Page 37 of My Billionaire Casino Boss

My mom’s voice is gentle and soothing as she comforts me. “Oh, sweetie,” she says, her voice filled with sympathy. “If Thomas was right for you, he never would have hurt you the way he did. He doesn’t deserve you.”

Her words sting, but I know she’s right. Thomas hurt me, betrayed me, and no amount of love can erase that. But it doesn’t stop the pain, doesn’t stop the tears from falling.

“I’m going to give Eric a piece of my mind,” Mom promises, her voice firm. “He had no right to involve you in this mess.”

I nod, even though she can’t see me. “Thanks, Mom,” I say, my voice barely a whisper. “I love you.”

“I love you too, sweetie,” she replies, and I can hear the worry in her voice. “Everything will be okay. You’ll see.”

As I hang up the phone, staring at the ring in my hand, I don’t know if I believe her. Can everything really turn out okay after all this? The question swirls in my mind, leaving me feeling lost and alone.

There’s a knock at the door, and I freeze. I know who it is before I even open it. There’s only one person who would show up unannounced at this hour.

“Thomas,” I say, my voice cold as I open the door to find him standing there. His eyes are filled with regret, but I harden my heart against him. “What are you doing here?”

“I came to apologize,” he says, his voice sincere. “I’ve made a mistake, and I need to make it right.”

I want to believe him and to believe that he’s truly sorry, but the hurt is still too fresh, the betrayal still so raw. “You think an apology is going to fix everything?” I say, my anger flaring. “You think saying sorry is going to erase everything you’ve done and said to me?”

“I know it won’t,” he admits, his voice soft, his gaze steady. “But it’s a start, Lily. I want to make things right. I want to try.”

His words are like a spark in the darkness, a glimmer of hope that I’m not sure I should allow myself to feel. Yet before I can stop myself, I’m speaking, my words tumbling out in a rush. “You hurt me, Thomas. You made me feel like I was nothing more than a pawn in your game. And yeah, that was the deal, and maybe I’m an idiot to ever believe it was more, but I did.”

He flinches at my words, but he doesn’t interrupt. He just listens as I pour out my heart, my anger, my hurt. He listens as I recount every moment in the deception where I felt used and betrayed.

“I messed up, Lily,” he says finally, his voice filled with emotion. “I let my anger and my pride get in the way. I hurt you, and for that, I’m sorry. I want to make it up to you. I want to do things right this time. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to earn your trust back because you’re worth it.”

Despite everything, I find myself wanting to believe him. When I don’t respond, he says, “Let me show you, Lily,” he says. “Let me prove I’m worthy of your trust.”

I look at him for a long time. Finally, I shrug and say, “I don’t know.” I close the door leaving him alone on the front steps.

The next time I hear someone at my door, it’s a much nicer surprise The knock on my door is a welcome interruption to the racing thoughts spinning around my mind. I open it to find my brother standing there, a bottle of wine in one hand and a takeout bag from my favorite Thai place in the other. Even though he was involved in the mess with Thomas, his presence is still a breath of fresh air, a much-needed respite from the storm that’s been brewing in my life.

“Figured you could use some company,” he says, his voice warm and familiar. He steps inside, his eyes scanning my face with a concern that only a sibling could understand. I manage a smile, grateful for his presence and for the comfort he brings.

I lead him to the kitchen. We set the table together, a dance we’ve done a thousand times before. The clink of cutlery, the rustle of the takeout bag, the pop of the wine cork—it’s a symphony of normalcy that soothes my frayed nerves.

Eric and I have always been close, closer than either of us is with our younger sister, Christina. There’s only a year’s gap between Eric and me, while Christina is four years younger. We adore her, of course, but the bond Eric and I share is different. It’s forged from shared experiences, from navigating the tumultuous waters of adolescence side by side, from countless late-night conversations and shared secrets. Sometimes, I feel a little guilty about it, but it’s just the way things are.

As we sit down to eat, the delicious aroma of Thai food filling the room, I feel lighter than I have in days. Here, in the comfort of my home, with my brother by my side, I can forget about the disaster of my life, if only for a little while. The familiarity of our banter, the ease of our conversation, the shared laughter—it’s a balm to my wounded heart. For the first time in days, I feel like maybe, just maybe, everything will be okay.

We sit down to eat, and for a while, we avoid the elephant in the room. We talk about work, about the latest gossip, about everything but Thomas. When the meal comes to an end, Eric finally breaks the silence.

“Lily,” he begins, his voice serious. “Are you okay? You know, with everything?”

I sigh, setting down my fork. “I don’t know,” I admit. “I just…I don’t know.”

He reaches across the table, taking my hand in his. “I know you’re hurt,” he says gently. “And I’m sorry. I never wanted this for you. It’s all my fault.”

I nod, fighting back tears. “I know you didn’t mean for this to happen,” I reply. “But it’s not your fault. It’s just a mess.”

“For what it’s worth, I would never have guessed that you two would fall for each other,” he says. “I’m probably an idiot for not seeing it, but I really thought you guys were just…well, just faking it.”

We sit in silence for a moment until Eric speaks again.

“Lily,” he says, his voice firm. “Whatever happens, I want you to know I’m here for you. And if Thomas can’t see what he’s lost, then he’s a bigger fool than I thought.”

His words bring a small smile to my face. No matter what happens, I know I’m not alone.

---