<b>Chapter </b><b>163 </b>


    -HUNTER-


    45<b>% </b>


    The charity g was a fucking nightmare wrapped in silk and champagne.


    I stood in the corner of the Grand Ballroom, nursing a whiskey I didn’t want while Manhattan’s elite preened and posed around me.


    Crystal chandeliers cast everything in golden light, but all I could think about was Celine curled up at home in her pajamas, probably reading pregnancy books while Caesar built pillow forts.


    “Hunter Reid. Still brooding in corners, I see.”


    I didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.


    Mia ckwood’s voice had the same effect on me as nails on a chalkboard–polished, perfect, andpletely fucking grating.


    “Mia.” I faced her, taking in the emerald gown that probably cost more than most people’s rent.


    She looked stunning.


    Objectively, mathematically beautiful.


    And I felt absolutely nothing.


    “You look handsome tonight.” Her smile was rehearsed, the kind they taught at finishing school. “Though you seem… different.”


    Different. Yeah, that was one word for it.


    Six months ago, I would have been working this room, making deals between the appetizer course and the silent auction.


    Now all I wanted was to go home to my family.


    My family, The words still sent something warm and fierce through my chest.


    “How so?” I asked, though I didn’t particrly care about her answer.


    She moved closer, her perfume, expensive and cloying–making me miss Celine’s simple vani scent.


    “You used to enjoy these events. Now you look like you would rather be anywhere else.”


    Wise. I would give her that.


    “Maybe I would,” I said simply.


    Herugh was like wind chimes–pretty but hollów. “Come now, Hunter. This is your world. These are your people.”


    My people.


    I looked around the ballroom at the faces I had known for years. Politicians and socialites, old money and new, all ying the same tired


    games.


    None of them gave a shit about the children’s hospital we were supposedly supporting tonight.


    They were here to be seen, towork, to maintain their carefully constructed images.


    <b>1/5 </b>


    15:08 Sat<b>, </b><b>9 </b><b>Aug </b>


    A year ago, I would have been right there with them.


    <b>“</b>Things change,” I said.


    “Not everything has to.” Mia’s hand found my arm, her touch light but deliberate. “I heard about your… situation.”


    The way she said it–like Celine and our daughter were a problem to be solved—made my jaw clench.


    “My family, you mean.”


    “Hunter.” Her voice went soft, sympathetic. “I know you think you’ve found something special<b>, </b>but is it real? Or are you just ying house with someone who doesn’t understand your world?<b>” </b>


    The usation hit like a p. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”


    “Don’t I?” She stepped closer<b>, </b>green eyes searching my face.


    “I know you, Hunter. Better than anyone. I know the pressure you’re under, the expectations. I know what it’s like to carry the weight of a family name.”


    For a split second, I almost understood why my mother had chosen her.


    Mia was everything that made sense on paper–beautiful, educated, from the right family. She had never struggled with board meetings or


    charity gs.


    She would fit seamlessly into my world.


    But that was the problem. I didn’t want my world anymore.


    I wanted Celine’s world. Messy and real and full ofughter. I wanted Caesar’s sticky fingers and bedtime stories.


    I wanted to watch Celine’s belly grow with our daughter and know that I was building something that mattered.


    “You’re right,” I said, and Mia’s face lit up with triumph. “I do know what I want.”


    I pulled out my phone and walked to the terrace, needing air that didn’t smell like her perfume. Celine answered on the second ring, her voice sleepy and warm.


    “Hunter? Everything okay?”


    Just hearing her say my name made my chest ease. “Perfect. How are you feeling?”


    “Tired but good. Caesar made me watch Frozen again. I think I know every song by heart now.”


    I smiled, picturing her on our couch with my son..our son…curled up beside her. <b>“</b>I’ll be home soon.”


    “Drive safe. I love you.”


    “I love you too, baby.”


    When I hung up, Mia was watching me from the doorway. “She has you wrapped around her little finger, doesn’t she?”


    “Yeah,” I said, not bothering to deny it. “She does.”


    “Hunter, please. Just think about what makes sense. Think about your future, your family’s legacy….”


    Tour Sat<b>, </b>Y AU


    “I am thinking about my future.” I pocketed my phone and looked at her directly. “And it’s with her. Only her.”


    For a brief moment, the mask showed a cold and calcting side underneath.


    Then she smiled again, that perfect society smile.


    “We’ll see,” she said softly.


    Something in her tone made my blood chill, but I was already walking away, done with this conversation and this whole fucking evening.


    All I wanted was to go home.


    -CELINE


    I woke up to sunlight and the sound of Hunter making coffee in the kitchen. My phone was buzzing incessantly on the nightstand–probably


    Caroline with some new wedding crisis.


    But it wasn’t Caroline. It was a text with a link to Page Six.


    My stomach dropped before I even clicked it.


    There, in full color, was Hunter atst night’s g. He looked devastating in his tuxedo, every inch the powerful billionaire.


    And beside him, touching his arm with casual intimacy, was Mia, ‘to me‘ the most beautiful woman I have seen.


    *Reid heir spotted with longtime family friend Mia ckwood atst night’s charity g. Sources say the pair looked “veryfortable”


    together.’


    1 scrolled through more photos, each one a knife to the chest. Her hand was on his arm. Him leaning down to listen to something she was


    saying.


    Both of them looked like they belonged in that glittering world.


    A world where I would always be an outsider.


    The pregnancy hormones made everything worse. Tears I couldn’t control started streaming down my face as I stared at the photos.


    She was everything I wasn’t–polished, sophisticated, born to this life.


    “Morning, beautiful.”


    I looked up to find Hunter in the doorway, already dressed for work. He looked so handsome that it made my chest ache. And for a moment, seeing him there, I could almost forget about the photos.


    Almost.


    “Hi,” I managed, quickly closing the browser.


    But Hunter never missed anything. His eyes sharpened, taking in my tear–stained face and defensive posture.


    “What’s wrong?” He was across the room in two strides, sitting on the edge of the bed. “Celine, what happened?”


    I wanted to be mature about this. Wanted to be the cool, understanding girlfriend who didn’t get jealous over society photos.


    But the hormones and insecurity got the better of me.


    ???? <b>? </b><b>??? </b>


    <b>44</b>%


    28


    “She’s beautiful,” I whispered.


    <b>“</b>Who?”


    I showed him the photos, hating myself for it. “Mia. You look… You look like you belong together.”


    Hunter’s expression darkened as he scrolled through the images. When he looked back at me, his eyes were fierce.


    “Do you want to know what I was thinking about all night?”


    I shook my head, not trusting my voice.


    “You.” His hands cupped my face, thumbs brushing away tears. “Sitting here in our bed, carrying our daughter. How much I wanted to leave that boring–ass party ande home to my family.”


    “But she’s perfect for you….”


    “Fuck what’s perfect on paper.” The force in his voice startled me.


    “You know what’s perfect for me? Someone who makes meugh until my stomach hurts. Someone who challenges me to be better. Someone who loves me despite my fucked–up family and doesn’t care about my money.”


    His hands moved to rest on my belly, where our daughter was growing.


    “Someone brave enough to give me everything I never knew I wanted.” <fn1bdc> ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? find?novel</fn1bdc>


    The sincerity in his voice broke something open in my chest. “I’m sorry. I know I’m being ridiculous….”


    “You’re being human. And pregnant. And dealing with my mother’s psychotic matchmaking attempts.” He kissed my forehead softly.


    “But Celine, I need you to understand something.”


    I looked up at him, this beautiful,plicated man who’d somehow chosen me.


    “I’m done with that world,” he said quietly.


    “The gs, the society bullshit, all of it. I only wentst night because it was for charity. But sitting there, listening to people talk about nothing… all I could think was that I don’t want to belong there anymore.”


    My heart hammered against my ribs. “What do you want?”


    “You.” The word was fierce, certain. “I want to belong to you.”


    He stood suddenly, pacing to the window. The morning light caught the strong line of his jaw, the breadth of his shoulders.


    “I’ve been thinking,” he said, his back still to me. “About us. About making this official.”


    The air left my lungs in a rush. “Hunter…”


    “I want Caesar to legally be known as my son. I want our daughter to have both our names.” He turned, his dark eyes burning with intensity.


    “I want everyone to know that you’re mine and I’m yours.”


    The words hung between us like a promise.


    “Are you asking me to marry you?” My voice came out barely above a whisper.


    Saty Aug


    “I’m asking you to think about it.” He crossed back to me, sitting on the bed and taking my hands in his.


    “When you’re ready…when we’re both ready…I want to spend the rest of my life proving that you’re the only woman I could ever love!”


    My heart felt too big for my chest. This beautiful, powerful man wanted to marry me. I, with my messy past and uncertain future.


    “Ask me again,” I said softly, reaching up to cup his face. “In a few months, when we’re not dealing with crazy mothers and pregnancy hormones and society drama.”


    Disappointment flickered across his features, but I wasn’t finished.


    “Ask me again, and the answer will be yes.” I smiled through my tears. “It’s always been yes.”


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    The smile that spread across his face was devastating. He swept me into his arms, spinning me around until Iughed and begged him to stop.


    “I love you,” he said, setting me down gently. “God, I fucking love you.”


    “I love you too.” I pulled him down for a kiss that tasted like promises and forever. “Now go to work before you’rete.”


    “My almost–fiancée is kicking me out?” He grinned, and I loved seeing him this happy.


    “Your almost–fiancée has a doctor’s appointment.”


    As he headed for the door, he paused, looking back at me with an expression I couldn’t quite read.


    “What?” I asked.


    “Nothing.” His voice was soft, reverent. “Just memorizing this moment.”


    After he left, I stood at the window looking out at the city. Somewhere out there, Mia ckwood was probably nning her next move.


    Eleanor Reid was undoubtedly scheming. The society pages were already gossiping aboutst night’s photos.


    But here, in our home, none of that mattered.


    Hunter had chosen me. Was choosing me, every single day.


    And soon, I would choose him right back–officially, legally, forever