The Billionaire's Intern (Maya Thompson) novel Chapter 253

Chapter 121: Forever My Choice-2

But inside the house, that was the rule. Outside, they let the man take the lead-it’s about respect, about appearances, about keeping balance. It’s a world of roles, of hierarchy… but behind closed doors, my mother’s word carried the weight.”

He paused, eyes drifting for a moment, then gave a small, almost ironic laugh. “When I took over the company, she started worrying about me.” His lips curved into a wry smile, a soft chuckle slipping out. “In fact… she still does.”

His expression sobered, voice lowering. “She said I’d end up too cold. Too ruthless. She wanted me to learn softness… balance. Every time we see each other, without fail, she reminds me. She tells me I should marry someone simple. Someone outside our world of money and power. A woman with a kind heart, a pure soul. Status doesn’t matter-money doesn’t matter. Those things I can provide. But kindness… purity? That’s something no amount of wealth can buy.”

Maya listened quietly, her chest tightening as his voice dipped even lower. His words struck something deep inside her, an ache she couldn’t quite name. Someone simple… someone

pure.

Her lashes lowered, hiding the flicker of doubt in her eyes. Was that what he saw in her? Or was she still too far from what his mother imagined-too scarred, too complicated, too

ordinary?

She forced a soft laugh, but it came out thinner than she intended. “Sounds like your mom knows exactly what she wants for you,” she murmured, trying to sound light even as her throat tightened.

“In fact…” Damien’s voice faltered, hesitating for the first time. His gaze shifted away, as though weighing whether to say it aloud. “My mother has a friend. A very dear friend-she’s always called her the sister she never had. This friend has a daughter… your age, actually. About ten years younger than me.”

His jaw flexed, a faint sigh slipping through. “For years, my mother’s been encouraging me to meet her. To… build a connection. But the truth is, she hasn’t seen this friend in over a decade. Ten years, maybe more. Every now and then she’ll get a call-weddings, pregnancies, children being born. Big milestones, nothing else. No visits, no address, no way to find her. Just… a distant voice on the other end of the line.”

He raked a hand through his hair, eyes lingering on the food gone cold in front of him. “She’s away now, following up on some lead. Been looking for this friend for years.” His voice dipped, quieter, almost thoughtful. “It has been seven years since she last heard from her. I

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never asked too many questions… but I know one thing-whoever this woman is, she means a great deal to my mother.”

Maya blinked, her fork stilled on the rim of her plate as his words settled between them. A small, unfamiliar ache fluttered in her chest-part jealousy, part something softer. She forced a laugh that came out thin.

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