“What’s that?” The word comes out breathier than I intend.
"This thing with your dad's company—is it about running it, or proving you're more than his little..." he winces, "princess?"
My heart stutters.
Trust Chance to see right through my armor, past all my carefully constructed plans, straight to the tender spots I try to keep hidden.
"Maybe both?"
"You're already more, Holly." His voice drops low, intimate. "Anyone with eyes can see it. But building a life around proving it to someone who might never see you the way you deserve? That's not the Holly I know."
Something in my chest cracks wide open. "So what then—just give up? Let him win?"
"No." His fingers thread through my hair, cradling my head. “Build your own empire. One where no one can question if you earned it. One where you don't have to fight for a seat at his table. One where once you get that seat, you don’t have to spend every day after continuing to prove you deserve to be there.”
The possibility hits me like a shot of pure adrenaline—no more trying to fit into the box my father built. No more measuring myself against his expectations.
Just... freedom.
"That sounds..." Terrifying. Exhilarating. Like standing on the edge of a black diamond run, heart racing, knowing the only way down is to jump.
"Sounds like you." His smile is soft but sure. "The Holly who's never met a challenge she couldn't crush."
And just like that, we're back to us.
Different, deeper, but still us.
The rest can wait until after I win.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chance
EVE
Mayday!
EVE
Mayday!
EVE
This is not a drill.
EVE
All hands on deck.
ME
What the hell did you do?
EVE
I may have over seasoned the steak, if you know what I mean
CHARLIE
