Page 48 of My Forbidden Billionaire
“She was,” Josephine says with a wistful smile. “She was my biggest supporter ... and I miss her every day.”
I reach across the table and take her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “I’m sorry for your loss,” I say softly.
Josephine smiles gratefully at me, her eyes shining with unshed tears. “Thank you, I know she would be proud of the woman I’ve become ... even if my parents aren’t.”
I furrow my brows, sensing that there’s more to the story. “What do you mean?” I ask her gently.
Josephine lets out a sigh. “My parents don’t exactly approve of my career choice,” she admits. “They think that teaching literature is a waste of time ... and that reading is nothing more than a hobby.”
I can’t help but feel a surge of anger on Josephine’s behalf. “Well, I disagree with them. You’re doing something important, Jo. You’re shaping young minds and introducing them to the wonders of literature. That’s something to be proud of.”
Her eyes widen at my words, and she squeezes my hand in gratitude. “Thank you, Jacob. That means a lot to me. It’s just that ... I’ve recently had to come to terms with the fact that nothing I do will ever be good enough for them. They only want to see me get married and have kids. They consider me a failure because I’m twenty-nine and single.”
I press my lips together, trying to think of something comforting to say. But before I can, Josephine speaks.
“You know that night I bumped into you in the street? You said something that really resonated with me. Do you remember what it was?”
“Sometimes it’s the things that break us that make us stronger,” I reply.
“Yes!” she exclaims. “That night, I broke. I hit rock bottom when I found out my boyfriend of six years was cheating on me with a random girl. And what’s worse? I had been supporting him financially—while he had a trust fund all along that he squandered away every month trying to impress his friends.” She pauses, her voice trembling with emotion. “My mother had no clue he was mooching off of me. And when I told her she just … didn’t care. About any of it. In fact, she’s convinced that I missed my chance to marry her idea of a wonderful man.”
I reach out and take both of her hands in mine. “I am so sorry you went through all that with your ex. You deserve so much better. You deserve someone who will love and appreciate you for the incredible, successful, intelligent, beautiful woman that you are,” I say firmly, feeling my own heart pounding in my chest as I speak. “And just in case nobody has ever told you—you are enough, Jo. Your value is not determined by your relationship status. You should never be made to feel like a failure because you haven’t settled down yet. You’ve accomplished so much, all on your own, and nobody can ever take that away from you.”
She blinks back the tears in her eyes, a smile of genuine appreciation on her lips. “That’s exactly what I’ve come to realize. For the first time in my life, I’m genuinely happy with the way things are and not worried about what anyone thinks of me,” she says, her voice barely above a whisper. “I may not have the kind of life my parents want for me, but I’m finally living the life I want for myself, apart from my parent’s rules and expectations. And I’m so proud of the woman I’m becoming.”
I smile, admiring her courage and determination, and press a kiss to her knuckles.
“I’m glad to hear that. And I must say—I’m so impressed by you, by how much you’ve overcome, by the way you radiate strength and determination. I admire the woman that you are. You’re worthy of love. Not because of anything you’ve done, but because of who you are. I hope you know that—and not just know it—I hope you believe it. You deserve all the joy and happiness in the world.”
Josephine blushes at my words, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
“Thank you, Jacob. For everything, truly,” she says softly, her eyes locked with mine. “You’ve made me feel so seen and heard. I’m not sure anyone has shown such kindness to me in my entire life. I’m just so humbled and honored that you took the time to discover and learn about what I like, and what’s important to me. Something so small as a book that I like—you turned it into an experience that, I promise you, I’ll never forget for as long as I live. I hope you know how much I appreciate you. You’re an amazing man and an incredible father. I feel truly blessed to have met you, and am in such awe of you.”
There’s a moment of silence between us, the air charged with an unspoken tension. I can feel the heat rising in my cheeks and it’s at this moment that I realize...
I think I’m falling in love with this woman…
The realization hits me hard, making my heart race and my breath catch in my throat. I’ve never been one for love at first sight or quick infatuations, but there’s something about Josephine that draws me in.
Maybe it’s her intelligence, her kind heart, or her fierce independence. Or maybe it’s the way her eyes light up when she talks about the things she’s passionate about. Whatever it is, I can feel myself falling deeper and deeper under her spell with every passing moment.
“Jacob,” she says, breaking the silence between us. “Is everything okay?”
I shake my head, realizing that I’ve been staring at her for far too long. “Yeah, sorry...” I clear my throat. “I was just lost in thought.”
Josephine quirks an eyebrow. “Lost in thought about what?”
I pause, wondering if I should confess my feelings to her. But before I can decide, one of the waiters approaches. “Can I pour you some beef tea?” he asks.
I nod, grateful for the interruption. The last thing I need is to pour my heart out to Josephine right now and make things awkward between us. “Please,” I say to the waiter.
As he pours the hot liquid into our cups, I steal a glance at Josephine. She’s watching in awe.
“They used to drink this in the 1800s and it appears in the book, as well. I can’t wait to try it,” she says.
I smell the familiar aroma of roast beef, which is now made unfamiliar as it is liquid and served in the finest porcelain cups on this side of the Atlantic, before taking a sip. “Oh, this tea is…” I struggle to swallow.
“Terrible.” She laughs.