Page 104 of Billion Dollar Vow

He washes himself in quick movements before shutting off the water. The loss of warmth is instant; the bathroom filled with steam but not enough to hide the chill of the air. Without a word, he grabs a plush towel, wrapping it securely around me. He helps me step out of the shower, steadying me with firm hands as I dry off.

Leaving me for a brief moment, he disappears into his walk-in closet and returns with one of his t-shirts. It’s soft and gray, worn just enough to be comfortable. It smells faintly of him, a mix of wood and something clean I can’t quite name.

“Your clothes are upstairs,” he explains, holding out the shirt. He’s already dressed in a pair of boxers, his skin still damp from the shower. The small, lopsided grin he’s wearing as I pull his shirt over my head is all I need to warm me. He likes seeing me in his clothes, and it makes the corner of my mouth twitch despite the exhaustion weighing me down.

“Come on, Petal, let’s go to bed.”

He pulls back the covers and slides beneath them, patting the empty space beside him. I climb in and snuggle close. My head rests on his chest, his heartbeat a steady rhythm in my ear. With my arm draped across his stomach, the warmth of his body eases the last bit of tension still clinging to me.

His hand moves to my back, his fingers tracing soothing patterns over the fabric of his shirt. The gentle motion, pairedwith the steady rise and fall of his breathing, makes my eyelids grow heavier with each passing second.

Just as I’m about to give in to the exhaustion, I think I hear him whisper, “I love you.”

The words are softly spoken, almost too quiet to catch. I can’t tell if they’re real or just a product of my wishful thinking. As sleep takes over, I let the words rest in my heart. They’re enough to help me drift off, utterly spent, but no longer alone.

Chapter 28

Karley

Thenextmorning,Iwake in his arms and choose to stay perfectly still, savoring the quiet, the way his fingers grip my waist even as he sleeps.

I tilt my head to look up at him. His dark lashes rest against his cheeks, his face relaxed, boyish even, in the morning light. A small smile tugs at my lips as I reach up, gently cupping his cheek.

His eyes flutter open, those piercing blue eyes locking onto mine. A lazy grin spreads across his face.

“Morning, Petal,” he murmurs, rough and sleepy.

“Morning,” I whisper back, feeling the corners of my lips curve up.

“How are you feeling?”

The question brings back the heaviness in my chest. “Better,” I admit hoarsely. “But I need something to drink. My throat’s sore.”

Reluctantly, we untangle from each other, the warmth of his body lingering as we move to the kitchen. I’m bracing for the inevitable conversation we need to have. He’ll want an explanation. A weight settles in my gut as I remember the look on his face when Liam revealed my secret. I grab a bottle of water from the fridge and tilt it back, gulping it down in one go. The coolness soothes my throat, but my mind is already spinning with thoughts of what’s to come.

He makes coffee, the rich aroma filling the air.

I sit at the counter, watching him move around with a casual ease that makes my heart skip. He’s shirtless, his hair still messy from sleep, and I wonder how he can look so effortlessly perfect.

Once he pours two mugs of coffee, he slides one across the counter toward me with a playful smirk. “Coffee for my girl.”

I smile as I take the mug, the warmth seeping into my hands as I take a sip. The moment feels light, easy, but the question weighing on my mind refuses to stay silent.

“What’s going to happen with the gallery?” I ask quietly, my gaze fixed on the steam coming from my coffee before looking back up.

Oliver freezes for a moment, then sets his mug down and steps closer. “Mr. Warne gave me the gallery.”

My head snaps up, disbelief flooding me. “What? How?”

He rounds the island in a few strides, his hand lifting to cradle my face. The affection in his touch steals my breath as his gaze locks onto mine.

“He knew we weren’t fake,” Oliver says. “Yeah, the marriage was fast, but he could see it, Karley. He saw how much we love each other.”

Love. He said it so naturally. And after all this time guarding my heart, of expecting disappointment, hearing him say that with confidence means he’s not walking away from me.

“He did?”

“Yes.” His eyes soften as his thumb dusts my cheek. “Karley, I love you. I love you so incredibly much.”

---