A Secretive Deal with My Billionaire Boss (by Gregory Ellington) novel Chapter 458

Alexander

"Yeah. You're getting off easy here." She poked my chest hard enough to sting. "If you'd actually seen that message and ignored it? If you'd consciously chosen to abandon me when I was carrying your child? I'd have destroyed you. Made you suffer in ways you can't even imagine."

"I believe you."

"You should." Another poke. "I can be terrifying when I want to be."

"I've seen glimpses. It's hot."

"Don't try to deflect with compliments."

"Not deflecting. Just stating facts." I caught her hand before she could poke me again, bringing it to my lips. "You're scary and hot, and I love both sides of you."

She huffed, but I felt her soften slightly. "You're still an idiot."

"The biggest idiot in the world."

"And you made me suffer."

"I know. And I swear to you, I will never make you suffer again." I kept her hand against my mouth, kissing each fingertip. "I'll spend the rest of my life making sure you're happy and taken care of. That you never have to question whether I want you or our son. I promise you that. On everything I have. On my life. On my love for both of you. I will never make you suffer again."

She was quiet for a long moment. Then her voice came, soft and vulnerable. "How can you promise that? People make mistakes. They hurt each other. That's just life."

"You're right. I'll probably fuck up sometimes. Say the wrong thing or do something stupid. But I swear I will never intentionally hurt you. Never abandon you. Never make you question whether you and Ethan are my priority. Because you are. You're everything."

"Everything?"

"Everything that matters. Everything I want. Everything I need." I stroked her hair back from her face. "I was surviving before I found you again. Just existing. Going through the motions. But now? Now I'm actually living. And it's because of you and that incredible kid sleeping in the other room."

Her breath hitched. "You really mean all that."

"Every fucking word."

"God, you're killing me with this." She pressed her face against my chest. "How am I supposed to stay mad when you say things like that?"

"You're not. That's the whole point."

She laughed, the sound watery. "Manipulative bastard."

"Your manipulative bastard."

"Unfortunately."

I tilted her face up, wishing again that I could see her clearly in the darkness.

I reached over, flipping on the bedside lamp. Warm light flooded the room, and suddenly I could see everything. Her face. Her eyes. The tear tracks on her cheeks.

"I love you." The words came out raw, honest. "I need you to see my face when I say it. Need you to know I mean every word."

Her eyes were still wet, lashes clumped together from crying. Red-rimmed, beautiful, and completely devastating to look at.

"Say it again," she whispered.

"I love you, Madison. I'm in love with you. Have been for longer than I want to admit."

A tear slipped down her cheek. I caught it with my thumb and brushed it away gently.

"You're crying."

"Your fault." But she was smiling through the tears. "You can't just turn on the light and say things like that and expect me not to cry."

"Why not?"

"Because it's too much." She placed her hand over mine, holding it against her face. "Five minutes ago, I was mad at you. Now you're looking at me like I'm the only thing that matters in the world."

"You are the only thing that matters."

"See? That. Stop doing that." But she leaned into my touch, her eyes closing briefly. "You're making it impossible to maintain any kind of emotional distance."

"Good. I don't want distance." I stroked her cheekbone with my thumb. "I want you as close as possible. Always."

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