Chapter 78

Daniel’s POV,

I sat in the quiet stillness of my office, staring at the untouched coffee on my desk. It was unusual for me to feel so restless, but staying away from Christiana had been necessary. I needed to slow things down, to think clearly. I had rushed into everything too fast, eager to be close to her. eager to help. She deserved better, and I couldn’t afford to make a mistake, not when my feelings for her were so… real

It didn’t matter that she was a mother of two. In fact, that made her even more extraordinary in my eyes. Christiana was strong, self–assured, and undeniably captivating. Every time I saw her with her kids, I found myself admiring her even more. But something inside me had warned against pushing too hard. She had a life, baggage that I respected, and if I was going to be a part of that, I needed to be sure of my own intentions.

I leaned back in my chair, rubbing my temples. The weight of responsibility, both business and personal, was something I had never shied away from. But this… this was different. She was different.

The sound of my grandmother’s cane hitting the hardwood floors echoed down the hallway. I straightened up, just as the door swung open and the formidable woman entered. At seventy–eight, Grandmother Eleanor Brooks was still a force to be reckoned with, eyes as sharp as ever.

“Daniel, you’re brooding again,” she said, her voice tinged with amusement. “I can practically hear your thoughts from the

next room

I chuckled, gesturing for her to sit. Just thinking about Christiania,” I admitted.

Her eyebrows rose. “Ah, the woman who’s managed to catch my grandson’s heart

“Maybe,” I said, though we both knew it was more than that. Tve been staying away, trying to get a grip on myself. I don’t want to rush things and overwhelm her.”

Grandmother leaned forward in her chair, her gaze penetrating. Is that really why you’ve been avoiding her? Or are you

scared?”

“Scared?” I laughed, but it came out hollow. “I’m not scared.”

“You’re afraid that you’ll fall too deep, and she’ll slip away like all the others,” she said, her tone softening. “But, Daniel, love isn’t a business deal. It’s messy, unpredictable. You can’t control i

Grandmother. She has two

for her, none of that will matter. Your brothers seem to think it’s

brought a smile to my face. Both in their late twenties, they were as supportive as ever, despite our sibling differences. Julian, the wild one, had teased me mercilessly about Christiana, while Marcus, the more reserved, practical one, had offered his usual quiet

so long.” I said, smiling. But be doesn’t

her voice gentle but

never felt like this before, not about anyone. But she’s been through enough. I don’t want to add to her complications.” My grandmother gave a soft sigh, standing up and placing a hand on my shoulder. “You’re overthinking this, Daniel. She’s a strong woman. If she’s meant for you, she’ll find her way to you, complications or not. Give her space, but

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Fri, Oct 18

Chapter 78

I considered her words. My mind wandered back to Christiana, to her smile, her determination. The way her eyes lit up when she talked about her

hovered in the contact list, waiting for me to press “call.” My thumb hovered over it, heart racing in a way that felt absurd for a man like me. I wasn’t some

listening to the dial tonering once…

have been busy, or maybe she needed time. But why did it feel like.

creaking beneath me as I stared at the phone again. Should I call her

it like one. I had to know where we stood. Had to know if the connection between us

felt heavier, longer–stretching out

up. Christiana,” I

left holding a silent phone. My chest tightened, the bitter taste of rejection creeping in, despite my efforts to

growing frustration. The kind of frustration I hadn’t felt in a long time. Not since… well, not since before I met Christiana, What the hell was going

place, knock on her door, and demand to know why she wouldn’t take my

help but feel this gnawing pull, something deep inside me that refused to let her go. Maybe I had given her too much space. Maybe, in trying to protect

my voice laced with the weight of everything unsaid. “What are you

to me?

a dream, like some perfect story written for us. But now, it felt like the nightmare had begun, and I was falling

could see her now, her eyes full of fire, the way she always stood her ground. The way she made me feel alive. Damn it–She was all I

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