55 vouchers By then ... five months in . Five chaotic , emotional , banana - filled , flirt - to - fight - to - flirt months . I was still technically his physical therapist , and he was technically still the most emotionally constipated former Formula One god to ever wear a hoodie shirtless . But now ? He laughed . He smirked less with rage and more with smug affection . He didn't throw protein bars across the room anymore - he handed them to me with an eye - roll and a " don't sass me , therapist ." Progress . Real progress. Until- Boom . Cue thunder . Cue rain like it wanted to audition for a K - drama soundtrack . And then- " MADISON !! " That was not a drill . That was Steven Mcleon , the man who once said my voice gave him migraines , now screaming my name like a horror movie final girl . I bolted up from bed like the exorcism of my broke college soul . No slippers . No dignity . Just panic and frizzy hair . I ran across the penthouse barefoot like a manic elf and turned the hallway like my taxes depended on it- And there he was . Steven . Freaking . Mcleon . Standing . Standing . WITHOUT MY HELP . One hand braced against the wall . The other gripping his thigh . His chest heaving . His legs trembling . He looked at me . I looked at him . And then he sat - rather dramatically , might I add - almost missing the wheelchair . " What the actual - Steven ! " His eyes were glassy . Lips parted . " I stood , " he whispered , like even he couldn't believe it . 11:31 Thu , Sep 18 Chapter 19 71 E55 vouchers " You stood , " I echoed , my voice breaking , heart doing full somersaults inside my chest . I dropped to my knees and hugged him like my body forgot personal space . Like my soul had been holding that breath for five months . And he hugged me back . Tight . Our tears were loud , ridiculous , messy , probably Oscar - worthy . " You stood , " I kept repeating , like I needed to hear it a thousand times just to make it real . He just nodded into my shoulder . " I stood for you ." I smacked his arm . " No ! You stood for you , idiot ! " Then I kissed his cheek . Okay , I might've hovered around his lips for 0.5 seconds but let's not talk about that . My hands were shaking when I grabbed my phone . Still kneeling beside him . Still in shock . Still ... proud . Called Regina . She answered in 1.5 seconds . " Did he crash another blender ? " " No ," I breathed , voice quivering . " He stood . " Dead silence . Then : " I'm bringing champagne ." Ten minutes later , thunder still banging like the universe was partying too , Regina McLeon burst through the penthouse door like Zeus in a tailored power suit and flawless blowout . She hugged Steven so tight I thought he might break again . Then she grabbed me like I was a long - lost daughter and whispered , " Bless you , my fierce little sass queen . You gave me back my boy . " Then she stepped back dramatically , eyes already glossy from mascara tears and future grandchild visions , " We're celebrating . Beach house , Tomorrow . No excuses . " I blinked . " Wait - beach ? Me ? Swimsuit ? " She narrowed her eyes at me with full maternal menace . " Would you rather I invite that Botoxed British ravioli and let her wear a two - piece on my beach ? " Oh . It was war now , I straightened . " I'll pack my Dior bikini . " 11:31 Thu , Sep 18 Chapter 19 Regina grinned like she just crowned a new heiress . 71 55 vouchers Steven just wheeled away whispering something about " not surviving women in swimsuits and sass attacks . " I smiled . He stood . He laughed . And tomorrow , we were going to the beach - with me in high fashion revenge swimwear . Luciana better duck . The next day arrived like it was personally sponsored by the Greek gods . Sun blazing . Waves crashing . Wind doing that sexy thing where it flutters your hair like a shampoo commercial . We were at Casa McLeon , a private beachfront villa so fancy the sand probably came with a trust fund . The kind of beach where billionaires casually lose their Rolexes and find enlightenment over rosé . And I ? I had a mission . A revenge mission . Operation : Dior Two - Piece Take Down . Because no ex - fiancée , fake - smile British glam queen was going to out - glow me on this beach . Not today . Not ever . I slipped into my new Dior bikini - black , sleek , elegant but sassy - with a gold chain detail that said " don't mess with me unless you can spell sass in six languages . " Paired with oversized shades , a sheer cover - up that floated like drama , and legs freshly waxed by that terrifying spa lady Regina hired . And the bikini ? Oh , it fit . Like destiny . Curves ? Present . Waist ? Snatched . Confidence ? Somewhere between Beyoncé and a dragon queen in stilettos . I walked out to the patio where brunch was being set up like an A - list wedding . Steven was sitting under a wide umbrella , sipping something expensive , wearing sunglasses and a black linen shirt that shouldn't look that good while seated . He glanced up . 11:31 Thu , Sep 18 Chapter 19 And . Froze . : Full on , cartoon - level jaw - drop . If his jaw had dropped any lower , it would've needed PT . 71 55 vouchers His sunglasses didn't even hide it . The way he stared at me like he forgot how legs worked - even though , ironically , he just re - learned how his did . I smirked . " What ? Too much skin for your fragile billionaire heart ? " He blinked . " You- That's illegal . What you're doing . That bikini- " " Came with sass , " I shrugged , striking a pose that should be illegal in thirteen countries . From the side , Regina appeared like a glamorous fairy godmother in a caftan . " Well , well , well , " she drawled , holding a mimosa with grace and chaos . " If you don't give me a grandchild in ten months after that outfit , I'll riot . " " Mother , " Steven warned , face redder than the lobster on the brunch table . " I'm just saying ! " Regina lifted her glass to me . " She's got hips . A womb built for legends . I can see twins . " I choked on my coconut water . " Mother- " " Don't ' Mother ' me , Steven . I'm already naming them . Maximus and Valentina . Or maybe Lola if she gets your sass . " I was wheezing . Steven was glitching . And Regina ? Unbothered . Fully enjoying her fantasy family saga under the sun . I turned to Steven , who was still staring like he'd never seen a woman before - specifically , me in that bikini . " You alright there , McLeon ? Need CPR ? " " I'm trying not to propose ," he muttered under his breath . I blinked . He blinked . Regina cackled . I snatched my mimosa . " Right . That's my cue to sunbathe and pretend that didn't emotionally slap me . " Steven just leaned back in his chair , still watching me like I'd invented the female form . 11:31 Thu , Sep 18 Chapter 19 : 71 55 vouchers And from the corner of my eye , I caught Regina texting someone . О Probably the wedding planner . Or Luciana's therapy hotline . Because baby , this beach just turned into a bikini war zone , and I came armed with curves and chaos . 11:31 Thu , Sep 18 C