A Billion-Dollar Goodbye: Too Late for Second Chances, Mr. Ex - Chapter 121: Chapter 121
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I sank into my first-class seat, watching clouds drift past the window, feeling lighter than I had in forever.
Finally escaped Alex's bullshit.
All those years chasing after him, I'd never been anywhere—too worried about bruising his precious ego.
Now I could finally live my life.
European castles, Asian islands, African savannas.
Crazy how much amazing stuff I'd missed out on.
But hey, at least I got a do-over.
Learned to surf, scuba dive, even did the whole Amazon adventure thing.
Though I had some unexpected company.
I glanced over at the guy next to me.
Youngest Best Actor winner in the country, conquered Hollywood two years back, just swept every major European film award.
America's biggest star, Ryan Winston.
I remembered Dad mysteriously pushing him toward me before takeoff.
Giving me that knowing wink.
"Sweetheart, Daddy handpicked this one. Grade-A quality right here."
He definitely wasn't wrong.
Broad shoulders, narrow waist, legs so long they barely fit in first class.
Face was all sharp angles and perfect lines.
I was starting to think I might be fickle.
These past few months, Alex hadn't crossed my mind once.
Of course, Ryan had to keep his sunglasses on the whole time.
Otherwise we'd be mobbed by screaming fans.
"Sorry Dad dragged you into this. Don't you have work stuff to do?"
I was licking gelato on a Milan street corner, trying to sound casual.
"Or wait—is babysitting me literally your job right now?"
"Babe, my day rate would bankrupt your dad. And after all this time together, you seriously don't know who I am?"
I went blank.
He dabbed gelato off my mouth with a napkin, making my cheeks burn.
Ryan chuckled softly.
"I came because I wanted to. I was filming, but when I heard your dad mention you were traveling, I dropped everything and followed you here."
I was confused.
He talked like he knew my family forever, but I couldn't place him at all.
"Wow, you really did forget me."
The hurt in his voice was real.
Guilt hit me hard.
I was scrambling for something to say when he held up his left hand.
Faint scar on his ring finger.
I stared at it for a long time, then it clicked.
"Holy shit..."
Ryan ruffled my hair.
"Finally figured it out, dummy?"
Ryan Winston—our family friends' only kid.
Used to be glued to my hip when we were little.
One New Year's, we were setting off fireworks. I got distracted watching the pretty colors and forgot to toss mine. Ryan grabbed it from me.
But it exploded in his hand, blood everywhere.
I was bawling while he tried to comfort me.
That's how Ryan got the scar on his ring finger.
He said it was the ring I gave him.
Later his family moved abroad.
We kept in touch at first, but once Alex showed up in my life, I completely forgot about Ryan.
"I kept emailing you. Why'd you ghost me? You didn't even open them."
The pain in his voice made my chest tight.
I couldn't tell him about the Alex shitshow, so I pivoted.
"God, I'm sorry... how've you been? Obviously killing it—look at you, huge movie star now!"
I laughed like an idiot to cover my awkwardness.
"Don't apologize. I get that you were busy. It's fine—I found my way back to you anyway."
Ryan looked at me so tenderly.
"Remember when we were kids? You said you'd only marry a movie star?"
He winked.
"I did it."
My heart melted.
He actually remembered that silly thing I said during make-believe.
Suddenly the sunlight disappeared.
Some tall shadow blocked out the light.
Finally escaped Alex's bullshit.
All those years chasing after him, I'd never been anywhere—too worried about bruising his precious ego.
Now I could finally live my life.
European castles, Asian islands, African savannas.
Crazy how much amazing stuff I'd missed out on.
But hey, at least I got a do-over.
Learned to surf, scuba dive, even did the whole Amazon adventure thing.
Though I had some unexpected company.
I glanced over at the guy next to me.
Youngest Best Actor winner in the country, conquered Hollywood two years back, just swept every major European film award.
America's biggest star, Ryan Winston.
I remembered Dad mysteriously pushing him toward me before takeoff.
Giving me that knowing wink.
"Sweetheart, Daddy handpicked this one. Grade-A quality right here."
He definitely wasn't wrong.
Broad shoulders, narrow waist, legs so long they barely fit in first class.
Face was all sharp angles and perfect lines.
I was starting to think I might be fickle.
These past few months, Alex hadn't crossed my mind once.
Of course, Ryan had to keep his sunglasses on the whole time.
Otherwise we'd be mobbed by screaming fans.
"Sorry Dad dragged you into this. Don't you have work stuff to do?"
I was licking gelato on a Milan street corner, trying to sound casual.
"Or wait—is babysitting me literally your job right now?"
"Babe, my day rate would bankrupt your dad. And after all this time together, you seriously don't know who I am?"
I went blank.
He dabbed gelato off my mouth with a napkin, making my cheeks burn.
Ryan chuckled softly.
"I came because I wanted to. I was filming, but when I heard your dad mention you were traveling, I dropped everything and followed you here."
I was confused.
He talked like he knew my family forever, but I couldn't place him at all.
"Wow, you really did forget me."
The hurt in his voice was real.
Guilt hit me hard.
I was scrambling for something to say when he held up his left hand.
Faint scar on his ring finger.
I stared at it for a long time, then it clicked.
"Holy shit..."
Ryan ruffled my hair.
"Finally figured it out, dummy?"
Ryan Winston—our family friends' only kid.
Used to be glued to my hip when we were little.
One New Year's, we were setting off fireworks. I got distracted watching the pretty colors and forgot to toss mine. Ryan grabbed it from me.
But it exploded in his hand, blood everywhere.
I was bawling while he tried to comfort me.
That's how Ryan got the scar on his ring finger.
He said it was the ring I gave him.
Later his family moved abroad.
We kept in touch at first, but once Alex showed up in my life, I completely forgot about Ryan.
"I kept emailing you. Why'd you ghost me? You didn't even open them."
The pain in his voice made my chest tight.
I couldn't tell him about the Alex shitshow, so I pivoted.
"God, I'm sorry... how've you been? Obviously killing it—look at you, huge movie star now!"
I laughed like an idiot to cover my awkwardness.
"Don't apologize. I get that you were busy. It's fine—I found my way back to you anyway."
Ryan looked at me so tenderly.
"Remember when we were kids? You said you'd only marry a movie star?"
He winked.
"I did it."
My heart melted.
He actually remembered that silly thing I said during make-believe.
Suddenly the sunlight disappeared.
Some tall shadow blocked out the light.
End of A Billion-Dollar Goodbye: Too Late for Second Chances, Mr. Ex Chapter 121. Continue reading Chapter 122 or return to A Billion-Dollar Goodbye: Too Late for Second Chances, Mr. Ex book page.