Page 113 of Billion Dollar Vow

He leans forward and kisses me hard. “No, just in love.”

I smile softly. “I love you too.” I pause, taking a deep breath. “But I need to talk to you about something.” If I don’t say it now, while I have the courage, I’m afraid I never will.

A groan escapes him as he leans back, running a hand through his hair. “This can’t be good.”

My heart pounds as I walk into the living room, sinking into the sofa and curling my legs beneath me. The soft fabric soothes me, but it doesn’t stop the nerves tightening my chest. He follows me, sitting beside me, his body turned toward mine.

“I need to tell you something,” I begin, feeling shaky. “It might change our future.”

His eyes widen slightly, but the shift is so quick I almost miss it. “Okay…” He’s calm, but there’s a flicker of unease as he watches me.

I prop my head on my hand, and his fingers find my arm, tracing slow, comforting circles. It’s a small gesture, as if he needs to touch me whenever we’re close. Usually, it calms me. Today, it makes my throat thicken.What if this changes everything?

“I don’t think I want to have kids,” I finally blurt out.

He nods slowly, his expression thoughtful. “That’s okay.”

I shake my head. “No, I mean… like, ever.”

His fingers pause, the warmth of his touch still lingering on my skin. His silence feels heavier than I expected.

“Oh.”

The word hangs between us, and I can’t bear to meet his eyes, so I look away. “I get it. You want them. I thought this would be a dealbreaker.”

“It’s not.”

His response is quiet, but certain. My head snaps up, searching his face for any trace of hesitation. “No?”

He shifts closer, his knees brushing mine. “No,” he says again, firmer this time. “I’ve thought about it, more than I’ve ever admitted. And the truth is… I was never set on having kids. Not really. I just assumed I would, because that’s what people do. But it’s not something I’ve dreamed about. You’re the thing I’ve dreamed about.”

His words wash over me slowly, sinking in bit by bit.

“I want you,” he says, his voice softer now. “If you don’t want kids, then I’m okay with that. You’re the only thing that matters. I don’t want to lose you.”

Cupping my face, his thumb brushes my cheek with a tenderness that pulls something inside me.

“I don’t want to lose you either,” I say through a tremble. “But this… This is a big decision.”

He leans in, his forehead almost touching mine. “I know,” he says gently. “And I’m glad you care enough to make sure I’ve thought about it. But I have. All I want is you. There’s no one else for me, Petal. You’re it.”

Chapter 31

Karley

“Doyoureallyhaveto blindfold me?” I ask, eyeing the navy fabric in Oliver’s hands.

“Don’t you trust me, Petal?” He smirks, and it’s doing nothing to calm my nerves.

I let out an exaggerated sigh and turn around. “Of course I trust you. But I wanted to see the gallery steps with your name on them.”

“Our name,” he corrects, slipping the fabric over my eyes. His fingers brush against my hair as he secures the blindfold, and then he takes my hand, lacing our fingers together. “I promise you’ll see it tonight, but first, there’s something I need to show you.”

I can only see faint outlines through the fabric, but the ground beneath my feet feels steady as we take the steps. Soft instrumental music greets us when we step inside, and the familiar scent of fresh paint fills the air. The combination of sounds and smell is comforting, yet it makes me more impatient.

I tug lightly at his hand. “Can I take this off yet?”

“Patience,” he whispers.