Los Angeles CEO Ethan Miles has it all—fame, fortune, and a powerful position at his father’s company. But when he discovers his girlfriend is only with him for the money, Ethan realizes something has to change.

With help from his brother Nathan, he hatches a plan to step away from it all—and finally find love for the right reasons. Posing as a man who’s lost everything, Ethan sets off for a quiet inn in Maine, where he hopes to rediscover what truly matters.

There he meets Taylor Kennedy, the innkeeper’s daughter with dreams bigger than her small-town life. As Ethan helps her revive the struggling inn and chase her passion for fashion, their connection deepens. But secrets never stay buried for long.

When past loyalties and hidden agendas threaten to destroy his chance at real happiness, Ethan must decide if love is worth risking everything.

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Release Date: November 17, 2025
Genre: Contemporary Romance | Billionaire Romance

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Excerpt

Chapter One

My girlfriend’s birthday party was going to be amazing.

I had stayed up all night at my mansion in Malibu, stringing lights, blowing up birthday balloons, and getting the food and drinks ready. Then I had texted my girlfriend happy birthday, sent her roses and chocolates through Uber, and told her I was excited to see her tonight.

What more could a lady want?

I checked myself out in the foyer mirror. I smoothed my brown hair, then fixed my tie. I put my birthday gift on the table and waited for the guests to arrive.

When the bell rang half an hour later, I opened the door. The hot California air wafted inside. My parents stood there, as chipper and luxurious as always. Mom wore a grey fur coat with heels—I wasn’t sure how she stayed cool in this heat—while my dad wore a blazer with dress pants. They were both carrying birthday gifts.

“Ah, Ethan! So nice to see you,” Mom gushed, leaning in and kissing my cheeks. “Is Anna here yet?”

“Nope, not yet. Here, I’ll take those,” I replied. “You’re the first ones to arrive. Come on in—make yourselves at home.”

Mom entered first, followed by Dad. He stumbled a bit as he entered my house but regained his balance by holding onto the wall. Ever since Dad had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s, he had decided to turn the family business over to me. He’d spend his golden years getting some much-needed rest.

“Everything going well with the company?” Dad asked as I set their presents down. “You and your brother getting along?”

“Yeah, everything’s been pretty smooth so far. No need to worry, Dad. I’ll take care of it.”

Dad grinned, patting my shoulder. “I know you will, son. I’m very proud of you.”

Just as I thanked him and turned to close the door, someone’s foot wedged inside. It belonged to my brother, Nathan—two years older than me and almost identical. We had the same brown hair and wore similar suits, but he had brown eyes instead of my green.

“You talking business without me?” Nathan joked. “I’m hurt. Nice to see you outside work, little brother.”

He gave me a fist bump, then nodded at Dad. We were all a little more careful around Nathan lately. Since he was the oldest, he always expected to inherit Dad’s company and all its responsibilities. But Dad had passed the company onto me instead. Now I was Nathan’s boss. Despite his jealousy and frustration, he still got along with me.

“Good to see you, son,” Dad boomed. “Everything going well at work?”

“Well, it’s not the job I thought I’d have,” Nathan began, stealing a glance at me, “but it could be worse. I hate to admit it, but...Ethan’s doing a pretty good job. He’s a great boss.”

I smiled. “Thanks, I appreciate the vote of confidence. Well, come on in. We’re just waiting on a few more people to show. And the birthday girl herself.”

Nathan nodded, entering the house and chatting with Mom and Dad. They helped themselves to the refreshments as I waited near the door. When more people trickled in, including some of Anna’s friends and my co-workers, I let them in and took their coats and gifts. As my house became more crowded, I spied Anna’s convertible pulling into my driveway.

This was it—showtime! I hoped she liked my gifts and the party I had planned for her.

“She’s coming,” I called, turning to everyone inside. “Get ready.”

Everyone nodded, hushing as I opened the door. Anna walked inside with a big grin and kissed my cheek. She looked as gorgeous as ever in her designer red dress, high heels, and Gucci purse.

“Happy birthday, babe,” I whispered. “And some other people want to wish you a happy birthday too.”

When I gestured over my shoulder, everyone yelled, “Happy birthday!” Anna was beaming when I glanced back at her. So far, so good.

“Did you do all this?” Anna cried, glancing around. “The house looks incredible.”

I nodded, shutting the door. “Thanks—yeah, it was all me. Anything for my best girl.”

She kissed my cheek again. “You’re too good to me. Ooh, gifts!”

Anna rushed to the table where I had put the gifts, her eyes widening. I walked over and pointed at a small box and a card. “There’s mine—open that first.”

“Okay.” She smiled, reaching for the box. She held it up to her ear and shook it. “Sounds fancy, whatever it is. Maybe...a diamond bracelet or earrings?”

“Well, n-not exactly,” I stammered. “But I hope you’ll like it anyway. Go on, open it.”

Anna giggled and unwrapped the gift, peeking inside. Everyone was staring at us while sipping their drinks as she reached into the box and pulled out a small mixtape. She frowned.

“Um, what is this?” she hissed.

“It’s a mixtape,” I explained. “Kind of an old thing to do, but romantic. I copied music on there that reminds me of you. And all the adventures we’ve been on.”

“Huh.” She put the mixtape down. “I see. Is this card from you too?”

“That’s right—I made it myself.”

She opened the heart-shaped card, reading the dedication. I had written something sappy about how meeting her was the best day of my life. She read the card for a second, and then put it down, still frowning.

“There’s...nothing in there.” She stared up at me in confusion. “No gift card, money, jewelry, or sports car.”

“Oh.” I scratched the back of my neck nervously. “I didn’t know you wanted that. I wanted to give you something special—something heartfelt. Something better than money.”

Everyone at the party was staring at us now, murmuring. Shame seized me. Even if Anna didn’t like the gifts, did she have to humiliate me like that?

“Oh, babe. You’re so silly.” She shook her head. “Okay, what else is there for me?”

“I got you a Rolex,” Nathan answered, reaching onto the table for a small box.

I hung my head. My cheeks reddened as Anna ripped open his package. She gasped when she saw the gold watch and put it on immediately.

“Oh, thank you, Nathan!” she squealed. “You’re the best. It’s so shiny. See?”

As she waved it around, other people stepped forward, giving her their gifts. They were all expensive—perfume, makeup, jewelry. Things you could buy at a store. I wanted to give her something more personal. Once she had unwrapped the rest of her presents, Anna turned to the crowd.

“Thank you for coming, everyone,” she began. Then she glared at me. “I know you tried, babe, but it’s not too late to get me a better gift. There’s a new car dealership just a few miles from here.”

“Don’t blame my brother,” Nathan chuckled, shaking his head. “He’s still learning about business and women. I’m sure what he gets you for Christmas will be much better. Right, brother?”

As he patted my shoulder, I cleared my throat. “Yeah, yeah...much better. Excuse me, I need to use the bathroom.”

I wiggled out of my brother’s grasp, heading down the hall. I overheard Anna thanking everyone for the gifts as she tried on her jewelry. As they had a great time without me, I locked myself in my bathroom and splashed some water on my face.

When I looked up in the mirror, I felt so stupid. Did Anna even like me for who I was? I had met her at a party, one of those rich, swanky events that my father had hosted. She had come off so polite and sweet. Although the past six months were fun, we didn’t have a future together. Not when we were so different.

It was time to let her go.

Just as I dried my face, I heard a knock on the door. I spun around and hoped it was Anna, sorry for humiliating me. But it was only my mother.

“Darling, there you are,” she scolded. “You sure made a scene when you rushed off.”

I sighed. “It’s nothing, Mom. Don’t worry about it.”

She reached for my hand. “A mother can always tell, Ethan. What’s going on?”

I leaned against the sink. “I just…I worked so hard on those gifts. I spent hours making the card and putting together songs that reminded me of Anna. Why can’t she see that? Or appreciate it?”

“Oh, I’m sure she does,” Mom murmured. “She just has expensive taste, that’s all. Nothing wrong with that.”

“Unless that’s all she’s after.” I faced my mother. “Is Anna only interested in me for my money?”

Mom shrugged. “And if she was? Would that be so bad?”

I blinked. “What? Yes, of course it would be! I want real love. I don’t want a gold digger.”

Mom crossed her arms. “I married your father for his money. And I don’t regret a thing. He bought me nice things. I raised you and your brother. An even trade, I think.”

“Do you…do you even love Dad?”

“Of course I do. I came to love him in time,” Mom explained. “But you need much more to make a relationship work, darling. I like Anna—she fits in well with the family. It would be a shame for you to end that. So why don’t you stop sulking and come back to the party, hmm?”

Mom gave me a side hug, then walked back out to join everyone else. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. My own mother only married my father for money. And he was okay with it. I knew I wasn’t—that I wanted something different.

I wanted something real.

After taking a deep breath, I walked out of the bathroom. The party was still in full swing. Anna chatted with my brother in the corner while staring at the watch. Maybe she should’ve dated him instead.

When Nathan noticed me approaching, he smiled. “There he is—Boss of the Year. Where did you run off to?”

“To the bathroom. Sorry, wasn’t feeling well.” I glanced at Anna. “Can I talk to you for a minute? Alone, upstairs?”

Anna nodded. “Of course. Excuse me, Nathan.”

Nathan understood, and headed back to mingle with everyone else. I led Anna to the porcelain staircase and took her upstairs. When I shut the door, she scanned my room.

“What are you looking for?” I demanded.

Anna turned back to me. “For my gifts, silly. I mean, that stupid mixtape can’t be the only thing you bought me, right? It was pretty lame. No offense.”

“I worked hard on your gifts.” I gritted my teeth. “The least you can do is be grateful.”

She scoffed. “For what? For gifts I never wanted? Sorry, but if you buy someone a crappy gift, you deserve to be told. And yours sucked. No one makes mixtapes anymore, Ethan. Not since, like, the nineties.”

Maybe not. But there had to be someone out there who appreciated my homemade efforts. And now, I just had the difficult task of finding them. But first things first.

I cleared my throat. “Anna...I’m sorry, but I don’t think this is working out. We’re just not compatible.”

She blinked. “I...don’t understand, Ethan. What are you saying?”

“I’m saying...I think we should break up. Move on and date different people.”

“Breaking up with me on my birthday?” she snarled. “Are you serious?”

I sighed. “I know. It’s not the way I wanted this night to go, but—”

She reached over to my dresser, grabbing a vase. She poured water over my head and threw the vase at the wall. It shattered as water and rose petals leaked down my suit, dripping onto the floor.

“You jerk!” she cried. “I hate you. I never want to see you again!”

She stormed out of my room, heading downstairs. I followed and leaned over the handrail as people gaped. Anna headed to the door and rushed outside. A minute later, she returned to the table, snatching as many gifts as she could carry.

The gifts were her real love, anyway. Who cared about me or the party?

She stormed outside again, hopping into her convertible and speeding off. As I walked down the stairs, everyone was staring at me, wondering what was going on. Dad stepped forward first.

“What happened?” he demanded. “Why are you soaking wet?”

“Anna and I...we just broke up.” I muttered, reaching for a kitchen towel. “The party’s over, by the way. Just like our relationship.”

Everyone gasped, then began murmuring again. Mom glowered at me. But what was I supposed to do? Marry a gold digger? I wouldn’t end up like my father.

People began to scatter outside, saying how sorry they were that Anna and I had broken up. But I wasn’t. Now I was free to find someone who loved me for me, wherever she was.

When it was just me, my parents, and my brother left, the house grew silent. Nathan was the first to clear his throat. “So…that was the worst birthday party I’ve ever been to.”

“What happened, Ethan?” Dad cried.

“What happened is that we aren’t right for each other. At all,” I spat. “She was only into me for my money. She proved that today with the gifts. And I want something more, something deeper. I want true love.”

Nathan scoffed. “True love? Jeez, you sound like a Disney movie.”

“Maybe I do. But I still believe in it. Grandma and Grandpa loved each other, didn’t they? When they started our company?”

“Well…yes,” Dad faltered. “But that was different. They were the exception, not the rule. True love is very, very rare.”

So everyone was telling me. I glanced between Mom, Dad, and Nathan, wondering when they had become such cynics. Did they want me to end up with someone who only wanted me for my money?

I cleared my throat. “Look, no offense, but I think I want some alone time. So, if you wouldn’t mind...”

Nathan nodded, heading to the door. “Of course. See you at work tomorrow, Eth. And sorry about Anna.”

As Nathan left, Dad did the same. “Yes, I’m sorry too. You were great together. It’s just a shame, that’s all.”

As Dad stumbled out, heading to his SUV, Mom hung back with a sigh. “So, you broke up with Anna.”

“I did—and I’d do it again. I’m sorry, but I’m not like you or Dad. I won’t marry for money. I want to marry for love, for companionship. I want a soulmate.”

“Darling, that’s going to be a bit difficult with the kind of money we have.” Mom gestured toward my house. “Our reputation precedes us. And I still think you and Anna were a great couple. I was hoping you two would get married soon. You seemed so compatible. Same sense of humor, snappy dressers, a good bond.”

What was the point of getting married? So Anna could take more of my money? I’d had enough of that already. From my point of view, we didn’t seem as compatible as Mom thought.

“Just think about it, okay? Maybe it’s not too late to fix things with her.” Mom kissed my cheek. “Anyway, I’m only a phone call away if you need to chat.”

As Mom left the house, I realized I couldn’t call her. She didn’t understand—and I was sick of repeating myself. Why was it so hard to believe that I wanted true love?

I sat down on the staircase in my empty house. The place was a mess—torn wrapping paper and deflated balloons scattered everywhere. Someone needed to clean it up.

I rose to my feet, reached for a trash bag, and tried not to think about my tragic love life.

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