Page 127 of Billionaire’s Ruin

And I did.

We were all casualties of the same war—a war she orchestrated.

Lincoln excused himself, muttering something about checking the perimeter, and when the door shut behind him, the room seemed to shrink.

Just June.

Just me.

Too close.

Too raw.

Dannie’s warning replayed in my head—unwelcome, but impossible to ignore.

“He told me to leave you alone,” I finally said, breaking the thick silence. “Said you deserve better. That I’ll ruin you.”

June’s brows pulled together. “He means well,” she said, her tone soft. “But he’s not my boss.”

The way she said it—steady, confident—cracked something in me.

“June…”

My throat tightened.

I didn’t even know what I planned to say, only that it was burning a hole inside me.

But she cut in gently, like she was placing a soft hand on a wound.

“But I’m considering his proposal.”

My heart stopped.

Just stopped.

“You… haven’t said yes?” I managed.

“No. Not yet.”

A breath escaped me, shaky, too loud in the quiet room.

“I know things are messy,” I said, every word trembling with an honesty I wasn’t used to. “I know I’m not what you need right now. But if you could just⁠—”

My voice cracked.

I hated how fragile it sounded.

How desperate.

“Give me one more chance,” I whispered. “One more date. That’s all I’m asking.”

She looked at me for a long, long moment.

Her eyes flickered from caution, to hurt, to something dangerously close to longing.

“Kai…” she breathed.

Almost a warning.