Semua Bab Billionaire, I'm No Longer Yours: Bab 81 - Bab 90

(Ethan)I adjusted my tie for the fifth time, staring at my reflection in the restaurant bathroom mirror. The small velvet box in my pocket felt impossibly heavy.“You can do this,” I muttered to myself. “Simple question. Four words.”I’d chosen Cara’s favorite restaurant—an intimate Italian place with private booths and soft lighting. The ring was perfect too: an emerald surrounded by small diamonds, unconventional but elegant, just like her.When I returned to our table, Cara was sipping her wine, looking stunning in a simple blue dress. Her hair fell in soft waves around her face, and the candlelight made her eyes sparkle.My steps faltered. How had I gotten so lucky?“Everything okay?” she asked as I sat down. “You were gone a while.”“Perfect,” I assured her, reaching for her hand across the table. “Just wanted to check on James. Lila says he’s doing his homework without complaint for once.”“The family movie night did him good,” Cara said, smiling. “He needs those moments of nor

(Lila)“Meet with the Boston team. Tour their facility. Talk to parents of children who’ve gone through the protocol. Then make your decision.”I considered this, some of my resistance softening. “That’s…not unreasonable.”“We’d need to move quickly,” Nick pointed out. “If we want that treatment slot next week.”“I’d rather lose the slot than rush into this,” I said firmly.“There’s another option,” Ethan suggested. “Go to Boston, do the evaluation, and if you still have concerns, bring Fleur back for continued conventional treatment.”The simple practicality of his proposal cut through our emotional deadlock. Nick’s stance relaxed slightly.“That could work,” he acknowledged.“I’d feel better seeing the facility,” I admitted. “And talking to other parents.”“Then it’s settled,” Ethan said. “We’ll tell the doctors you want more information before committing.”“We?” Nick raised an eyebrow. “This is our decision, Ethan. Mine and Lila’s.”“Of course,” Ethan backtracked immediately. “I ju

(Alexander)The next morning, I instructed Lewis to triple our security team while trying to maintain a facade of normalcy for Romy’s sake. If she noticed the additional personnel or the changed protocols, she didn’t mention it.“I’m meeting with the foundation board at eleven,” she told me over breakfast. “Then lunch with your mother to discuss nursery designs.”“Take Wilson with you,” I said casually, referring to one of our security team. “Traffic’s been terrible downtown lately. He can navigate the shortcuts.”Romy raised an eyebrow. “Since when do I need a driver for routine meetings?”“Since I worry about my pregnant fiancée getting stuck in gridlock,” I replied, kissing her forehead. “Humor me.”She rolled her eyes but didn’t argue, which was a relief. I needed her protected without causing her unnecessary stress.Throughout the day, I barely focused on work, constantly checking Lewis’s security updates. Romy’s meetings went smoothly, no suspicious figures identified.I began t

(Alexander)Despite the late hour, the pediatric ward was bustling with activity. I found Nick in the hallway outside Fleur’s room, speaking intently with a doctor.“Alexander,” he acknowledged when he saw me. “Thanks for coming.”“How is she?” I asked, referring to both Fleur and my sister.“Fleur’s stable,” Nick replied after the doctor departed. “Temporary setback before the Boston transfer. Lila, on the other hand…”He gestured through the door’s window. Inside, Lila sat vigilant beside Fleur’s crib, her back rigid with exhaustion and stress. She’d pushed chairs against the door and rearranged furniture to block direct sight lines to the crib.“Has she slept?” I asked, noting the dark circles under my sister’s eyes.“Not really,” Nick admitted. “Since I told her about the security threat, she’s been…intense.”“You told her everything?”“She deserved to know,” Nick defended. “But now she won’t leave Fleur’s side for even a minute. Won’t let the nurses take her for tests without acc

(Ethan)I scanned the tabloid headline in horror.BALDWIN-MONTGOMERY FAMILY FEUD: SHIPPING WARS AND PATERNITY QUESTIONS.The article beneath was worse—a detailed exposé on our business conflict, speculation about Fleur’s biological parentage referencing Grace’s old comments, and thinly veiled references to Nick’s “criminal past” in shipping.“How did they get this information?” I demanded, slamming the paper down on our kitchen counter. “The details about your past were never public!”Nick looked grim, scrolling through similar stories on his tablet. “Someone leaked it. The question is who.”“It has to be someone close to us,” I said, pacing the kitchen. “Someone with access to private family information.”“You think Maxwell…?”“No,” said Lila firmly. “He wouldn’t. He promised me.”The elevator dinged, announcing Ethan’s arrival with James for his weekend visit. My stomach knotted. How much had James already seen or heard at school?“Hey Uncle Nick! Hey Aunt Lila!” James called, bound