Page 86 of My Ex's Billionaire Brothers

“I just wanted to say…thank you. To you, Jessica and Alexei, for opening your home to us and, uh, not shooting any of us when things got heated.” I shoot a teasing glance at Alexei, who makes a show of rolling his eyes but wears a faint smile. “And to my brothers, Gage and Theo, for always having my back. And finally, to Anya, for being the reason we’re all here.”

I pause, feeling a lump form in my throat. “We might be a weird bunch, but…for the first time, I feel like I know what it means to be a part of a real family—one that’s honest and caring, even when we don’t understand each other. So, here’s to family.”

A hush follows, broken by a soft sniffle—Jessica, wiping at the corner of her eye. Gage gives me a teasing, narrow-eyed look, probably mocking me internally for being such a sap. Theo offers a respectful little tilt of his juice glass. And Anya reaches out, covering my hand with hers, eyes shining.

“Hear, hear,” she says softly.

Everyone lifts their cups, murmuring their agreement, and we all take a drink. The cool orange juice floods my throat, and a gentle relief washes over me. Anya said she didn’t want me to feel like a mistake. And now, even her parents seem to accept me—not with manipulative sweet talk, but genuine attempts to understand. That acceptance might be awkward and halting, but it’s honest.

A real family, built from pieces none of us could have anticipated. And for the first time in a long while, I feel like I’m exactly where I belong.

36

THEO

My phone vibratesagainst my thigh. I slide it out beneath the table, keeping the screen hidden from view.

It’s a text from Vivian:What did you do?

Odd.

I politely excuse myself from the table, ignoring the curious glances from Gage and Anya. I tap the screen to call her as I go through the back door and onto the beach.

“Vivian,” I greet. “You’re up early.”

Ignoring my comment, she stammers. Which is odd. Vivian never stammers. “So. That text I sent you…are you free to talk?”

The beach is relatively empty, just a few gulls scanning the sand for breakfast. I’m as free as I can be. “What’s going on?”

“I was just getting ready to leave for Sins—thought I’d check on our updated security protocols and see if we needed more system upgrades—when this courier arrives. Some fancy private package service. They ring the bell, ask for me by name, and pass me a box.”

My brow furrows. “A box? From whom?”

“That’s the thing,” she says with a note of disbelief. “It’s from Calvin.”

I stop walking, the sand shifting beneath my shoes. “You’re joking.”

“The box was addressed tomepersonally. I open it, and it’s a first edition ofThe Workes of Geffrey Chaucer.Theo, youknowI’ve been looking for that edition for years. It’s…an unbelievably rare find.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose. “He sent you Chaucer?”

Her voice warms with excitement. “Not just any copy, either. It’s in near-mint condition, minus the expected aging. I don’t even want to think about what he must have paid to get his hands on it. It came with a note. I quote, ‘My apologies for yesterday’s inconvenient prank—Calvin.’” She snorts. “Inconvenient prank, my ass. But I’ll damn well let it slide for this book.”

Despite myself, I allow a small smile. “He’s trying to make amends.”

“Amends? That’s more than amends, Theo.Thatbook is a grail piece for me. Makes me think he used those same hackers to dig up my academic background, realized I’m a Chaucer fanatic, and—boom—a personalized gift. He’s…thorough.”

I resume my walk along the shoreline, waves lapping at the sand a few feet away. “He can be, yes.”

Her voice quiets. “So itwasyour brother behind the cyberattack?”

“Doesn’t matter who it was,” I say coolly, not wanting to drag her into Carver family drama. “It’s over now.”

She’s silent for a moment. “Alright, boss. If you say so. Weirdest holiday so far, and considering what we do, that’s saying something.”

“So, you’re happy with the book? I thought you left academia behind you,” I say, half teasing.

Vivian laughs, a bright, genuine sound. “Hey, kink’s more lucrative than Chaucer these days, and I’m flexible when it comes to making money. Anyway, I’m about to head in. Thought you should know about the book, in case there’s a catch.”