The Billionaire Recluse & The girl who stayed.

Happy birthday.🎈

~Jasper~

I worked through the night.

Again.

Time had slipped past me unnoticed, as it often did when I buried myself in work. It was easier that way—no distractions, no thoughts, no need to acknowledge anything beyond what was in front of me.

But even I had limits.

By the time the early morning light began to creep through the windows, exhaustion had settled deep into my bones.

I pushed back from my desk, rolling my shoulders once before standing. My body protested slightly, stiff from hours of stillness.

Coffee.

That was the only thing on my mind as I made my way downstairs.

The house was quiet.

Unnaturally so.

I had given the staff the day off—a rare occurrence—but one I allowed occasionally. Even a machine needs to pause, or so I'd been told.

Still...

The silence felt different without them.

I stepped into the kitchen, moving straight toward the counter as I reached for the coffee machine.

"I always miss Coraline when she's off," I muttered under my breath.

She made the best coffee in the house.

Strong. Perfectly balanced. Never bitter.

Unlike whatever I was about to make.

I poured the water, pressed the button, and waited, leaning slightly against the counter as the machine hummed to life.

Footsteps echoed behind me.

Light.

Familiar.

I didn't need to turn.

"Happy birthday, Lilly," I said, a rare smile pulling at my lips.

She entered the kitchen like she always did—full of energy, full of life, like the years had never quite managed to catch up with her.

Sixty-five.

And still moving like she had somewhere important to be.

Her eyes landed on the counter beside me.

The flowers.

A large arrangement—far too extravagant, if you asked anyone else.

And beside them...

An open plane ticket.

"To London," I added simply, nodding toward it. "So you can visit your daughter whenever you like."

For once...

I wasn't thinking about practicality.

Just her.