Page 59 of “Not” Engaged to the Grumpy Billionaire

I’m still half asleep as we drive through the quiet streets of Ocean Bay. The town is just beginning to wake, the first rays of sunlight peeking over the horizon. Nate doesn’t tell me where we’re going, and I’m too tired to ask, leaning my head against the window and watching the world blur past.

When he finally parks the car, I sit up, trying to get my bearings.

“The cliffs?” I ask, recognizing the rugged coastline in the distance.

“Come on,” he says, grabbing the blanket and thermos before stepping out of the car.

I follow him, the crisp morning air waking me fully. The path to the cliffs is narrow but well-worn, and Nate keeps glancing back to make sure I’m keeping up.

When we reach the top, the view takes my breath away. The ocean stretches out before us, its surface shimmering like liquid gold in the early light.

Nate spreads the blanket on the ground, motioning for me to sit. “Hot chocolate?” he offers, holding out the thermos.

“You thought of everything,” I say, smiling as I take the cup he pours for me.

“Of course.” He sits beside me, close enough that our shoulders brush.

We sit in silence for a while, watching the sun rise higher in the sky. The air is cool, but the blanket and the warmth of the hot chocolate make it bearable.

“This is amazing,” I say finally, my voice barely above a whisper.

Nate turns to look at me, his eyes soft. “I thought you’d like it. You’ve had a lot on your mind lately. I figured this might help.”

I glance at him, surprised by how well he seems to know me. “Thank you,” I say, meaning it more than he probably realizes.

As the sun climbs higher, the silence between us shifts into something heavier, charged. I don’t know if it’s the quiet of the morning or the intimacy of the moment, but I find myself speaking without really thinking.

“I used to come here a lot as a kid,” I say, my gaze fixed on the waves below. “Whenever things got too loud at home, I’d sneak out and just... sit here.”

Nate doesn’t say anything, but I can feel his attention, the way he’s waiting for me to continue.

“I met my ex here, you know,” I add, the words tumbling out before I can stop them. “Bryan introduced us.”

Nate tenses beside me, and I immediately regret bringing it up. But it’s too late now.

“He was charming, at first,” I continue, my voice quieter. “Sweet. Funny. Everything I thought I wanted.

And then he cheated,” I say, the words sharp despite the time that’s passed. “I found out a week before we were supposed to move in together. He didn’t even try to deny it—just said he wasn’t ready for the kind of commitment I wanted.”

I laugh bitterly, shaking my head. “Funny how I didn’t see it coming. Everyone else did, though. Even Bryan tried to warn me, but I didn’t listen.”

Nate is quiet for a long moment before he speaks. “You shouldn’t blame yourself for that.”

I glance at him, surprised by the intensity in his voice. “Easier said than done.”

He nods, his gaze distant. “Trust me, I know.”

There’s a weight in his tone, something heavy and unspoken.

“Nate, I know Becky has hurt you deeply. So, the same is true for you as well. You shouldn’t blame yourself for her decisions.”

His jaw tightens, and for a moment, I think he’s going to brush it off. But then he sighs, running a hand through his hair.

He pauses, his fingers tightening around the cup in his hands. “I thought it was the perfect marriage. But then it wasn’t, like I told you before. The thing is that she was looking for someone who could give her the kind of life she wanted—money, luxury, freedom. She left without a second thought, filed for divorce, and took half of everything.”

I stare at him, my heart breaking for the man beside me. I am sorry I even brought it up again.

“I’m so sorry,” I whisper, the words feeling inadequate. How can a few simple words possibly comfort someone who’s been through so much?

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