Page 116 of Stuck with the Billionaire Celebrity

“I know you will,” he says, his smile full of pride. “You always do.”

30

THEO

Inever thought I’d be here. In this secret garden, tucked away in the countryside of England, surrounded by the beauty of nature, with Grace by my side.

The garden is a perfect oasis, hidden from the world as though it’s just for us, and I can’t help but feel like I’ve stumbled into a dream.

I’m sure my mother never dreamed it would become such a special place to me all these years later.

The air smells of fresh blooms and damp earth, the fragrance intoxicating as I take in the view. The flowers are in full bloom, wild roses trailing up the stone walls, the scent of lavender mixing with the sweetness of peonies and jasmine.

This place feels like it’s been untouched for centuries, yet somehow, it feels like it belongs to us now.

I can hear Grace's laughter as she runs her fingers over the petals of a flower, her excitement contagious. She's always so full of life, but today, there’s something different in her eyes.

“I love this place so much” she says, turning toward me, her eyes bright, her smile softer than I’ve ever seen.

I reach for her hand, my fingers brushing against hers. She lets out a soft breath, her fingers curling around mine as if it’s the most natural thing in the world.

I pull her toward me, and we stand there, just breathing in the beauty of this place together.

“I never thought I’d be the kind of guy who would find something like this peaceful,” I admit, my voice quiet, almost to myself.

“I used to think this kind of thing was pointless...

Like, what’s the point of all this beauty when there’s so much ugliness in the world?”

She tilts her head slightly.

“You know, I used to think the same thing,” she says, her voice warm.

“That there was no time for beauty, for softness, when there was so much to be done.

But what if it’s the beauty that fuels the change we want to see?”

I blink, her words hitting me in a way I wasn’t expecting. I’ve always been about action, about doing whatever it takes to get results. But Grace… She’s always had a different way of looking at things.

I thought it was naive at first, thinking that kindness, beauty, and peace could change the world. But now, I’m starting to see how it all connects—how her way of thinking has begun to shape mine.

We walk deeper into the garden, her steps light, her hand still resting in mine. It feels like we’ve stepped into a painting, one of those old, romantic pieces that show a world untouched by time.

And it’s in this moment that I realize how much she’s changed me. How much she’s made me see beyond the surface.

Grace is everything I want to be—compassionate, driven, full of ideas to make the world better. I’m starting to realize thatmaybe I’ve been the one who was shallow all along, too focused on results and status.

Her passion for helping others, for making a difference, is something that inspires me every day. I can see the way she talks about the shelter, the way she lights up when she discusses ideas for giving back.

It’s something I can’t quite explain, but it feels like the future is brighter when I think about it—brighter when I think about what we could accomplish together.

There’s a fire inside her that I’ve never seen in anyone else.

And I think, for the first time, I’m not just inspired by her—I want to be a part of it.

We stop by a small stone bench nestled in the shade of an old willow tree, its branches hanging low, brushing the ground like a curtain.

I pull her down beside me, my fingers trailing along the curve of her wrist before resting against her skin.

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