Page 52 of Secret Baby for a Damaged Billionaire

“Absolutely,” he says with a wink. “You know what they say: keep your eyes solidly on your goals, and you’ll always win.” He leans against the wall, crossing his arms over his chest. “I’m really proud of everyone here. They’re dedicated, talented, and more than willing to put in the hard work. I couldn’t ask for a better group to represent us in Dubai.”

I nod, realizing I’ve never been exposed to this kind of thing before—a sport that pulls the fighters together like a brotherhood, each one giving their heart and soul to it. I pick up a box and push open the door, feeling grateful to be a part of something so real.

With the sun beating down on us, we load the last of the boxes into Lucas’s SUV, while Charlie perches protectively by his side.

“Is that everything?” I ask, wiping my brow with the back of my hand.

“Looks like it,” he says, taking a moment to survey our work. “Let’s get these bad boys to the airport storage unit.”

As we’re about to close the tailgate, Charlie’s ears perk up and he starts barking and growling, drawing our attention to a blacked-out sedan pulling into the parking lot. My breath catches in my throat when I recognize the driver—Carlo. My first instinct is to worry that Lucas will lose his cool with him again, but as I glance over at him, I know he’ll manage the situation just fine.

“Carlo,” he murmurs, his voice cold and unyielding, as he takes a defensive stance in front of me. He holds his gaze on the car, anticipating what’s to come.

I hold my breath, waiting for the confrontation I’m sure is about to ensue, but instead of getting out of the car, Carlo rolls down his window, his eyes never leaving Lucas’s.

“Hey man, listen. I need to talk to you,” Carlo begins, and I can almost see the wheels turning in Lucas’s mind as he tries to figure out what game Carlo is playing this time. “I’ve got a problem, and I could use your help.”

“Really?” Lucas scoffs, crossing his arms over his chest. “This should be interesting.”

“Look, I know we’ve had our differences,” Carlo admits, finally glancing in my direction before quickly averting his gaze. “But this isn’t about me. It’s about my fighters. They’ve been training hard, and they deserve a shot at the championship.”

“As do mine. Get to the point,” Lucas snaps, his patience wearing thin.

“Alright,” Carlo sighs. “My gym’s been excluded from the Dubai tournament.” Lucas’s eyes grow wide. “False accusations, but I don’t have time to get into the details. I’m asking if you’ll take my top fighters with you—let them compete as part of the Walker Enterprises team. They deserve a chance, man.”

The silence that follows is heavy with tension, as Lucas weighs his options. It would be so easy for him to turn Carlo down, to refuse to help the man who’s caused us so much grief. But then I see the resolve in his eyes, and I know he’ll make the right decision—not just for him, but for the sport he loves.

“Fine,” he finally says, taking a step closer to Carlo, his voice steady and strong. “We’ll take your fighters. And maybe this will be a lesson to you, to follow the right path, for the honor of the sport.” He stares Carlo down, holding his position.

“Understood,” he replies, swallowing hard as he meets Lucas’s unwavering gaze. Then he opens the car door and gets out. He reaches for Lucas’s hand, and I can tell by the look on his face that he respects him.

Lucas nods, accepting Carlo’s handshake. “We’ll take good care of your fighters. And when we win that championship, they’ll get their share of the prize money and prestige. Fair is fair.”

“You’re a good man, Walker,” Carlo says, patting his shoulder as he nods in gratitude. “Thank you. You won’t regret this. They’re good guys. Good fighters.”

“Like I said, fair is fair. May the best fighters win.” Lucas releases his grip, turning to the open door of the SUV. Carlo nods at me, arms by his sides, then climbs into his sedan and pulls out of the parking lot with a crunch of gravel.

Lucas goes to close the tailgate, but I catch his arm, halting his movements. “That was really big of you.”

He shakes his head as if it were nothing. “He’s still a jackass, but his fighters don’t deserve to suffer because of it.” He shrugs. “And who knows? Maybe this will be a turning point for Carlo. Help him clean up his act. There’s no need for the local dojos to fight against each other.”

I wrap my arms around him, overcome with emotion for the man he is and what he stands for. I beam up at him, filled with warmth and affection. He’s always had a strong sense of justice, but to see him put it into action, even when it means helping a rival. It only makes me love him more.

It makes me realize that this is the life I always hoped for—standing beside a partner whose strength and integrity match my own, ready to face any challenge that comes our way.

“I love you,” I whisper into his ear, and he lifts me up, swinging me around in his strong arms.

“I love you too, babe,” he says, setting me down gently. “And you know what I’ve been thinking?”

I look at him, eyebrows lifted.

And he continues, “I’m thinking we should get married while we’re in Dubai.”

#

As I watch Carlo’s car move out of sight, I turn back to Lucas, my heart swelling with pride. He’s made a difficult decision, one that could have easily turned sour, but he chose fairness and compassion over personal grudges. And now he’s turning the decision into something positive, talking about our wedding.

“Lucas,” I breathe, my eyes shining with admiration. “You never cease to amaze me. Your strength, your integrity… I’m so proud of you, and I know helping Carlo will only make Walker Enterprises stronger.”

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