear again. Disappear. Finally:Do you believe him?

The question sits heavy in my chest. Do I? Can I trust again after being burned so badly?

The cautious part of me screams no. The part still raw from betrayal insists he’ll just hurt me again. But another voice, smaller but persistent, wonders if people can change. If some mistakes, even terrible ones, can be forgiven.

Before I can talk myself out of it, I open a new message to Dominic.

I got your voice memo. I’m willing to meet. Just to talk. Neue Galerie café, tomorrow at 12:15pm. It’s public, quiet, and I have a meeting nearby at 1:00, so it will be brief.

I hit send before I change my mind, then add:I’m sorry you were hurt during the break-in. Are you okay?

The reply comes almost instantly:I’ll be there. And yes, just a graze. I’m fine. Thank you for asking. And thank you for agreeing to hear me out.

I set my phone down, heart racing. What am I doing? Meeting the man who betrayed me? Who wanted to trade me to his brother? Am I really that desperate?

No. Not desperate. Brave, maybe. Or stupid. Possibly both.

But as scared as I am of being hurt again, I’m more afraid of what happens if I don’t at least hear him out. If I don’t give us both the chance to face what happened.

Some wounds need air to heal. And some truths need to be spoken face to face.

I return to the boutique hotel proposal, throwing myself into work to distract myself from tomorrow’s meeting.

But a small, terrifying hope has taken root in my chest.

Maybe things will work out between us after all.

46

Dominic

My heart fucking stops when her double-texts appear on my screen.

I got your voice memo... willing to meet... tomorrow at 12:15pm... sorry you were hurt during the break-in... you okay?

She’s concerned about me. Even after everything I did, she’s asking if I’m okay. The twist of guilt in my gut is swift and brutal.

I reply immediately:I’ll be there. And yes, just a graze. I’m fine. Thank you for asking. And thank you for agreeing to hear me out.

I set my phone down on my desk, my hands shaking slightly. She’s giving me a chance. Forty-five minutes in a public café. It’s more than I deserve, and I’m not going to waste a single second of it.

I call Arthur Sterling.

“I need that proposal we discussed ready by noon tomorrow,” I tell him. “The full partnership offer.”

“It’s nearly finished,” Arthur says. “I’ll have a final draft to you by 9 AM.”

“Make sure it’s airtight,” I tell him.

“Understood, Mr. Rossi. And, sir?”

My brow furrows. “Yes?”

“Are you absolutely certain you want to do this?”

I smile wanly. “More certain than I’ve been about any billion-dollar deal I’ve ever signed.”

“Very well, sir,” he replies, then disconnects.

---