The Billionaire Who Stole My Heart

By the end of the night, Ronald and Derek had escorted Kari and Hannah away, adhering to the quaint tradition of Imperial City that forbade soon-to-be-wed couples from seeing each other on the eve of their wedding. "Brittany, let us drop you off," Kari offered, concern lacing her voice.

Brittany declined with a smile. "No need, I've got a friend coming."

At this hour? Who could possibly...

Not far off, a figure stood under an oak, his presence gentle and inviting, reminiscent of the first rays of spring sunshine - warm and devoid of any harshness. Kari sensed Brittany had things to settle with William Dillion. "We'll head off then," they said, leaving the two alone.

As they parted ways, William approached Brittany. Their encounters had been rare since their separation, and this time, it was Brittany who had reached out to him.

"Meeting me like this, does Zac have any objections?" William broke the silence with an awkward attempt at humor.NôvelDrama.Org: text © owner.

Brittany knew the years hadn't been kind to William. Forced into a marriage he never wanted, and then, despite taking the reins of the Tanner family and the facade of success, a shadow of despondency lingered around him. "William, I'm sorry," she finally said, owing him an apology for the past.

William shook his head and took a sip from his beer, dismissing the weight of the past. "I've forgotten all about that," he lied, trying to bury the memories of what could have been between them.

Brittany invited him to sit beside her

by the riverside, where the moonlight danced on the water. She felt

indebted to William, yet he was the kind of man who lacked for nothing, leaving her no chance to make

amends.

The air was thick with unspoken words between them until Brittany, despite knowing how cruel it might sound, suggested, "You should consider meeting someone new."

William had abstained from any

romantic involvement since their split, much to the distress of Mrs. Dillion, who, despite her best efforts, had resigned to the fact that she couldn't make up for the wrongs done to her son.

Setting down his beer, William's eyes met Brittany's, calm yet resolute. "Bri, that's not for you to worry about."

Tears welled up in Brittany's eyes, her emotions overwhelming her. She tried to apologize through her sobs, her tears flowing freely.

William, who had always detested

ét

seeing Brittany in tears - recalling the times he'd comforted her through her rehabilitation from an injury - felt a pang of regret for not being able to keep his promise of never letting her cry again. H

hesitated but then opted to offer her a tissue instead of wiping away her tears himself. "You're going to be a bride tomorrow, why the tears now?"

Accepting the tissue, Brittany looked up, her eyes red and glistening with tears. "I bought back the villa we used to live in," she revealed, referring to their once-shared home in Craneville. William paused, taken aback by her gesture.

"That house belongs to you," Brittany continued, placing a set of keys in his palm. "Visit it, when you can."

Time seemed to stand still until Isaac arrived, ready to take Brittany home, wary of the unresolved feelings between her and William.

After they left, William gazed at the keys in his hand, lost in thought, a silent testament to what once was and what could never be again.