The Billionaire regret: Reclaiming his contract Bride

Cracks in the Wall

CHAPTER 11

One week later...

I woke up to the sound of voices in my kitchen.

Liam's laughter. And Damien's voice.

I grabbed my phone. Six-thirty AM.

What the hell?

I threw on a robe and walked out.

Damien was making pancakes. Liam was sitting on the counter—which I specifically told him not to do—helping mix the batter.

"Morning, Mommy!" Liam called out cheerfully.

"Morning," I said slowly. "Damien, why are you here so early?"

"I couldn't sleep." He flipped a pancake. "Figured I'd come make breakfast."

"You have a key now?"

"You gave me one last week. For emergencies."

"This isn't an emergency—"

"Isn't it? My son was about to go hungry." He grinned.

Liam giggled.

I should have been mad. Should have told him this was crossing a line.

But instead, I found myself smiling.

"You're ridiculous."

"And you're beautiful in the morning."

I froze. Liam looked between us.

"Daddy thinks you're beautiful!" he announced.

"I—" Damien looked flustered. "I just meant—"

"Coffee," I said quickly. "I need coffee."

"Already made." Damien pointed to the pot. "Your favorite. Decaf latte."

Of course he knew my coffee order.

I poured myself a cup. Sat at the table.

Watched Damien cook breakfast with our son.

This was becoming too normal.

Too comfortable.

Too much like a family.

And I was terrified of how much I wanted it.

After breakfast...

Damien took Liam to school. I stayed home to work.

Except I couldn't focus.

All I could think about was Damien's words. You're beautiful in the morning.

Stupid. It was stupid to let it affect me.

But it did.

My phone rang. Richard Cross.

I stared at it. I hadn't spoken to Damien's grandfather in five years.

I answered. "Hello?"

"Sophia, my dear. It's been too long."

His warm voice made my eyes sting. Richard had always been kind to me.

"Hi, Richard. How are you?"

"Old. Tired. Missing my great-grandson whom I've never met." A pause. "Damien tells me you're coming to New York for the gala."

"I... yes. For work."

"And bringing Liam?"

"No, he's staying here with—"

"With his father. Yes, Damien told me." Richard sounded pleased. "It's good. You two are figuring things out."

"We're just co-parenting—"

"Are you?" Richard chuckled. "Sophia, I've known my grandson his entire life. I've never seen him like this. Talking about Liam constantly. Smiling. Actually smiling. You've changed him."

"I haven't done anything—"

"You gave him a son. A reason to be better. That's everything." Richard's voice softened. "He hurt you terribly. I know that. But people can change, my dear. If you let them."

"Richard—"

"Just think about it. That's all I ask." He paused. "I'd very much like to meet my great-grandson someday. If you'll allow it."

My throat tightened. "Maybe. Someday."

"That's all I can ask for. Take care, Sophia."

He hung up.

I sat there, phone in hand, emotions swirling.

Everyone was pushing me toward Damien.

Maya. Richard. Even Liam.

But could I do it?

Could I really open my heart to him again?

That evening...

Damien came for dinner. Another routine now.

I made chicken and vegetables. Liam complained about the vegetables. Damien told him one bite for every year he'd been alive.

"That's four bites!"

"You're a big boy. You can handle four bites."

Liam grumbled but ate them.

After dinner, Damien helped clean up.

"You don't have to do that," I said.

"I want to." He was washing dishes. In my kitchen. Like he belonged here.

"Damien—"

"My grandfather called you today."

I stopped drying the plate I was holding. "How did you know?"

"He told me he was going to." Damien glanced at me. "What did he say?"

"That I've changed you. That you're happy."

"He's right."

"Damien..."

"I am happy, Sophia. Happier than I've been in five years. Maybe ever." He turned off the water. Faced me. "Being here. With you and Liam. This is everything I didn't know I wanted."

"You can't just..."

"Why not? Why can't I tell you how I feel?"

"Because it's not that simple!"

"Yes, it is!" He stepped closer. "I love you. I love our son. I want to be with you. It's that simple."

"It's not simple when you broke my heart..."

"I know I did. And I'm sorry. I will spend the rest of my life being sorry." He reached for my hand. This time I didn't pull away. "But at some point, you have to decide. Are you going to keep punishing me forever? Or are you going to give me a chance to make it right?"

"I don't know if I can..."

"Can what? Trust me? Love me?" His thumb traced circles on my palm. "Or can you admit that you already do?"

My breath caught.

Because he was right.

I did love him.

I'd never stopped loving him.

And that terrified me.

"I'm scared," I whispered.

"I know." He pulled me closer. "I'm scared too."

"You're scared?"

"Terrified. Scared I'll mess this up. Scared you'll never forgive me. Scared I'll lose you again." His forehead rested against mine. "But I'm more scared of not trying."

We stood there. Barely breathing. Barely touching.

So close to something.

"Mommy! Daddy! Come watch my show!"

We jumped apart.

Liam was in the living room, completely oblivious to the moment he'd just interrupted.

"Coming, buddy," Damien called.

He looked at me. "To be continued?"

I nodded. Couldn't speak.

We went to watch Liam's show.

Sat on opposite ends of the couch.

But I could feel Damien's eyes on me the whole time.

Later that night...

After Liam was asleep, Damien and I sat on the couch.

Not talking. Just sitting.

"Richard wants to meet Liam," I said finally.

"I know. He mentioned it."

"What do you think?"

"I think Liam deserves to know his great-grandfather. Richard's a good man. He'll love him."

"In New York?"

"Whenever you're comfortable." Damien looked at me. "No pressure. No rush. When you're ready."

I nodded.

"Sophia?"

"Yeah?"

"The gala is next weekend."

"I know."

"You sure you want to leave Liam with me? For two whole nights?"

"Are you saying you can't handle it?"

"No, I can handle it. I just..." He ran his hand through his hair. "I don't want you to worry. I'll take good care of him."

"I know you will."

He looked surprised. "You do?"

"Yeah. You've been here every day for a month. You're a good dad, Damien."

His eyes softened. "That means everything. Coming from you."

We sat in silence.

"I should go," he said finally. But he didn't move.

"Yeah," I agreed. But I didn't want him to.

"Sophia?"

"Yeah?"

"Can I..." He hesitated. "Can I kiss you?"

My heart stopped.

"I don't think that's a good idea..."

"I know. I know it's not. But I can't stop thinking about it." He turned to face me. "I can't stop thinking about you. About us. About what we could be."

"Damien..."

"Just once. Just... let me kiss you once. And if you feel nothing, I'll back off. I'll stop pushing. I'll just be Liam's dad and nothing more."

"And if I feel something?"

"Then maybe you'll give me a chance."

I should have said no.

Should have kept my walls up.

Should have protected my heart.

But I didn't.

"Okay," I whispered.

Damien moved closer. Slowly. Giving me time to change my mind.

I didn't.

His hand cupped my face. Gentle. Careful.

"Tell me to stop," he whispered.

"I can't."

And then he kissed me.

Soft at first. Testing. Asking.

Then deeper.

And I was lost.

Five years fell away. All the pain. All the hurt. All the fear.

In that moment, it was just us.

Just Damien and Sophia.

Just two people who'd broken each other and maybe, just maybe, could put each other back together.

He pulled back. Rested his forehead against mine.

"Tell me you felt nothing," he said.

"I can't."

"Tell me you don't love me."

"I can't."

"Tell me you don't want this."

"I can't." Tears streamed down my face. "I can't, Damien. Because I do. I do love you. I do want this. And it terrifies me."

"Then be terrified with me." He kissed my tears away. "Be scared. But don't push me away. Please."

"What if you hurt me again?"

"I won't."

"You don't know that..."

"Yes, I do. Because losing you once nearly destroyed me. I won't make that mistake again."

I looked into his eyes. Saw the truth there.

He meant it.

Every word.

"I need time," I said.

"Take all the time you need."

"And we take this slow."

"As slow as you want."

"And you have to promise me something."

"Anything."

"Promise me you won't break Liam's heart. Whatever happens between us, you don't disappear on him."

"I promise. I swear on everything I am, I will never abandon our son."

I believed him.

For the first time in five years, I actually believed him.

"Okay," I said.

"Okay?"

"Okay. We can... we can try."

His smile was so bright it hurt to look at.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. But slow, Damien. Really slow."

"The slowest." He kissed me again. Quick. Sweet. "I can do slow."

The next morning...

I woke up alone.

For a second, I thought I'd dreamed it.

Then I smelled coffee.

And pancakes.

I walked out to find Damien cooking breakfast. Again.

"You're here early," I said.

"Couldn't sleep." He grinned. "Too excited."

"About pancakes?"

"About you." He pulled me close. Kissed my forehead. "Morning, beautiful."

Liam ran out. "Daddy! You're here!"

"Of course I'm here, buddy. Where else would I be?"

Where else indeed.

I watched them. Father and son. Making breakfast together.

And I let myself hope.

Just a little.

That maybe, just maybe, this could work.

That maybe we could be a family.

A real family.

The kind Liam wanted.

The kind I'd always dreamed of.

The kind Damien had destroyed five years ago but was fighting to rebuild now.

It wouldn't be easy.

There would be setbacks. Arguments. Fear.

But maybe, just maybe, it would be worth it.

Three days later...

My suitcase was packed. Flight to New York tomorrow morning.

Liam was devastated.

"But I want to go with you!"

"I know, baby. But I'll only be gone two nights. Daddy will be here."

"It's not the same."

Damien knelt down. "Hey, buddy. How about this? While Mommy's gone, you and I will have a guys' weekend. We can do whatever you want."

"Anything?"

"Within reason." Damien looked at me. I nodded.

"Can we get pizza?"

"Absolutely."

"And ice cream?"

"For sure."

"And stay up late?"

Damien hesitated. I shook my head slightly.

"Maybe a little late," Damien amended. "But not too late."

"Okay!" Liam seemed satisfied.

That night, I put Liam to bed.

"Mommy?"

"Yeah, baby?"

"Are you and Daddy getting back together?"

I froze. "What makes you ask that?"

"You smile at him now. And he smiles at you. And sometimes you hold hands."

We did. We'd been holding hands more.

"Maybe," I said carefully. "Would that be okay with you?"

"Yes!" Liam bounced on his bed. "I told you! I told you you should be friends!"

"Okay, settle down. Time for sleep."

"But Mommy..."

"Sleep." I kissed his head. "I love you."

"Love you too."

Damien was waiting in the hallway.

"He asked if we're getting back together," I said.

"What did you say?"

"Maybe."

Damien smiled. "Maybe is good."

"Maybe is terrifying."

"That too." He pulled me close. "But we're doing this, right? We're really trying?"

"Yeah. We're trying."

He kissed me. Slow and sweet.

"I'll take care of him. I promise."

"I know."

"And Sophia?"

"Yeah?"

"When you're in New York... maybe you could have dinner with me? After the gala?"

"You're going to be in New York?"

"I have to be there anyway. Board meeting on Monday. Figured I'd come early. Support you at your big event."

My heart swelled. "You want to support me?"

"Of course I do. This is huge for you. For your company. I'm proud of you."

No one had said that to me in a long time.

"Thank you," I whispered.

"So? Dinner?"

"It's a date."

His smile could have lit up the whole city.

"A date," he repeated. "Our first real date in six years."

"Don't screw it up."

"I won't. I promise."

The next morning...

The airport. My flight in two hours.

Damien and Liam drove me.

"Be good for Daddy," I told Liam.

"I will!"

"And Damien..."

"He'll be fine. We'll be fine. Go. Do your thing. Make your company proud."

I hugged Liam tight. Too tight.

"Mommy, you're squishing me!"

"Sorry." I let go. Wiped my eyes.

Then hugged Damien. "Call me if anything..."

"I will. But nothing will happen. I've got this."

I pulled back. Looked at him.

"I trust you," I said.

His eyes widened. "You do?"

"Yeah. I do."

And I meant it.

For the first time in five years, I actually trusted Damien Cross.

He kissed me. Quick. In front of Liam and everyone at the airport.

"Go knock 'em dead," he said.

I grabbed my suitcase.

Walked toward security.

Looked back.

Damien and Liam were waving.

My family.