Page 40 of My Ex’s Billionaire Brothers (Forbidden Hearts #5)

THEO

My phone vibrates against my thigh. I slide it out beneath the table, keeping the screen hidden from view.

It’s a text from Vivian: What did you do?

Odd.

I politely excuse myself from the table, ignoring the curious glances from Gage and Anya. I tap the screen to call her as I go through the back door and onto the beach.

“Vivian,” I greet. “You’re up early.”

Ignoring my comment, she stammers. Which is odd. Vivian never stammers. “So. That text I sent you…are you free to talk?”

The beach is relatively empty, just a few gulls scanning the sand for breakfast. I’m as free as I can be. “What’s going on?”

“I was just getting ready to leave for Sins—thought I’d check on our updated security protocols and see if we needed more system upgrades—when this courier arrives. Some fancy private package service. They ring the bell, ask for me by name, and pass me a box.”

My brow furrows. “A box? From whom?”

“That’s the thing,” she says with a note of disbelief. “It’s from Calvin.”

I stop walking, the sand shifting beneath my shoes. “You’re joking.”

“The box was addressed to me personally. I open it, and it’s a first edition of The Workes of Geffrey Chaucer. Theo, you know I’ve been looking for that edition for years. It’s…an unbelievably rare find.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose. “He sent you Chaucer?”

Her voice warms with excitement. “Not just any copy, either. It’s in near-mint condition, minus the expected aging.

I don’t even want to think about what he must have paid to get his hands on it.

It came with a note. I quote, ‘My apologies for yesterday’s inconvenient prank—Calvin.

’” She snorts. “Inconvenient prank, my ass. But I’ll damn well let it slide for this book. ”

Despite myself, I allow a small smile. “He’s trying to make amends.”

“Amends? That’s more than amends, Theo. That book is a grail piece for me. Makes me think he used those same hackers to dig up my academic background, realized I’m a Chaucer fanatic, and—boom—a personalized gift. He’s…thorough.”

I resume my walk along the shoreline, waves lapping at the sand a few feet away. “He can be, yes.”

Her voice quiets. “So it was your brother behind the cyberattack?”

“Doesn’t matter who it was,” I say coolly, not wanting to drag her into Carver family drama. “It’s over now.”

She’s silent for a moment. “Alright, boss. If you say so. Weirdest holiday so far, and considering what we do, that’s saying something.”

“So, you’re happy with the book? I thought you left academia behind you,” I say, half teasing.

Vivian laughs, a bright, genuine sound. “Hey, kink’s more lucrative than Chaucer these days, and I’m flexible when it comes to making money. Anyway, I’m about to head in. Thought you should know about the book, in case there’s a catch.”

I rub my thumb along the edge of my phone, considering. “I think you can accept it at face value. Enjoy the Chaucer, Vivian. You’ve earned it.”

Her tone softens. “Thank you, Theo. Take care and enjoy your mini-vacation. Don’t come back until you’re actually rested for once.”

“Yes, bossy.”

We hang up, and I slip my phone back into my pocket. The sky is bright and clear, the sand glimmering with morning light. It’s a beautiful day, but all I can do is think about Calvin—how bad things got and how they stand now.

He’s sending lavish gifts and apologies. Surreal is an understatement.

I’m about to turn back toward the house when my phone buzzes again. This time, it’s a text message from Calvin himself: I hope she likes it. I won’t bother you again.

She does. Thank you. I hesitate, then add, If you want to be a real brother one day, it’ll take more than a book.

I know.

A part of me wonders if it’s possible for Calvin to turn over a new leaf. Another part of me scoffs at the idea. He’s always been opportunistic, manipulative. He takes after Mom.

Yet, he also has these fleeting moments of sincerity, like now. Perhaps I’ll leave that door open, as I told him. Maybe time and effort could mend fences. Stranger things have happened.

Pocketing my phone, I stroll back toward the cottage. The world feels a fraction lighter now that the threat to Sins is neutralized, and my staff can breathe easy. It’s not every day you manage to strong-arm a family member into reversing a cyberattack, but here we are.

I slip back inside through the kitchen door, hearing voices from the living room—surprised voices, hushed and slightly overwhelmed.

My eyebrows furrow as I walk into the living room, only to see Gage and Hunter standing there in silent astonishment.

Anya’s parents are off to one side, murmuring to each other. And at the center of the room… flowers.

Mountains of them. Roses, carnations, lilies, daisies, you name it. Bouquets tower on every surface—coffee table, end tables, even a few large arrangements on the floor. Anya stands in the middle of it all, her hand over her mouth. The sweet, heady scent of blossoms nearly overwhelms me.

I step closer, careful not to knock over a precarious vase balanced on a footstool. “What in the world…?”

Anya lets out a strangled laugh, as if she’s torn between delight and exasperation. “I think Billy’s entire shop must be empty right now. His sisters delivered these. There was a note.”

She lifts a small card, reading it aloud.

“‘Anya, there is nothing I can say or do to earn your forgiveness, but I hope the flowers make you smile. I am truly sorry for how I behaved. It is my greatest shame. I won’t bother you, your family, or my brothers again. I should have treated you better. I know they will. —Calvin.’”

I feel Gage’s gaze flick to me. Hunter clears his throat softly, scratching the back of his neck.

Anya’s parents exchange looks of muted confusion—understandable, given how volatile things were just a day or two ago.

For a moment, no one speaks. It’s as though we’re waiting for a punchline that never comes.

Anya recovers first. She sets the note aside and glances at us. “Well. I guess that’s nice. Surprising, but nice.”

“Surprising is an understatement,” Jessica murmurs, eyes wide. “Just the other day he was…well, you know.”

Alexei nods in agreement. “He certainly caused enough trouble.”

Gage crosses his arms, his brow furrowed in that pensive way he gets when he’s trying to puzzle out someone’s motives. “Is this legit? Or is he playing some angle?”

“I honestly don’t know,” I reply, exhaling slowly. “Calvin’s…complicated.”

Anya walks across the living room, brushing her fingers over a cluster of bright yellow roses. She stops at a vase of pink daisies and inhales their scent. There’s a subtle sadness in her eyes, though she tries to hide it.

Hunter steps forward, concern etched on his face. “You okay?”

She nods. “I’m just…it’s a lot to take in. I never thought Calvin would do something like this. Or anything else he’s done in the past week and a half. He can be thoughtful when he wants to be, but an apology on this scale?” She shakes her head, letting out a breath. “He must really mean it.”

I consider that. “Or he knows that, if he crosses the line again, I won’t hesitate to put a stop to it. This could be his way of throwing in the towel, or not.” I glance at the others. “Either way, it appears he’s done stirring the pot. For now.”

Anya sets a hand on her hip, scanning the sea of flowers. “So what do we do with all of these?”

Jessica pipes up. “We could donate them to the local nursing home or the hospital. Spread the cheer around. It’s a shame for them to just wilt here.”

“That’s probably for the best,” Anya agrees. “We can keep a few vases, but the rest…yeah, let’s share them.”

I clear my throat. “I will coordinate with Billy’s sisters about picking up the arrangements for donation. We can load them into the SUV if we have to, but hopefully they’ll help.”

Anya nods. “Thank you, Theo.”

I can’t help the feeling that this might be a trap. The cynic in me scoffs—Calvin’s up to something. But the hopeful side wonders if maybe this is the start of him trying to repair the damage.

Anya’s father speaks then, his voice quieter than usual. “Maybe he really is sorry. Still can’t forgive him for storming in here and attacking my family. But if he’s trying to apologize, perhaps he is not lost after all.”

I stay silent, reflecting on the texts I exchanged with Calvin on the beach.

He seems genuinely shaken. He might be in damage-control mode, but there was also a sliver of humility I hadn’t seen before.

Maybe I did get through to him. Maybe he wants to keep that small opening for reconciliation one day.

Grace is a funny thing. You don’t give it because someone deserves it. You give it because it’s yours to give, and sometimes that’s the right thing to do. I’m still not sure about Calvin, though.

After a long moment, Gage takes a step back and crosses his arms, scanning the flowers once more with a wry tilt of his lips. “Well. Let’s see if we can navigate the jungle and get back to breakfast.”

Hunter chuckles, placing a hand lightly on Anya’s shoulder. “Agreed. I’m starving again. It’s not every day I meet my quota for emotional drama before nine in the morning.”

Anya laughs—a bright, genuine sound that makes her eyes crinkle. “I guess that’s that. Flowers or not, I’m just glad it’s over. Calvin’s done. We can move on.”

The house is warm, the Markoff parents are calmer, and Anya’s voice rings with a confidence I haven’t always heard.

Whatever Calvin’s reasons, it looks like he’s taken at least one step toward decency.

I’ll keep my eyes open, remain vigilant—but I can’t deny that a part of me hopes this is more than a stunt.

Maybe, somehow, we’ve opened a door to a future where we can call him a brother again.

Time will tell. For now, I slip my phone into my pocket, content to let the flowers do the talking. Let them remind me that the most stubborn seeds can sometimes bloom, given the right conditions—even if it takes an entire greenhouse worth of them to get there.