Page 18 of The Billionaire Dating Dad (The Holidates #18)

Dimitri

W hen Violet didn’t come down for breakfast, Dimitri went in search of her. She was the one piece of solace he needed when he was being pulled in different directions. He didn’t question his feelings for her or who he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. The opposite was true.

He wanted with every fiber of his being to give May what she asked for especially after she’d fought so hard to return to their daughter.

And there was a time when he would risk his own happiness.

Before Violet returned to his life he would’ve done anything to give Maddie everything he thought she needed.

But what his daughter needed most was love. Violet showed him that. She taught him that love and family weren't limited to blood. That family was who he chose and what his heart wanted. Dimitri’s heart called out to her.

Knocking on her bedroom door, he paused when the door swung open, revealing an empty room, his heart chilled as he entered the space and found it empty.

“Violet!” His pulse raced as he went to the bathroom. Empty. Dimitri swept his hand roughly through his hair.

“Mr. Popova,” Beth entered the room. “Are you alright?”

No God Damn it he wasn’t alright. “She’s gone.

Violet is gone.” He went to the dressing table where she kept her makeup and perfume.

But they were all gone and in the place of her things was a letter.

Dimitri recognized her handwriting from the sticky notes she had written in Maddie’s lunch box.

He picked up the paper. It smelled of vanilla and they were spots where the paper was wrinkled from moisture. Tears, he corrected.

Dear Dimitri,

Words cannot express how hard it was to write this letter.

I’ve never felt happier than I have these last few months with you.

But as much as I would love to keep you both to myself, that would be selfish.

May’s return gives you what I can’t, a chance at a proper family and Maddie a chance at being with both her parents. I would never deny her that.

Tell Maddie I love her. I will cherish the memories we created forever.

Love,

Violet.

He ran downstairs with Beth on his heels. His heart, his world shattered with every step. How could she just leave him without a word? He crumpled the letter in his fist. How could what they shared boil down to a fucking letter?

He yanked the front door open. She was gone. His chest tightened as if he’d received a physical blow.

“What’s going on?” May asked from the doorway.

Dimitri turned but he could barely muster any words much less a coherent sentence. Anger rode hard on the heels of his disbelief.

“Violet left,” Beth answered.

“Maddie doesn't need a nanny anymore,” May said, frowning.

“Maddie doesn’t need a nanny,” he agreed. “But I need her,” he hissed between clenched teeth. “I love her, May. I’m in love with Violet.”

“Why didn’t you say anything this morning?”

He scrubbed his palm down his face. “I was going to.”

“You didn’t want to hurt my feelings?”

Dimitri grimaced. “Not just yours. Maddie’s too. I thought about what you said, but my heart belongs to Violet. I can’t marry you.”

“I understand,” May hugged herself.

“We will always be in our daughter’s life, nothing will ever change that.”

“What are you going to do, she’s gone.”

“She won’t be for long”