Too Late For Regrets, Mr. Billionaire (Brianna Meyers and Brandon Levy) novel Chapter 35

After their night of passion, Brianna sank into a deep sleep.

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The next morning, still half–dreaming, she felt a gentle kiss brush her forehead. In her foggy haze, she chalked it up to the dream.

Then fingers grazed her cheek, sending a prickly tingle across her skin. She pried her eyes open.

They met Brandon’s clear, piercing gaze head–on. Sleep vanished in an instant.

She was actually using his arm as a pillow, her hand draped around his waist, their bodies snug against each other.

Feeling a flush of embarrassment, Brianna rolled away, disentangling from his hold.

She rubbed her eyes sheepishly. “You’re awake?”

Brandon studied her side profile, on the verge of replying, when the door flew open. Kendra, pajamas and all, barreled in with glee.

She said, “Mommy, Mommy, I missed you tons!”

With that, she bounded onto the bed and burrowed into Brianna for some serious cuddles.

Brianna wrapped Kendra in a tight hug, pressing a lingering kiss to her forehead as a rush of warmth filled her chest.

Kendra wedged herself between her parents, beaming up at Brianna with a goofy grin.

Brandon shifted to get up, but Kendra latched onto his arm. “Don’t leave, Daddy, I want both Mommy and Daddy here with me.”

Brandon eased back down.

The pair lay on their sides, soaking in Kendra’s bubbly chatter, the epitome of cozy family bliss.

Brianna glanced at Brandon. For once, his eyes lacked their typical guarded distance, softened by a lazy ease.

Her heartbeat stuttered. She thought, “This moment, isn’t it the dream I’ve chased for years?‘

But this fleeting warmth and joy was like a moonbeam on rippling water, beautiful one second, vanished the

next.

Kendra, tentative but bursting with thrill, spilled the beans about her new ballet classes.

“Oh yeah? I thought you were into classical dance. What made you switch to ballet?” Brianna had a hunch it tied back to Darcy, and her expression soured.

Kendra shot a pleading look at Brandon for support.

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Chapter 35

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Kendra said, “I don’t like classical. I love ballet. When I’m big, I wanna be a lead dancer in a company, just like Darcy.”

A frosty glint sparked in Brianna’s eyes. She bit her tongue, muttering an “Oh,” and moved to climb out of bed.

Kendra was too young; no need to dredge up that ugly past.

Kendra grabbed Brianna’s arm, brow furrowed in mild protest. “Mommy, Darcy’s teaching me ballet. She’s super good at it. She really wants to be friends with you. Can we all go out together sometime?”

Darcy was a star principal ballerina and celeb; her classmates were green with envy over the private lessons. It only made her fonder of Darcy.

When Darcy had coached her to butter up Brianna at home, saying how much she wanted to patch things up, Kendra got pumped, but recalling Brianna’s icy vibe toward Darcy just fueled her budding gripe with Brianna.

Brianna’s temper flared at Kendra’s words. Face storming, she rounded on Brandon. “Why her, of all people, to teach?”

They could’ve enrolled her in a class or hired any instructor. She thought, ‘Why choose her?‘

Brandon played it cool, shrugging it off. “Kendra’s tight with her and eager to learn, beats some random teacher.”

His blasé vibe only fueled her rage. Brianna stood up stiffly, lips sealed, and said no more.

But Kendra pouted. “Mommy, why do you dislike Darcy so much? Why do you always kill the vibe?”

“Kendra, the drama between me and them. I’ll fill you in when you’re older.” Brianna’s tone was flat and frosty as she eyed Brandon. “Your dad knows the deal. I’ll never play nice with them, not in this lifetime.”

That said, she snatched her clothes and ducked into the bathroom. She changed, then breezed downstairs without sparing them a backward glance.

Josefina was already up and at it in the kitchen, bossing the nanny and housekeeper around to whip up a breakfast tailored for Brianna’s pregnancy.

“Keep things varied for her, no cutting corners or slacking off. I’ll drop by unannounced to check, and if I catch you half–assing it, there’ll be consequences.” Josefina warned the staff. She still had no clue Brianna had moved out.

They all smiled and agreed.

“Josefina, why not catch a few more Z’s?” Noticing Josefina’s genuine concern, Brianna pulled herself together and asked affectionately.

“I’m old. I don’t need that much shut–eye. What about you? Why not rest a little longer?”

“Josefina, we hardly have time to look after you properly. Don’t fuss over us.”

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A wave of sadness washed over Brianna. Whether toward Josefina or Caroline, she always carried a knot of guilt, feeling like she fell short on the filial front.

Josefina said, “You’re the Levy family’s VIP right now. Those helpers are fine enough, but I still don’t fully trust them.”

Brianna let out a soft laugh and guided Josefina out of the kitchen.

“Just put your mind at ease. I’ll take good care of myself,” she said reassuringly.

Her thoughts were spinning in chaos. She’d meant to handle the abortion discreetly, but now that the Levy family was in the loop, it was sure to kick up a storm of complications.

As the pair chatted, Brandon came down the stairs, hand in hand with Kendra.

“Kendra, you’re about to be a big sister. Be good and don’t pester Mommy too much these days.” Josefina beamed, unable to contain her delight as she instructed Kendra.

Kendra gaped at Brianna, a pang of disappointment settling in.

“Brandon, consider this your warning. Treat Brianna with more care, or you’ll hear from me.” Josefina pivoted to her grandson.

“Understood, Grandma.” Brandon smiled and stepped over to help her to the table.

Kendra fixed Brianna with a bitter stare. She had zero interest in being a big sister.

She’d gotten used to Brianna’s undivided attention; even on days when she pushed her away, Brianna was always right there, ready and waiting.

As she was already stewing over Brianna’s beef with Darcy, the pregnancy news now laced her gaze with pain and budding resentment.

Brianna caught Kendra’s look and figured it was jealousy, fear of being pushed aside. Overwhelmed with remorse, she moved closer to take her hand.

But the moment she touched it, Kendra jerked away fiercely, marching to the table and dropping into the seat beside Brandon. Fists balled, she glared daggers at Brianna.

Brianna’s chest tightened at that stare. Before she could process it, Josefina grabbed her hand and launched into more advice.

She said, “You’re way too thin. Load up on food. Hand the work stuff off to Brandon and just focus on resting for the baby.”

Josefina nattered on. “I ought to have Gabrielle come stay and help out. I don’t trust Brandon one bit.”

The idea of Gabrielle moving in sent Brianna darting a panicked look at Brandon.

“Josefina, relax, I’ve been through this before; I can handle looking after her. Gabrielle shouldn’t bother coming. Her health’s iffy, and she’d probably just stir things up.”

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Chapter 35

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Josefina mulled over Gabrielle’s usual attitude toward Brianna and dropped the idea, lacking full confidence in her.

She kept up the chatter for what felt like forever until breakfast wrapped up.

Josefina had meds to take, and crashing at Brandon’s place wasn’t ideal, so after eating, the couple walked her to the car and promised to swing by the family home for a few days when their schedules allowed.

With Josefina out the door, the couple reverted to their usual cool, distant vibe.

Kendra kept up her pout, giving Brianna the cold shoulder.

Brianna gave up on coaxing her; that venomous glare from Kendra had stung too deeply.

Kendra doubled down on making things awkward, insisting only Brandon drop her at school. “Daddy, come on, let’s go. I just want you to take me, nobody else.”

Brandon opened his mouth to reply, but Brianna spun on her heel and went back inside.

He watched her stiff back disappear without a word, then took Kendra’s hand and headed to the car. Once they were gone, Brianna asked the housekeeper to drive her to work.

The whole ride, Brianna kicked herself over last night. She thought, ‘What on earth has possessed me?‘

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