Billionaire’s Unlikely Bride - Chapter 49: Chapter 49

The sound of the sewing machines filled the room as Raven and Brian worked side by side, finalizing the new designs for their clothing brand. Music filled the room quietly enough to not be intrusive or make conversation difficult. Rather, it seemed to help their concentration. Brian had been used to working in silence but this was just another way he had changed his life for the better,
He had heard people around the office talking about them, saying they had been spending more time together lately, and everyone seemed to think that their chemistry was undeniable. He felt it, too, but he had sensed Raven’s hesitation to go further.
Raven was focused on a new fabric sample when Brian leaned closer – he was close enough that he could feel the warmth of her skin, the scent that he would always remember as uniquely Raven; he glanced at the sketchbook that was on her thighs.
"You always make work look so much more fun than it is," he teased, brushing a strand of hair away from her face before he picked up her sketchbook from her lap, offering a cheeky smile at the half-hearted glare she gave him.
"Maybe it’s because I’m used to it being my escape,"
"Do you ever stop to take a break?" he asked, flipping through the pages of her sketchbook, smiling when he saw the new designs she drew. He wondered when she had the time to do all that.
Raven chuckled, looking up at him. "With you distracting me? Hardly. Besides, sketching has always been my way of getting lost in something other than the real world."
Brian smiled, clearly enjoying the peaceful moment between them.
"Well, I'm starting to think maybe I need to steal you away from your sketchbook more often." Before Raven could register what he had said, before she had a chance to speak further, he bent down and pressed a quick, soft kiss on her lips.
It was so unexpected that Raven froze. Her eyes widened as she looked up at him. Brian pulled back, his expression calm.
"I like you, Raven. I’ve liked you since the day I met you at the airport."
Raven swallowed hard, still processing the kiss, the tingle on her lips new and unexpected but not exactly unwelcome.
"I... Brian..." she stuttered, unsure of how to react. "I'm not ready for a relationship."
Brian nodded, his gaze never leaving her.
"I understand that and I'm not asking for anything more than you’re ready to give. I just want to spend time with you and get to know you better. What do you say to dinner tonight? Maybe let me take you somewhere nice?"
Raven exhaled, feeling a bit relieved.
"Okay," she said with a nod, a smile tugging at her lips. "I'll go out with you."
That evening, Raven was dressed in a simple green dress as Brian pulled up in front of her place. He had chosen a cozy little Italian restaurant nearby.
The atmosphere was calm, as they settled into their seats by the window, Raven felt more relaxed than she had in a long time. Has she ever really felt comfortable enough for that?
"So," Brian said after the waiter had taken their order, "Tell me more about your life in New York. What made you leave the big city?"
Raven was a bit hesitant, not sure if she wanted to talk about her old life. She wasn’t sure if she was ready to unpack all of that, especially not on a first date. But it didn't seem like a bad idea to talk to someone about it.
"It's kind of a long story," she started, taking a sip of her wine. "Let's just say things got complicated, and I wanted to start all over."
"Complicated how?" Brian leaned forward slightly, his eyes never leaving hers. He wasn’t pressing; he just had the desire to understand her world.
Raven exhaled softly. "Well... I was married." The words felt heavy as they left her mouth, and she quickly added "I filed for a divorce, but I'm still waiting for him to sign his part. At first, it wasn’t real to both of us. More like a business arrangement." Brian raised an eyebrow but didn’t interrupt, he waited for her to continue.
"His name is Mason," Raven continued, her gaze dropping to the table. "We got married for reasons that had nothing to do with love. And I ended up falling in love with him. Then I thought he loved me as well, but his ex came back; I was accused of cheating with his cousin, which I didn't do, by the way. So he told me he needed space. We got back together, then I found out he went back to his ex and now she's having his baby."
Brian’s expression was unreadable for a moment, but then he nodded slowly. "That sounds... complicated," he was a bit surprised to hear that she was married or could still be married. "And now?"
"What do you mean?"
"Do you miss New York?" Brian asked, twirling his wine glass between his fingers.
Raven shrugged. "I miss my best friend, but I didn't have many fun memories there, so there's not much to miss. Except my best friend and Charles. Australia has been good for me. It’s quiet and I've been able to focus on myself."
Brian nodded. "And Mason? Do you think about him?"
Raven paused, her fork hovering over her plate. "I do," she said quietly. "I loved him. I still do. Those feelings don’t just disappear." She sighed, pushing her food around on her plate. "But he hurt me. And even if I could forgive him, he's... he's having a baby with someone else now. So there's no room for me in his life anymore. I need to let go."
Brian reached across the table and gently touched her hand.
"It's okay to still love someone, even if things didn’t work out. But you deserve to move on, Raven. Only a fool would let a gem as precious as you, slip away from them."
Raven looked up at him.
"Thank you, Brian," she whispered, giving his hand a soft squeeze.
They spent the rest of the dinner talking about their fashion line, brainstorming new ideas, and laughing over Brian’s stories of working with various celebrities. In the mix of conversation, they would occasionally hold hands; Brian would brush Raven’s hair from her face and gently stroke her cheek for a moment before letting his hand drop to the table, where he found her hand waiting for his.
For the first time in a long time, Raven felt like she could breathe.
Meanwhile, back in New York, Mason was on the phone with his father as he relayed the news about Candice’s miscarriage.
Charles sighed heavily on the other end. "So, it’s over between you two then?"
Mason hesitated, his fingers drumming against the armrest of the chair. "I... I can't leave her. Not right now, not after everything she's going through."
"You're not doing her any favors by staying, Mason. The baby’s gone and I’m sorry for her loss – and yours – but there’s no reason to hold on to something that isn’t there. The longer you keep her around, the more you risk losing everything."
"It's not that simple, Dad," Mason argued, rubbing his eyes. "Leaving her now, while she’s still grieving, feels... wrong. It’s like abandoning someone because they got diagnosed with cancer."
Charles was silent for a moment. "Mason, you’re free to make your own choices. But make sure this isn’t another mistake. You’ve already lost Raven."
Mason clenched his jaw. He didn’t need the reminder.
"I know," he said shortly before hanging up.
Candice, who had been listening to their conversation, smiled before going back to her room.