Page 95 of The Billionaire's Paradise

Leilani didn’t answer. She simply moved determinedly toward the table, breathing heavy from the stairs, from the weight ofeverything. She stared down at the plans spread before him.

Then she said, low and measured, “Please tell me you didn’t know.”

Cal’s brow furrowed. “Didn’t know what? What’s going on?”

“You’re about to sign off on the destruction of my family’s land,” she said. “Halaulani Valley. Our?aina. You’re standing over blueprints that erase generations of our history. My father has been fighting this development for months—and you’re leading the charge against him.”

“What?” Cal looked down at the plans, then up at Hal. “Wait—what is she talking about?”

Hal gave a long-suffering sigh and tossed a pen onto the table. “It’s a contested site, yes, but that’s being handled. There’s no formal tribal claim, no injunction. This isn’t the first time someone’s gotten sentimental over a piece of coastal scrub.”

“Sentimental?” Leilani snapped. “Are you kidding me? There are burial sites. Sacred landmarks. The bones of my ancestors. It’s notscrub,it’s heritage.”

Cal turned to Hal, eyes sharp now. “You said this parcel was clean. You said this was just paperwork.”

“Itis,” Hal said, smoothing an invisible wrinkle in his sleeve. “Look, you asked me to streamline. I streamlined. If we start letting every little complaint letter derail this venture, we’re going to sink before we launch.” He gave a small, insufferable shrug. “Besides… you and I both know that when it comes to land, laws are just paper. Money’s the ink.”

Cal was the one to clench his jaw now.

He stood, steaming and silent, then stepped back from the table like it had burned him.

“You kept this from me,” he said quietly. “You kepther familyfrom me. Did you keep them from knowing I was involved too?”

“Of course,” Hal replied coolly. “You wanted results? I gave you a billion-dollar pathway to results. I didn’t think you’d throw it all away over a few mango trees and a couple of outraged cousins.”

Cal shook his head. “You’re unbelievable.”

“I’m effective,” Hal corrected. “There’s a difference.”

Cal turned to me, and then to Leilani, and the horror on his face was real. “I swear to God. I didn’t know.”

She nodded. “I believe you.”

He looked like he might crumble anyway. “I never would have—”

“We know,” I said. “We’re not here to fightyou.But we’re not letting this happen.”

Hal laughed under his breath. “And what exactly do you think is going to stop it now? A protest sign? An angry TikTok? You’re already out of time.”

Then the door to the room opened.

And in walked Tutu.

She was flanked by Nakoa and Kimo, with Kupuna Mahealani and Uncle Koa just behind.

Their faces were stern, bodies rigid, ready for battle with Hal, no doubt. But the moment they saw who was already in the room, everything stopped.

Their eyes landed on Leilani first.

Then on me.

Then—on Cal.

Nakoa froze. “Leilani?”

Kimo blinked, stunned. “What the hell areyoudoing here?”

Tutu took a slow step forward, confusion sweeping over her face. “Whyareyouhere? All of you?”