Page 47 of The Billionaire's Destiny

Tears slipped down my cheeks, but I stayed rigid. “You matter to me, Rocco. All I want is for you to be happy.”

Silence stretch longer than minutes and my insecurity rose. With Rocco, I imagined us happy about having a child when the time came.I took away our time.

“You’re scared?” Rocco finally asked in a gentle tone.

My throat closed, and I was unable to answer.

“Come here.” He opened his arms, and I edged closer, resting my head against his chest. My heart pounded against my ribs, and my mind swirled with doubt. Was this comfort, or was he being a gentleman?

His hand settled lightly on my back, and I closed my eyes. He was offering comfort, though not quite as before. I wanted to collapse in tears, but instead, I stayed in his arms, silent and absorbing the solace he still gave me, even after all I’d done. That was one of the countless reasons I loved him and wished he would be mine forever. I thought about his words, about his love for me.

“Your well-being is more important than creating a movie studio and my inheritance. You are the most important part of my life. Nothing matters to me more than you.”

He loved me. Thank God, he loved me.

But how long until he forgave me?

Ding. Rocco’s phone sounded.

I lifted my head from his chest and sat back next to him as he answered the call. “Gunnar, talk to me. Yes… Hmm… Why… Oh… Right now? I’ll be right there.” He hung up, dragging his hand over his face and blowing out.

I tensed. “What happened?”

“Gunnar said there’s something on the video that can’t wait.” His gaze turned distant.

“What could it be?” I pressed, worry growing in my chest with every heartbeat.

“I’m not sure…In six years together, he’s never told me to drop everything and come. Did you leave something out?” His voice stayed steady, but a flicker of doubt crept in, making me tense. For a moment, his suspicion made me question myself, guilt prickling under my skin until I shook it off. “Rocco, I toldyou everything I saw, even the parts I wish I hadn’t. Maybe Gunnar just sees things another way.”

“Maybe,” he said, returning his phone to his blazer and rising from the couch. “Anyway, I’ll be back later.”

I moved to stand. “I’d like to come with you. I could help—”

“No, you can’t,” he said abruptly.

I frowned. “Why not?”

“It’s going to be a lawyer-client meeting; it’s confidential. It’d be the same if you met with Ian. I’d stay out of it.”

“Oh,” I murmured.

He bent down and picked up the hotel’s service tablet. “I’ll try to make it back as soon as I can, but the photoshoot’s an early call. If it’s not too late, we can still go out.” He tapped on the screen.

I kneaded the knots in my neck, tension coiling through my muscles. “No, thanks…I’m not up for it.”

“Get a massage. There’s a spa in the suite.”

I peered around the living room. “What? In here?”

“Yes,” he said and handed the tablet to me. He had ordered risotto and two chocolate desserts.

I smirked. “How do you know I want risotto?”

“You love risotto, and you wouldn’t want to miss it here.”

“Two desserts?”

“There may be two of you.”