The Billionaire's Intern (Maya Thompson) novel Chapter 308

Chapter 144 Silent Battles-2

Chapter 144: Silent Battles-2

Claim

And she had kept that promise to herself-never to love, never to feel that deeply again. Not until

Nicholas Ashcroft.

With him, it was different. She didn’t have to choose between love and legacy-because he lived in

the same ruthless world she did. He understood power, danger, control. With him, she didn’t have

to pretend.

But commitment? That word didn’t exist in Nicholas Ashcroft’s vocabulary. He lived by his own

rules-wild, untamed, answering to no one.

That’s why she’d made the offer she did-no strings attached. It sounded bold, almost reckless. But the truth was simpler, and far sadder.

It was her armor.

Her way of protecting herself from falling again-because she knew, deep down, if she ever truly let her guard down with him… she might never recover.

She wiped her tears with the back of her hand as the dock came into view, forcing herself to steady her breathing. The wind had already dried most of the tears on her cheeks, leaving behind only the faint sting of salt.

By the time she reached the dock, she’d slipped her mask back on-chin lifted, expression calm, eyes empty of everything that had just happened. She stopped the jet ski, cut the engine, and climbed off, her movements brisk, deliberate. Each step toward the resort felt heavier than the

last.

Not long after, the low hum of another engine broke the quiet.

Ashcroft.

She didn’t turn. Didn’t need to. She could feel his presence even before he reached the dock. His footsteps grew closer, faster, until she heard them echo against the marble floor of the resort.

The elevator chimed softly. Harper stepped inside, pressing the button without a glance behind

her.

The doors began to close-but a hand slid between them, forcing them open again.

Her heart gave a small, involuntary jump when she saw him. Ashcroft stepped in, his presence filling the confined space effortlessly.

Harper blinked, too drained to argue, too raw to meet his eyes. She exhaled quietly and moved to

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