Filed to story: The Regretful Billionaire: An Unpredicted Reunion
I’ll Be Waiting
Jade clocked out from Jeneration Group once she was done with her work.
There was barely anyone out and about in the streets anymore. She sighed and was prepared to hail a taxi when a white luxury car stopped before her. Her expression fell the moment she recognized it.
The car doors opened, revealing a man and a woman Jade knew very well.
“What are you doing back in Bardoff City, Jade Weston?” The woman asked, hooking her arm around the man.
Jade sneered. She was Maria Biscotti, her best friend, once upon a time. The man she was holding was none other than Hayden Lowe, the man she had deeply loved long ago. These two people had betrayed her trust, forcing her to divorce Hayden without taking even a cent for alimony, and even made her leave the city.
Jade ignored them and walked off, but the two swiftly caught up with her. Hayden even grabbed her wrist, dragging her back. “You said you’d never come back to Bardoff, Jade. What are you doing here now? Having second thoughts?”
Jade bristled, tossing his hand off and glaring at him. “What I do is none of your business.”
“I let you off easy those years ago because you promised never to return to the city. So what else would you be doing here except searching for your death?”
Hayden snorted.
Jade sneered. “Let me off easy? Should I be grateful to you?”
If it weren’t for Jade’s years of loyalty and hard work, Hayden wouldn’t have established such a successful company and been so influential today. He ended up having affairs outside their marriage and even found himself a mistress in the form of Jade’s once-best friend, Maria.
The two then messed with her until Jade was forced to leave, heartbroken. It was then that she came to Orchid Village to rest, meeting Danika and her grandfather there. Their companionship and care helped her slow recovery. That was the reason she decided to return to Bardoff City with Danika. She wanted to repay the kindness Danika had shown her.
As for Hayden and Maria, Jade guessed she might see them again. Still, she wasn’t afraid of them anymore. She had only been hurt those years ago because of her absolute trust in them. Now, that was not the case.
“You should leave Bardoff City as soon as possible, Jade. Don’t make us force our hand,’ Maria piped up. She was no longer that young, naive girl Jade had called friend. Now she was clad in silks and leather, showing off her wealth and power.
All that should’ve belonged to Jade.
Jade chuckled. These two were still as shameless as ever. “I’ll be waiting for what you come up with, then,” she said and shrugged. She’d decided to stay and strengthen Jeneration Group. It would send a message to these two people that she did have what it takes—just not the patience needed to deal with them.
Meanwhile, Hayden wasn’t so ready for Jade to leave. He had done his research on her before coming to see her. Hence, he knew she was working at a fashion design company like his. It worried him, as he knew Jade’s capability.
In truth, he was scared the company she worked for might overtake him.
Teach You a Lesson
“This is for your own good, Jade. You could expand your skills anywhere and however you wanted outside of Bardoff City,” Hayden insisted, stopping her from leaving.
Jade frowned. “You want me to leave because you’re scared I’ll take away everything you have, aren’t you?”
“Scared?” Hayden stiffened. “You really are still as proud as ever. Do you think you’re that capable? Trust me, I have nothing to be afraid of, whether it’s Jeneration Group or some startup of yours.”
Hayden was only giving her this alternative because killing her would claim a lot of resources. “Funny that it gave her this impression,” he thought.
Jade wasn’t upset at all. She had long grown out of the limited perspectives that held her back all those years ago, especially her uncontrollable temper. “Then there’s no need to waste your breath here. Goodnight? She made to walk away, but Maria stepped in front of her.
“I know you hated me for stealing Hayden from you, Jade,” Maria began.” But I truly do love him. But it’s been so long. Are you really still upset about that?”
She sounded like she was begging for forgiveness, but Jade knew better.
“We were the best of friends all those years ago. If you want to, I can secure a spot for you at work in the company instead of working for those outsiders. We promise to treat you right.” Instead of outright force, Maria seemed to think persuasion would do the trick.
Unfortunately for her, Jade was no longer as naive as before. Her heart and mind no longer fell into chaos at those deceptive words.
Hayden still hadn’t caught onto what Maria was doing. He was about to speak up when Maria shot him a look, making him go silent.
“Think about it, Jade. You’re one of the reasons the company is where it is today. I’m sure it still means something to you,” Maria continued.
Jade’s heart did murmur at the offer. Though she no longer had any feelings for those two, she still deeply cared for the company she had single-handedly established. Sadly the company had sunk into decrepitude at these two’s hands, becoming a model example of design plagiarism, something Jade absolutely despised as a fashion designer. That was also another reason she would return to that company as an employee.
She gave Maria a cold, flat look. “I fell for your tricks once. Do you really think I’ll fell for it a second time? Do you take me for an idiot?”
“Ja—“
“Shut the hell up,” Jade cut her off. “I’ll return to the company, sure, but I’m going to do it my way.”
She hadn’t planned on involving herself with them again, but now that they had come looking for trouble, she wasn’t about to look a gift horse in the mouth. Jade wouldn’t go back to work for the company, nor would she tolerate watching her efforts ruined at their hands.
So, she had decided to take it back by shareholding, then liquidating it, permanently wiping it off from the registry.
“Why are you still wasting your breath on her?” Hayden asked. “She’s never going to listen.’ He went up to Jade and growled, “Fucking bitch. I’ll teach you a lesson if it’s the last thing I do!”
With that, he raised his hand to slap her.
Don’t You Dare!
“How dare you?’ Jade yelled angrily. Hayden really hadn’t changed one bit. He was still as violent as ever.
“Try me, bitch!” Hayden snapped back, swinging his hand. Though he had divorced Jade, in his mind, she still belonged to him, so he felt he had the right to do whatever he wanted to her.
Jade stood still, waiting for Hayden’s hand to land. The moment it did, she would call the cops on the bastard. But the slap never landed. Instead, a man stepped in front of Jade, protecting her.
“Max?” Jade gasped. Shouldn’t he be in Parrington?
“You alright?” he asked briefly, turning to glance at her.
Jade nodded, still curious as to what he was doing there.
Max didn’t explain. He turned to glare at Hayden instead, flinging his hand away.
“What kind of cockless sonuvabitch would hurt a woman?”
Hayden stumbled back from the force. Jealousy burned in his chest when he saw how close Jade was to Max. Jade was his whether or not they had divorced, so there was no way he would allow her to be with another man.
“Who the hell are you?” he asked Max, though really he wanted to hear Jade’s answer.
Max’s glare was brimming with contempt. “I should be asking you that instead.” Hayden scoffed. “I’m Jade’s man.”
Jade nearly imploded with anger. She yelled, “You’re a shameless piece of shit, is what you are! How dare you still say that after we’ve been divorced for so long?! I must’ve been blind to marry a jackass like you!”
Beside Hayden, Maria’s face had also turned an ugly shade of purple.
Clearly, Hayden hadn’t considered her feelings when he answered. Instead of getting upset at Hayden, she glared at Jade.
To her, Jade was responsible for seducing Hayden. He wouldn’t have answered that way otherwise. Throughout all their years together, he hadn’t acted so irrationally, save for now after Jade’s reappearance.
Max had learned from Jade’s outburst that Hayden was her ex-husband, so his expression grew more menacing. ‘If you’ve divorced, you should stay out of her life. Permanently.’
“Why? She’s still my woman even after the divorce. I’ve fucked her countless times already,” Hayden said crassly, shrugging.
Jade was now trembling with rage. Worried, Max gently said, “He’s not worth it, Jade.’
As if his words did the trick, Jade actually did calm down. She gazed steadily at
Hayden, saying, “You’re still as terrible a man as ever. Worse, in fact. I’m so glad that we’re no longer husband and wife.’ She then looked at Maria. ‘You two really are a match made in heaven.’
A whore of a woman with a horndog for a husband. How apt.
With that, Jade left with Max following along. She was worried she might start getting violent if Hayden said anything else.
Hayden stared at the two of them as they left, looking glum.
“What the hell did you say just now, Hayden Lowe? If Jade is your woman, then who am I?” Maria demanded. She wasn’t on the same level as Jade, or she wouldn’t have successfully stolen Hayden away from her.
Still upset, Hayden snapped, “What did I say? Are you deaf? You heard me!”
“Don’t you dare! I am your wife, Hayden!” Maria stomped her foot. The man scowled. ‘You think that makes you special? Jade was my wife once too.”
Hayden could swap Maria for someone else just like he swapped Jade for her all those years ago. They were nothing more than women, after all.
Maria’s face twisted upon hearing that, obviously catching onto his meaning. As she watched Hayden leave, she silently started planning for her future. She couldn’t bare to let herself end up like Jade.
I Was Blind Once
Jade took a while to recover her senses on Max’s car, then started gnawing at her gums as to why she had hopped on in the first place. “Uhm… thank you for earlier,” she said hesitantly. She didn’t know what else to say, embarrassed as she was. Very few people had seen her so unhinged before.
Max shrugged, oblivious to her embarrassment. “No need. I’m glad to have Helped.”
“What brings you to Bardoff City?” Jade asked, switching the topics. The car stopped outside a restaurant before Max answered, “Let’s grab something to eat.”
“No, thank you. I’ve eaten.” She really just wanted to go home and rest. Max gazed at her longingly. “Can you stay with me while I eat, then?”
Jade reluctantly agreed and followed him into the building. She couldn’t be rude now, especially after he had just helped her.
Max got them a table and ordered several dishes that Jade felt were the food she liked. When their meal was served, Max asked, ‘Was that man really your ex-husband?”
“Yes. I told you I’m a divorcee, but you-“
“You have horrible taste in men,” Max grunted. He was a thousand times better than that donkey of a man, and still, Jade didn’t have eyes for him. What was that logic?
Jade was stunned by his response. She truly didn’t know Hayden was such a character when she married him. If she remembered correctly, she and Hayden had their good times. He was an entirely different man back then, too.
“Money really could corrupt a person,” she thought.
Max gave her an unhappy look. Though uncertain, he still tried to ask,” You’re not still into him, are you?”