Page 264 of Secret Heir For The Billionaire Twin

I look down at my hands.

“I don’t know exactly what this looks like yet.”

“Neither do I,” he says swiftly.

“I’m scared of getting it wrong,” I say.

“So am I.”

I look up. There is no arrogance in his expression now. That frightens me almost as much as the rest of it, because this version of Julian is harder to defend myself against.

“I think we start with tomorrow afternoon,” I say.

Julian nods. “Tomorrow afternoon.”

“And we go from there.”

“We go from there.”

He glances toward the family room once more before reaching for his jacket again. This time, when he moves toward the door, I walk with him.

Julian pauses at the threshold.

“Thank you for today.”

I know he does not mean the conversation.

He means Theo.

“You’re welcome.”

He opens the door, then looks back at me.

“I’ll be here tomorrow.”

“I know.”

Julian leaves, and I watch him walk toward his car before closing the door.

The townhouse is quiet except for the television in the other room. Nothing has been taken from Theo. No one has arrived to dismantle the life I built around him.

For the first time, letting Julian in does not feel like losing control of my son’s world. It feels like making room for one more person who wants to love him.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Julian

Months later, California no longer feels temporary.

I am in the back seat of a Blackwell car outside Theo’s school when the final bell rings, answering a call from New York while watching children spill through the gates in uneven clusters.

My schedule used to be built around board meetings, investor calls, and whichever city required me most. Now there is a recurring block on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons that Tamara has learned not to move unless the building is actually on fire.

Adrian is speaking through the phone about a financing issue when I see Theo emerge with his backpack hanging from one shoulder.

“I’ll review the numbers tonight,” I tell him.

Adrian pauses.