Don’t Fall for the Billionaire Lover

Connor stood on the upstairs balcony, watching everything play out below.noveldrama

He saw the way Chloe's face softened with relief when she checked her phone. That smile-so small, but so real-made something twist painfully in his chest.

She was worried about Lucas.

And being here alone with Connor seemed to put her on edge. She trusted Lucas, that much was obvious.

With a heavy sigh, Connor slipped back inside. Eventually, he picked up his phone and called Teddy. Lucas had said he'd be home tonight, but Chloe didn't seem sure when exactly that would be.

As evening settled in, Connor found himself wandering into the kitchen again. Honestly, letting a guest do the cooking was kind of ridiculous, but with Chloe's cooking skills being what they were, it was either this or takeout. The kids, at least, were thrilled.

Dinner was Chinese again, but way more impressive than lunch. The table was loaded: steaming dumplings, stir-fried veggies, braised pork, fragrant rice, and a big bowl of soup.

During dinner, Connor did his best to keep the conversation moving-anything to keep things from getting awkward. He chatted about travel, funny childhood stories, even asked for opinions on the best dessert. The tension between them faded, replaced by easy laughter and a light, comfortable vibe.

He was back to being Mr. Connor: polite, charming, and somehow always knowing just what to say.

Chloe realized he really was good at this. He seemed to know a little bit about everything, and he always made her feel included.

"So, Ms. Rose," Connor asked with a curious smile, "what made you want to open a flower shop?"

Chloe smiled back. "I love different scents. Every flower smells unique, and lately, I've been trying to make my own incense blends."

Connor's lips curled into a knowing smile. Even with her memory loss, her old hobbies hadn't changed. She still loved fragrances and making her own blends.

“I actually have a book at home—old recipes for incense and potpourri. If you're interested, I'd love to lend it to you."

Chloe's eyes lit up. She really was interested, and she'd just started experimenting with her own mixtures.

"That would be amazing, Mr. Connor. Thank you."

Halfway through dinner, a sudden knock echoed from the front door.

Chloe jumped up right away. She guessed it had to be Grayson.

She hurried over and pulled the door open.

Sure enough, Grayson stood there-but he wasn't alone. There were new bruises on his face.

Chloe's heart jumped. "What happened to your face?" she blurted out.

Grayson ignored the question, just grabbed her hand and tugged her inside. "We have to go. Start packing-now."

But as soon as he stepped into the living room, he froze. Over by the dining table was someone he clearly recognized.

Connor stood up, moving toward Lucas.

Connor sounded completely relaxed. "Antonio, finally done with work at the company?"

Lucas stared at him, tense and suspicious, his brow knitted tight and his hands curling into fists. "What are you doing here?"

Connor just smiled, cool and unbothered. "Given our history, is it really that odd for me to be here?"

Of course, it wasn't that odd-and Lucas knew it.

Ever since the rooftop incident, Lucas had been sent to the hospital. Supposedly for treatment, but really, he'd been locked up. It was obvious what Connor wanted: time alone with Chloe.

Lucas hadn't 't expected Connor to show up in his own house, though. Earlier today, the guards at the hospital had suddenly disappeared, and Lucas had taken the chance to bolt. Now, looking at Connorit was clear-this was all part of his plan.

Before Lucas could say a word, Chloe jumped in. "Tim was sick, and they didn't have anywhere else to go. I invited Mr. Connor to stay the night."

Nowhere else to go? Only Chloe would believe a man as cunning as Connor.