Don’t Fall for the Billionaire Lover by Rosa Winters

Chapter 1014

Connor stood on the upstairs balcony, watching everything play out below.

He saw the way Chloe's face softened with relief when she checked her phone. That smile-so small, but so real-made something twist painfully in his chest.

She was worried about Lucas.

And being here alone with Connor seemed to put her on edge. She trusted Lucas, that much was obvious.

With a heavy sigh, Connor slipped back inside. Eventually, he picked up his phone and called Teddy. Lucas had said he'd be home tonight, but Chloe didn't seem sure when exactly that would be.

As evening settled in, Connor found himself wandering into the kitchen again. Honestly, letting a guest do the cooking was kind of ridiculous, but with Chloe's cooking skills being what they were, it was either this or takeout. The kids, at least, were thrilled.

Dinner was Chinese again, but way more impressive than lunch. The table was loaded: steaming dumplings, stir-fried veggies, braised pork, fragrant rice, and a big bowl of soup.

During dinner, Connor did his best to keep the conversation moving-anything to keep things from getting awkward. He chatted about travel, funny childhood stories, even asked for opinions on the best dessert. The tension between them faded, replaced by easy laughter and a light, comfortable vibe.

He was back to being Mr. Connor: polite, charming, and somehow always knowing just what to say.

to know a little bit about

Rose," Connor asked with a curious smile, "what made you want to open a

flower smells unique, and lately, I've been trying to make my own

curled into a knowing smile. Even with her memory loss, her old hobbies hadn't changed. She still loved

a book at home—old recipes for incense and potpourri. If you're

and she'd

would be amazing, Mr.

through dinner, a sudden knock

right away. She guessed it had to

over and pulled the door

there-but he wasn't alone. There were new

"What happened to your face?" she

grabbed her hand and tugged her inside. "We have to go.

as he stepped into the living room, he froze. Over by the dining table was someone he clearly

up,