Page 189 of The Billionaire's Rival

Caleb smiles, tracing my cheek with his thumb.“Your family quite likes me, you know.”

I can’t help the grin that spreads across my face.“They would, since you kept bringing flowers and snacks every time you visited this week.My mother is particularly impressed by your appetite.”

“Your mom cooks amazing food,” he says with genuine enthusiasm.“She told me I can come to every Sunday dinner.”

I roll my eyes.“Be careful, or she’ll start sending food home with you in containers labeled with the days of the week.”We both laugh, but I feel a surprising warmth at the thought.

These past seven days of my mother’s care have healed more than just my physical wound.The way she pampered me, cooked all my favorite foods, and even spoiled Caleb—it has helped heal our relationship.She’s finally begun to accept me as I am, and it’s liberating for both of us.

Caleb tucks my head under his chin and holds me close.

I look around what is now our shared apartment, filled now with the scattered moving boxes we’ve yet to unpack.And as I look at him—this man who drives me crazy in every possible way—I know he’s right.We may have started as rivals, but we’ve finished as partners.And that’s a future worth building together, one day at a time.

Some battles you win, some you lose, and some—the most important ones—you surrender to willingly, finding victory in what once seemed like defeat.