Too Late For Regrets, Mr. Billionaire (Brianna Meyers and Brandon Levy) novel Chapter 9

Chapter 9 A Moment’s Peace

By the time Kendra was hooked up to the IV drip, it was already 2 a.m.

A sick child was the ultimate torment for any mother.

Once Kendra finally drifted off to sleep, Brianna could at last get some rest. She hadn’t had a decent night’s sleep in two or three days straight, and now that the tension eased, her body felt like it was falling apart.

The emergency room had no VIP suites, so she sat in a chair with her head against the wall. She’d just closed her eyes when a familiar voice broke the silence. “Feeling any better?”

Brandon had shown up. After all the chaos through half the night, here he was.

“The fever’s come down. The doctor says it’s a viral infection, probably from eating something bad,” the housekeeper explained.

Brianna kept her eyes shut. From years of being a mom, she knew the real culprit: Darcy had taken Kendra to the amusement park two days ago and likely loaded her up with junk food, sparking this food–related fever. Footsteps approached, carrying waves of boozy breath. Brandon grabbed a blanket and draped it over her.

Her heart jolted. She thought, ‘Since when has he become so considerate? How many nights have I spent in hospital rooms, juggling care for Kendra while also tending to him?‘

Brandon pulled over a chair and sat beside her, gently guiding her head to rest on his shoulder.

The alcohol reek was overpowering, and his bony shoulder dug in uncomfortably. She wasn’t a fan. But it was steadier than leaning against the wall and swaying like a bobblehead, so she didn’t move.

As her breathing steadied, Brandon knew she’d dozed off.

He turned to study her face, a wave of confusion rising inside. She’d truly changed since that trip to Drokvine.

She used to revolve her whole world around him, hustling as both nanny and mom. He wondered, ‘What has flipped the switch?

That day at home, when she mentioned starting a business, he’d dismissed it as a tantrum.

But that evening, he heard she was already renovating a studio It seemed she was serious about branching out.

Since graduating college and moving in with him, she’d spent her days orbiting him and Kendra. He thought, “How could she suddenly ‘abandon‘ me and Kendra?‘

As he stared at the dark circles under her eyes, it was obvious she’d been suffering lately.

On some strange impulse, he leaned in and kissed her forehead, then snapped back to reality. He thought, ‘What is that about?‘

Every time he drank around her, he ended up acting out. He thought, ‘Has she slipped me something again at Cloud Restaurant?‘

He smirked in self–mockery.

The nanny and housekeeper exchanged a knowing glance and shared a quiet smile.

By morning, Kendra’s fever had broken completely. Seeing both parents by her side lifted her spirits.

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Brianna had planned to leave, but Kendra clung to her, begging Brianna to stay. With a frown, she reluctantly agreed. Leaving the hospital, Brandon said he was heading home too. No driver appeared, so she had no choice but to let him take the wheel of her car.

Brianna sat in the back with Kendra in her arms, gazing at his sharp, angular profile. She thought to herself: If she’d never fallen for him, he might have been the perfect marriage partner.

Handsome and charismatic, incredibly capable, from an elite family, devoted to his child, and generous. If she were only after money and status, he’d be ideal.

Even without loving her, he still showed her respect in public, always maintaining appearances.

But she’d loved him fiercely, down to her core, so his “decency” had shattered her completely.

Brianna sighed softly. They could have divorced gracefully. She thought, ‘Why cheat at all, and why with my worst enemy?” She looked away, staring blankly out the window.

One moment, Brandon caught a flicker of emotion in her eyes through the rearview mirror and smiled unwittingly. The next, he spotted the disdain and felt utterly perplexed.

Chapter A Moment’s Peace

Back home after breakfast, Brianna waited for him to leave. Instead, he lounged on the sofa, scrolling through his phone without a care

Aren’t you going to work?” She couldn’t help asking

His presence, his very aura, irritated her.

“Nope.”

“Go on. The world won’t turn without you.” The words were on the tip of her tongue, but she held them back.

“Daddy, school’s starting soon! Take me shopping for school supplies!”

“Sure!” Brandon replied.

“No way. You just got over your fever. You need to rest. You’re not going anywhere today,” Brianna commanded.

“But Mommy, I’m all better now. Please take me? I’ll be a real elementary schooler!” Kendra wheedled.

In the past, Brianna wouldn’t have budged an inch.

But now, she hesitated.

If they skipped it today, she’d still have to carve out time later. Kendra deserved the full back–to–school experience. But with so much on her plate, no one knew if she’d find the time.

“Mommy, I’m fine, please, pretty please?” Sensing Brianna’s wavering, Kendra wrapped her arms around her neck and cooed sweetly.

Brianna sighed in defeat and reluctantly agreed.

They decided on that afternoon. Neither she nor Brandon had gotten much sleep the night before. After spending some time with Kendra, he noticed her exhaustion and suggested she rest.

She had no desire to share a room with him anymore, but she didn’t want to show it in front of Kendra, so she headed upstairs.

All her things had been packed away. She stepped into the master bathroom, showered, grabbed one of his shirts at random to slip on, and prepared for a quick nap.

Back in the bedroom, she stopped short. There, on the sofa at the foot of the bed, sat a stack of orange boxes, clearly Hermès.

Brandon walked in just then and said casually, “Got those for you in Gurphis.”

Brianna murmured an indifferent “oh” and went straight to the bed.

She loved handbags, but no one knew whether Darcy had selected them. If so, they’d feel contaminated to her. Kendra bounded in, insisting on napping with Brianna and Brandon.

Spotting the boxes at the bed’s foot, she realized they were Brandon’s gift for Brianna and eagerly dragged them onto the bed.

She said, “Mommy, Daddy bought these for you in Gurphis, open them up. I helped him pick them out.”

Not wanting to let Kendra down, Brianna forced a smile and unpacked them one by one.

A deep blue Birkin in rare leather. Acting like she wasn’t excited would be a lie.

She couldn’t help admiring it. “It’s stunning.” The allure of luxury, absolutely stunning.

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