Page 142 of My Big, Fat, Secret Billionaire Baby

“Has it?” sheasksquietly. “Or are you just… managing another crisis, Leo? Saying what you think I need to hear?”

Fuck.

She sees right through me.

Or maybe she just sees the patterns.

My father, charming his way out of trouble, making promises he never intended to keep, leaving a trail of broken trust and broken bottles in his wake.

Am I any different?

Am I capable of being different?

“I’m trying, Sabrina,” Isay, the words feeling scraped from some place deep inside that I usually keep barricaded. “For Mia. For… us. I’m fucking trying.”

Shedoesn’t replyimmediately. Just keeps looking at me with that unreadable expression.

Then, shegivesa small, almost imperceptible nod.

Not forgiveness.

Not even trust, not really.

But… acknowledgment?

It’s a start.

But even as Isaythe words, even as Imeanthem with every fiber of my being in this moment, a part of me, the old, familiar, restless part,feels…

Trapped.

Like a caged animal pacing its too-small enclosure. This new life... diapers, bedtimestories, emotional vulnerability, fuckingconsequences...it’sa world away from the freedom, the oblivion, I used to chase with such self-destructive fervor.

The Red Bull Chamonix invitation stillsitsin my inbox.

Unanswered.

A silent, seductive siren song.

The next morning,I’m in my home office, trying to focus on a term sheet for a new vibe coding startup. Sabrina’s across the room at her workstation, on a call with some financial journalist, expertly spinning the narrative about Maxwell & Briggs’s renewed stability. Mia is with Thomas, probably terrorizing the kitchen staff or attempting to redecorate the penthouse with pureed carrots.

My phone buzzes.

Luca.

What does he want now?

I answer, keeping my voice curt. “Briggs. What?”

“Leo! Partner! Urgent situation.” Luca’s voice is too loud, too fast, laced with that familiar manic energy. “Emergency investor meeting. On the books for this afternoon. Our biggest LPs. They’re spooked again. Rumors flying. Need you here. Now. Full court press.”

“Emergency meeting?” I frown. Michelle hadn’t mentioned anything. “What rumors? What happened?”

“Doesn’t matter! Just get your ass down to the office! We need to project unity, strength! The whole nine yards!” He sounds… frantic. More frantic than usual.

I glance over at Sabrina. She’s off her call now, watching me, her expression questioning.

“Luca, I’m working from home today,” I say carefully. “Sabrina and I are handling the PR angle from here. Send me the briefing docs…”

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