The Billionaire's Intern (Maya Thompson) novel Chapter 371

Chapter 168: A Lesson in Love, A Legacy in Steel-2

+25 Points

“Come on, man. She’s annoying,” he said again, weaker this time. “She questions everything.

Pushes back. Acts like she doesn’t care who I am.”

Damien studied him. “That’s what bothers you?”

Ashcroft didn’t respond.

Because that-unfortunately-was exactly it.

Damien broke the silence first.

“Well, brother,” he said calmly, “you might want to get your emotions straight.”

Ashcroft frowned. “And why’s that?”

Damien met his gaze, unflinching. “Because at this rate, you’re more likely to attend her wedding as a guest-rather than as the groom.”

Ashcroft straightened. “What the hell?” He scoffed. “And what about you?”

Damien only shrugged. “Just saying.” He leaned back slightly. “As for me? Maya and I are already together. There are things I need to fix-things I will fix-but she’s already chosen me.”

Ashcroft’s jaw tightened.

“But you and Harper?” Damien continued, voice steady. “That’s a different story. You’re nowhere near there.” He paused deliberately. “Last I checked, she already has a pre-selected groom lined up.”

Ashcroft’s eyes snapped up.

“So if you’re not planning to do something,” Damien added lightly, “you might as well wait for the invitation.”

A beat.

“…That is,” he said, glancing back at his plate, “if you’re even invited.”

Ashcroft let out a sharp laugh, more defensive than amused. “You’re really such a vicious person.”

Damien didn’t even flinch. He picked up his coffee, unfazed. “Nope. Just being honest.”

Ashcroft shook his head, lips pressed tight, but the tension in his shoulders betrayed him.

Chapter 168 A Lesson in Love, A Legacy in Steel-2

+25 Points

Honest or not, Damien’s words had landed exactly where it hurt most, sending a sharp wave of panic through his chest.

The image flashed unbidden-him standing in a crowd, watching her walk down the aisle, nothing more than a guest.

The thought landed like a blow to the chest.

He wouldn’t allow it.

He exhaled slowly, fingers curling against his palm. He didn’t know when it happened. Didn’t know if what he felt was love, pride, possession-or something tangled and dangerous in

between.

But he knew this much with terrifying clarity-

He would not watch her give herself to another man.

Whatever this was… he wasn’t finished yet.

The silence returned to the table-lighter now, but threaded with something unsettled.

Unfinished.

Damien stared down at his cooling coffee, Dominic’s words looping in his mind.

Fix it. Not out of obligation-but because you understand where you went wrong.

He exhaled slowly.

I will, he thought. Not because I have to. Because I can’t afford to lose her.

Across from him, Ashcroft cleared his throat, breaking the quiet.

“So,” he said, voice deliberately neutral, “what’s the next move?”

Damien looked up. “On what?”

Ashcroft leaned back slightly, slipping back into familiar territory. Business. Control. Safer ground.

“Marco Greco’s ‘claim’ buys us maybe forty-eight hours,” he said. “After that, Volkov’s going to start looking past smoke and mirrors.”

Damien’s expression didn’t change. “Let him look.”

Ashcroft’s brow lifted.

Chapter 168 A Lesson in Love, A Legacy in Steel-2

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“He won’t see anything,” Damien continued calmly. “The execution was clean. By the time he starts connecting dots, there won’t be anything left to pin on us.”

A brief pause.

“When do you want to move forward with Phase Two?” Ashcroft asked.

Damien didn’t answer immediately.

He glanced down again, fingers tightening around the mug.

“After Jaime’s operation,” he said finally. “I want to be there for Maya. She’s going to need support-and I don’t want distractions.”

Ashcroft studied him for a moment, then nodded once.

“Understood.”

The decision settled between them, solid and final.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the estate, the atmosphere was very different.

Dahlia’s study was bathed in warm morning light, sunlight spilling across shelves lined with books and framed memories. The room carried a quiet strength-calm, controlled,

intentional.

Maya sat across from Dahlia, hands wrapped around a porcelain cup, steam rising between

them.

If the men had just been served a lesson in love over breakfast, the women were already several chapters ahead.

Dahlia rose and moved toward the bookshelf. She ran her fingers along the spines before pulling a single volume free. A soft mechanical click followed.

Part of the shelf shifted.

Behind it, a wall safe was revealed.

Maya’s eyes widened slightly.

Without hesitation, Dahlia entered the code, her movements practiced, confident. She didn’t

lower her voice when she spoke.

“The code is Damien’s date of birth.”

Maya nearly choked on her sip.

Chapter 168 A Lesson in Love, A Legacy in Steel-2

+25 Points

“U-um-Aunt Dahlia,” she said quickly, cheeks warming. “I-I didn’t need to know that. That’s… that’s private.”

Dahlia turned, a gentle smile curving her lips.

“Oh, sweetheart,” she said warmly. “I trust you-not because you’re Malia’s daughter, and certainly not just because you’re with my son.” She met Maya’s eyes. “I trust you because of who you are.”

Maya lowered her gaze, fingers tightening around the cup, touched and flustered all at once.

“Thank you,” she murmured.

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