The Billionaire's Intern (Maya Thompson) novel Chapter 370

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Chapter 168: A Lesson in Love, A Legacy in Steel-1

The table fell quiet again-but this time, it wasn’t heavy with lectures or revelation.

It was… awkward.

Ashcroft sat stiffly, jaw set, eyes fixed somewhere between the table and the far wall, as if staring hard enough might erase the last few minutes from existence. The thought lingered anyway, unwelcome and persistent, tapping insistently at the back of his mind.

Across from him, Damien said nothing. He didn’t need to. The knowing look on his face was

more than enough.

Dominic watched them both for a moment, then gave Ashcroft a faint, knowing smile.

“Just remember, kid-sometimes you’re so wrapped up in your own ego, you don’t even notice how you’re pushing her away. And by the time you realize it, she’s already out of reach.

He stood then, hands brushing lightly over the table, eyes steady on them.

“You two young men have a lot of reflecting to do,” he said, voice calm but weighted with meaning. “You’ve spent your lives building empires with iron fists-but love…” He paused.” Love isn’t conquered with strength. It isn’t won with control. It’s earned every single day- through trust, through respect, through the courage to be vulnerable.”

He let the words settle before continuing, his tone sharpening just enough to cut.

“You have remarkable women in your lives. Don’t treat them like obstacles to manage, or prizes to claim. Treat them like partners. Listen. Support. Believe in them-even when it scares you. Because the moment you stop trusting them-the moment you doubt their choices, their love, their loyalty-that’s the moment you risk losing everything that truly

matters.”

His gaze softened, just slightly.

“Love isn’t easy. It isn’t safe. It was never meant to be easy.” A faint breath left him. “But it’s worth every misstep, every fear, every fight. It won’t ever be perfect-but it’s those

imperfections that make it real.”

He straightened slowly, presence filling the space without raising his voice.

“Don’t wait until it’s too late to realize that.”

Dominic stepped back from the table, leaving Damien and Ashcroft frozen in their seats, the

Chapter 168 A Lesson in Love A Legacy in Steel-1

weight of his words pressing down on them like a quiet storm.

The room stayed quiet long after Dominic stepped away.

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Not the heavy, crushing kind this time-just an uncomfortable, lingering stillness, like neither of them quite knew where to put their hands or their thoughts.

Ashcroft stared at his plate, appetite long gone. He nudged his fork once, twice, without actually lifting it, as if the food had personally offended him.

Damien remained still, elbows on the table, fingers loosely clasped. His mind was elsewhere -replaying words he hadn’t wanted to hear, but couldn’t ignore.

Minutes passed.

Ashcroft exhaled sharply through his nose. “Well,” he muttered, “that’s one hell of a breakfast.

Damien huffed, the sound more tired than amused. “So what’s your plan?”

Ashcroft shot him a look. “To have some fluffy pancakes, eggs, and coffee.”

Damien leaned back slightly. “Funny.”

That earned a reluctant snort from Ashcroft. He rubbed a hand over his face, then let it drop to the table, shoulders tense.

“Do you ever feel like they’re all in on something we’re not?” he asked quietly. “Like they’ve unlocked some secret level of life and we’re still smashing buttons, hoping something works?”

Damien didn’t answer right away. “I think,” he said slowly, “they just made more mistakes than we have.”

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