Page 121 of Valentine’s Billionaire Auction

As I straightened, I noticed movement at the edge of the room. Ruby stood in the doorway, her arms crossed, her expression unreadable. For weeks, we hadn’t spoken, the fallout of my explosion the day Kaira left still hanging between us. But now, as our eyes met, she gave me a small, tentative smile.

The staff began to murmur amongst themselves, some quietly thanking me, others offering reassurances that they believed in my sincerity. But my focus was on Ruby.

“Ruby,” I said, my voice steady. “We need to talk.”

She nodded and gestured for me to follow her. I left the staff in the dining room and followed her to her favorite sitting room. She sat on the couch, her posture relaxed.

“Well, that was unexpected,” she said.

I sat across from her, leaning forward with my elbows on my knees. “I had to do it. I’ve been a nightmare to everyone in this house, including you.”

“You have,” she said bluntly. “But why now? What changed?”

I hesitated, searching for the right words. “Kaira made me see things differently. She didn’t put up with my bullshit, and she called me out on things I’d been ignoring for years. She made me realize that if I kept going the way I was, I’d end up alone in every sense of the word.”

Ruby studied me, her expression softening. “She left an impression on you.”

“She did,” I admitted. “And now she’s gone, and I’ve spent weeks pushing everyone else away, too. I can’t keep doing that. I don’t want to go back to that same cold and lonely place I was in before she came here.”

She nodded slowly. “Roman, you’ve been hurting for a long time. Losing your parents, growing up the way you did—it’s enough to break anyone. But you’ve always had this need to prove you could handle it all on your own. I know I should have been a better aunt. I wanted to, but you pushed me away. You were so capable and independent. I was wrong to think that’s what I should have given you. I should have been around more. I left you alone for too long. You’re not alone, Roman. You don’t ever have to be. Not anymore.”

“I know that now,” I said. “Or at least, I’m trying to.”

Ruby smiled. “I’m proud of you. For doing this, for apologizing. It’s a start. A big one. Those people in that room would walk through fire for you. Most of them, anyway. I do hope you can appreciate that.”

I nodded, feeling a weight lift slightly at her words, though the burden of my past actions still sat heavily with me. “I want to,” I replied honestly. “I really want to start seeing things differently, Ruby. I want to believe that people care. Like really care. I’m jaded. I know that. I want to be different.”

“They do care, Roman. More than you know. It’s always been more than duty for them, for us. We stayed because we wanted to be here for you, because we care about you.”

“Thank you for being so patient with me. I’ve spent the last month replaying every word and action I’ve made over the years. I feel like such an ass.”

“Admitting you have a problem is the first step,” she said with a small laugh. “You’ll be better. I know you will. Take some time. I know your instinct is to chase after Kaira, but I think you need to let that rest a bit. Work on you. Heal. Then maybe there will be a chance.”

I shook my head. “That ship has sailed. I’m not putting her through that again. I’m just glad for the time we had.”

47

KAIRA

Nine Months Later

Istood in front of the mirror and looked at my reflection. Did I like what I saw?

Yes.

I was a confident woman.

At least that was what I was going to keep telling myself. I was a budding author launching my first book. This was my first step to success. I did it on my own dime and my own steam. Yes, I had some support from my parents and Carla, but this was mine.

I did this.

It had been a long nine months. The year felt like it dragged. Time seemed to slow down as I processed everything that happened at Roman’s mansion, separating myself from that world and forging my path through the maze of self-publishing. Each step was a revelation, a declaration that I could make it on my own, without the shadow of Roman’s influence looming over me.

I survived the media fallout after he announced our split and the fact that it was all fake. It had been brutal. Not something I ever wanted to live through again. Thankfully, I was shielded from the brunt of it in Philadelphia. And it wasn’t long before someone else did something scandalous and Roman Kelly’s fake fiancée was a distant memory.

I survived.

That was something I told myself every morning when I opened my eyes. I didn’t just survive, I thrived. Getting kicked to the curb by Roman turned out to be the best thing to happen to me. I got taken down to nothing, and when I picked myself up, it was me who was the caterpillar crawling out of a cocoon. I liked the new me. I rarely looked at myself in the mirror and noticed my thick thighs or belly that could be flatter.