Page 26 of Falling for the Wrong Billionaire
I look up, meeting her eyes, but there’s no escaping the truth in her words. The chemistry is there. It’s been there since the moment we met. But that’s not the problem. The problem is that it’s complicated.
“It’s not that simple,” I murmur, my voice soft. “There’s... a lot going on. Things I can’t explain.”
Emma’s expression softens, and she steps closer, her voice dropping to a more serious tone. “You don’t have to explain everything to me. But don’t let fear hold you back. I see how you are with him, Lucy. You’re holding yourself back, and I think you know it.”
I bite my lip, my heart pounding in my chest. I didn’t realize how much I’d been hiding until Emma’s words hit me. I’ve been so careful, so guarded, afraid of what might happen if I let myself feel something for him. But Emma’s right — I am holding back. And the truth is, I don’t know how much longer I can keep doing that.
“I don’t want to mess things up,” I whisper, my eyes dropping to the flowers. “My father... he has this whole plan for me. My life is more complicated than you think.”
Emma listens carefully, not interrupting. I’m grateful for that.
I take a deep breath, shaking my head slightly. “I don’t know what to do. I don’t know how to feel about Liam when I have so much baggage.”
Emma’s hand rests gently on my shoulder, a soft gesture of support. “Lucy, don’t deny yourself happiness because of what you think you should do. If you want to be with Liam, then go for it. You deserve that. You don’t have to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders.”
Her words hit me harder than I expect. I’ve been so wrapped up in everything I have to do that I’ve forgotten what I want. I can’t keep ignoring this feeling, this pull between us. But it’s hard to let myself hope for something more, something I can’t have.
I look up at Emma, my voice barely a whisper. “What if I’m just not strong enough to go after what I want?”
Emma gives me a small smile, her eyes kind but firm. “You are stronger than you think. And you don’t have to do this alone. If you want Liam, you should let him in. He’s not going to push you. But you have to let yourself believe that you’re worth it. That you deserve it.”
I nod slowly, my heart pounding in my chest. For the first time in a long time, I feel the weight of everything shift. Maybe Emma’s right. Maybe I am holding myself back.
Emma pats my shoulder before walking away, leaving me standing there with the flowers, my thoughts swirling.
I don’t know what to do next. I don’t know how to take that first step toward Liam, how to push aside the fear and the doubts that have been holding me back. But I know one thing for sure: I can’t keep running from this.
I sit down at my desk, my hands trembling slightly as I look at my phone. I’m not sure what I’m waiting for. Maybe I’m hoping the words will come to me. Maybe I’m hoping that somehow, this all makes sense.
I glance at the message from Liam again, the invitation to the dinner. The chance to be with him. It’s right in front of me. But I’ve been so afraid to take that step, to let myself fall for him.
I take a deep breath and type a quick reply.
Lucy: I’d love to join you for dinner. I’ll be there.
The message sits on the screen for a moment, and I hesitate before pressing send. The words feel like a weight lifted off my chest. It’s a small step, but it’s a step. I’m not sure what will happen next. I don’t know where this will go.
But for the first time in a long time, I’m letting myself believe that I deserve to be happy. That I deserve him.
***
Two days later, I find myself standing outside a beautifully lit house, my heart pounding in my chest. It’s a mix of excitement and uncertainty, and I can’t quite shake the feeling of being out of place. The invitation was simple enough, just a casual dinner with friends. But as I look up at the house — warm, welcoming, and filled with the kind of light that makes everything feel soft and inviting, I can’t help but feel like I’m stepping into a world I don’t belong to.
But then again, I’ve been stepping into this world with Liam since the moment we met. And now, I’m here, nervously adjusting my jacket as I prepare to ring the doorbell.
I’m still not sure what I expected, but I don’t expect the overwhelming warmth that greets me when the door opens. Emma’s there, of course, her smile wide and genuine. She ushers me in with open arms, and I immediately feel the difference. Thewarmth. The laughter. It’s a contrast to the cold, calculated life I’ve known so far.
“Lucy, I’m so glad you could make it!” Emma exclaims, stepping aside to let me in. “Everyone’s already here. Don’t be shy.”
I follow her into the house, where I’m greeted by the sound of conversation and the clink of glasses. There’s Nate and Bryan, both smiling when they see me, the familiarity between them instantly apparent. I feel a little like an outsider, but their easy smiles and open gestures make it hard to stay distant.
“Glad you could join us!” Nate says, offering me a glass of wine. His warmth is almost overwhelming, but in the best way.
I take it with a smile. “Thanks for having me.”
Bryan nods from across the room, giving me a friendly wave. “Emma’s been telling us a lot about you,” he says, and I feel a flicker of unease, but it quickly fades when I see the easy camaraderie between them all.
As the evening goes on, I’m pulled into conversations, some light and others deeper. We laugh a lot, especially when the subject of my ferrets comes up. It’s an endless well of jokes, their mischievous antics clearly a source of amusement for everyone. Nate and Bryan seem particularly fond of hearing about the trouble Pip and Nibbs get into, and Emma adds her own stories of her pets from back in the day, making me feel more at ease than I thought I would.
