Page 14 of The Billionaire I Left Behind

They wait, eyes locked on me. I sigh. The booth falls completely silent. Then…

Liam bursts out laughing as well, while Nate just stares at me, stunned.

Liam shakes his head, chuckling. “That woman is playing chess from the afterlife.”

Nate finally exhales, incredulous. “She seriously tied you two together like that?”

I nod, tight-lipped. They exchange one of those looks, the kind that makes my blood pressure spike.

Nate, still grinning, leans back. “Alright, alright. Joke’s over. Obviously, you’re not going do it.”

Liam nods. “Yeah. You’ll forfeit, right?”

I take a slow sip of my drink. “No.”

Their smiles fade instantly. Nate blinks. “Wait. You’re actually doing it?”

Liam tilts his head, studying me. “You’d rather live with Emma for three months than just… let the house go?”

I grit my teeth. “Leaving it to her is too easy.”

Nate whistles low. “Wow! You’re really holding onto that grudge, huh?”

I scoff, rolling my shoulders. “You act like she didn’t completely disappear on me without a word.”

Liam’s expression is unreadable. “That was thirteen years ago.”

“And?”

Liam sighs, shaking his head. Nate smirks. “So, what’s the plan, then? Make her life miserable?”

I shrug, not confirming or denying. But the truth is, I haven’t even figured that out yet. Liam narrows his eyes. “You don’t even need the house, Bryan.”

I lift a brow. “So?”

Nate leans forward. “So… why? Why not just walk away?”

I hesitate. Because part of me knows the real answer. It’s not about the house. It’s about her.

I hate that she thinks she can come back like nothing happened. That she looked at me today with those big, guilty eyes, and I still felt something. I hate that some stupid, irrational part of me wants her to regret leaving.

I set my drink down with a thud. “Because I won’t give her the satisfaction. Besides, if either of us doesn't agree, then the house goes to charity. Not that I care if Emma loses the house, I care about Gracie. She was too good to me, and I won't let her house go like that.”

Liam and Nate exchange another look. One that makes me want to punch something.

Nate smirks. “Okay. Sure. That’s the reason.”

I glare. “Drop it.”

Liam chuckles. “If you say so.”

I shake my head, changing the subject. “What’s going on with Boise?”

Nate grins, letting me off the hook. “Thirty million split three ways. Town homes, retail, dog park. I’ve got a site locked, ten mil down.”

Liam nods. “My tech’s in, another ten mil.”

I roll my shoulders, dragging myself back to work mode. “I’m good for ten.”

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