Page 78 of “Not” Engaged to the Grumpy Billionaire

She hesitates, as if expecting me to stop her, but I don’t. I don’t even flinch as she brushes past me, her footsteps echoing down the hallway.

The sound of the front door closing is like a weight lifting off my chest. I exhale slowly, running a hand through my hair as I lean against the wall.

She’s gone. Finally. And again, no mention of Max. Typical. Typical and cold.

The house feels eerily quiet in the aftermath, but this time, it’s a different kind of quiet. A peaceful quiet.

Boomer pads into the room, his tail wagging slightly as he looks up at me. I kneel down, scratching behind his ears as he lets out a low, contented huff.

“Guess it’s just us now, huh, buddy?” I say softly. He wags his tail harder, and for the first time in days, a small smile tugs at my lips.

But as the weight of everything settles on my shoulders, my thoughts drift to Liz. She’s gone too, and unlike Becky, I don’t know how to bring her back.

Standing up, I walk to the window, staring out at the empty driveway. I’ve been letting Becky dictate my life for far too long, and it’s cost me more than I care to admit.

It’s time to take back control. To fix the mess she made. I don’t know how I’ll do it, but one thing is certain: I can’t let Liz slip away for good.

With renewed determination, I grab my phone, scrolling to Liz’s name. My thumb hovers over the call button, but I hesitate. Not yet.

First, I need to get my house—my life—in order. And then, I’ll fight for Liz.

This time, I won’t let her go.

Chapter seventeen

LIZ

The house feels like a stranger’s home now, even though it’s Bryan’s. My packed bags sit neatly by the door, a silent reminder that I’ve already made my decision.

I’ve spent the past few hours convincing myself this is the right thing to do. That leaving Ocean Bay is the only way to move forward. But every corner of this town feels haunted by Nate—his smile, his laugh, the way he made me feel like I belonged. And Max. Sweet, wonderful Max. I can’t even think about him without my chest aching.

I glance at the clock. Bryan should be here at any minute. I told myself I’d wait for him before leaving, that he deserves to know why I’m going. But now that the moment is here, my stomach churns. How do I explain everything without sounding like the world’s biggest fool?

The doorknob creaks. I take a deep breath, wiping my face quickly to hide any trace of the tears I’ve been crying for hours.I open the door, and there he is—Bryan, my big brother, the one person who’s always been able to see right through me.

His smile falters the moment our eyes meet. “Liz,” he says softly, stepping inside. His gaze sweeps over me, lingering on the bags by the door. “What’s going on?”

I open my mouth to reply, but the words catch in my throat. Instead, my face crumbles, and before I know it, Bryan’s arms are around me.

I cling to him, sobbing into his chest like I haven’t let myself do in days. The tears come hard and fast, all the hurt and heartbreak pouring out in waves. He doesn’t say anything, just holds me tightly, his hand rubbing soothing circles on my back.

“It’s okay, Liz,” he murmurs. “I’ve got you. Just let it out.”

We stay like that for what feels like forever, the silence broken only by my muffled cries. When I finally pull back, sniffling and wiping my face, he guides me to the couch and sits beside me.

“Talk to me,” he says gently. “Who hurt you?”

I hesitate, twisting my hands in my lap. How do I even begin to explain?

“Was it Nate?” he presses, his voice firm. “What did he do?”

I shake my head quickly, my throat tightening again. “It’s not like that,” I whisper.

Bryan’s eyes narrow, and I can see the tension in his jaw. “Liz, don’t protect him. If he hurt you—”

“It’s not his fault,” I interrupt, my voice cracking. “He didn’t hurt me, Bryan. Not intentionally, anyway.”

“Then what happened?”

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