Page 79 of Billionaire’s Ruin

A painful twist seized my stomach. “I want to be here for you.”

A half-truth. A cowardly one.

Because I wasn’t here just for him.

I couldn’t stay away from Kai.

A gentle voice cut in, giving me an escape route I desperately needed.

“It’s nice to see you again,” Andy said, stepping forward with that soft, warm smile of hers. She extended her hand.

I took it, grateful—so grateful—for the tiny thread of normalcy she offered.

Her timing couldn’t have been better. Any longer and Lincoln would’ve switched fully into big-brother mode—scolding me for disappearing, for worrying him half to death, for every reckless decision I’d made since stepping foot in Shanghai. I could practically hear the lecture building behind his expression.

Then I noticed who was standing quietly behind Andy.

Dave.

I actually sucked in a breath. His usually stern face looked… softer. Gentler. Maybe even relieved to see me. A look I never thought I’d ever get from him.

“Dave!” My hand flew up to half-cover my face, because embarrassment and surprise hit me at the same time. “Oh my god—Dave.”

“Hi, Miss.” His smile was small but real. “So happy to see you.”

“Yes—so happy to see you,” I echoed, breathless.

Before he could brace himself, I threw my arms around him.

It was probably the most inappropriate thing I could’ve done—hug a man who was technically Kai’s employee, Kai’s protector—but at the moment, none of that mattered. This man had nearly died because of me.

And he hugged me back. Awkward at first, then steadier. Solid.

“I’m so glad you’re okay,” I whispered. “I was worried sick.”

“Thank you, miss. I’m okay.”

“No.” I shook my head, pulling back enough to look at him. “It was my fault.”

He stiffened, just slightly. “No, miss. It was part of my job.”

But it wasn’t.

His job was to protect Kai.

Kai was the priority.

Always.

But Kai had made him protect me instead.

And because of that, Dave was the one who got hurt—dragged into something that had never been his job. He’d taken the beating, the bruises, the scars—all because he tried to protect me.

My throat tightened. “I’m so sorry for everything you’ve been through.”

His eyes softened. “I’d do it again.”

Before I could fall apart in his arms, Andy stepped in—a blessing from heaven that she was.