Filed to story: The Regretful Billionaire: An Unpredicted Reunion
They said nothing, but their guards were up.
At last, they chose to dine at a soup restaurant. Danika and Evan sat down to order their food while Gilbert went to the washroom.
Evan glanced at the direction Gilbert had taken. He realized that Gilbert had not gone to the washroom. Instead, he had gone outside. It was odd.
“What would you like to eat, Evan?” Danika had already chosen a few dishes. She slid the menu toward him.
He recovered his senses and smiled. “I’m alright with anything. You can order for me.’
“Alright.” Danika had a rough idea of what Evan liked to eat. She ordered a couple more dishes that would suit his and Gilbert’s tastes and handed the menu back to the waiter.
Do You Think I Want To See You?
When Danika was about to take her phone out to check for messages, a gift box suddenly appeared before her. She looked up, seeing Evan smiling at her. “It’s for you. You can see if you like it.”
“There’s no need, Evan…” Danika refused, attempting to slide it back to him. But Evan was persistent. He pouted and said, “You didn’t refuse any of the things
Gilbert bought you, but you’re saying no to this little thing from me. Are you really treating me like your brother, Danika?”
Danika was at a loss for words. If she refused him again, it would show she didn’t think of him as a brother. However, she didn’t want to accept the gift from him.
“Seems like I’m nothing to you.” Evan began to take it away, the disappointment apparent in his demeanor.
Danika felt guilty and hurriedly took the box. “How could that be? You’re my brother. I just didn’t want you to break the bank.”
“Don’t worry. I have the money for this.” Evan smiled, watching her take it.” Open it up,” he said. He’d bought it when Danika and Gilbert were shopping. He thought it suited Danika well, which was why he wanted to give it to her.
Danika opened the box. A turquoise pendant was nestled inside. It was obviously of good quality. The box suddenly felt heavy in her hands.
She said nothing. Evan asked, “How is it? Do you like it?”
“It’s beautiful.’ It was. It was also very expensive. But she had already received it. If she gave it back to him now, Evan would get up and leave the restaurant at once.
Danika had to comfort herself, thinking she would give him something of equal value. That would make things even.
They exchanged conversation. Meanwhile, Gilbert’s face was as dark as thunder in the washroom.
“When did you return to the country?” He looked at the woman before him, who was lowering her head in suppressed anger.
Marigold was intimidated. She said weakly, “Yesterday.”
“You got back yesterday and began stalking me today. Didn’t I make my words clear enough before?” He couldn’t believe that Marigold actually had the balls to show herself around him. Did she have a death wish?
She shook her head meekly. “I wasn’t stalking you.”
“You weren’t?” Gilbert refused to believe her.
“I truly wasn’t. I was just here to do some shopping. I didn’t know that you’d be here,” she said.
Gilbert was frustrated. He asked, “Shopping? By yourself?”
“No. There’s someone else,” she said.
“Who?” Gilbert was going to get to the bottom of it to gauge her honesty.
But Marigold didn’t want to answer. She finally looked up at him with conflicted emotions. “This has nothing to do with you. If it weren’t for you suddenly stopping me, we wouldn’t even have met.”
“Do you think I want to see you?” Gilbert would not see her again if he could.
The moment he saw her, those disturbing images would flash through his head. It irritated him further.
Marigold’s heart ached, but on the surface, she remained calm. ‘Alright. I’m going to leave.”
Gilbert didn’t stop her. He would find out afterward if she was stalking him or truly just shopping.
If she were stalking him, he would not let her go easily. He would banish her from the country, so he would never have to see her.
I Don’t Have Those Thoughts
When Gilbert got back to the restaurant, the food was already served. Danika and Evan were waiting for him to come back.
“Apologies. I was taking a phone call.’ Gilbert sat down, showing nothing out of the ordinary on his face. At least, not to Danika.
Evan glanced at him for a while, but he said nothing. Quite frankly, Gilbert had nothing to do with him. Evan couldn’t be bothered, either.
They began eating their food. Whether by coincidence or not, Marigold walked into the restaurant, too. There was a man next to her.
“Let’s eat somewhere else,* Marigold said. She’d spotted Gilbert and the others, and was afraid she’d be misunderstood. Furthermore, she didn’t want to be seen with him. The man next to her did not agree. ‘ Why should we? I think this place is great. Didn’t you say you wanted to have soup earlier?”
Marigold wanted to say something else, but Danika and others were looking over. She had no choice but to follow him into the restaurant. They sat down.
Danika was surprised to see her. “That’s Marigold, Gilbert. I remember her having a crush on you.”
She was teasing Gilbert on purpose. She did not expect Gilbert’s face to shift instantly.
“Who would remember a woman like that?”
“That’s true. I know you don’t like her. She seems pretty close to that man next to her. Perhaps they’re married.”
It was rare for them to meet someone they knew. Danika was naturally curious, especially since Marigold had once liked Gilbert.
Gilbert didn’t turn to look, absolutely disinterested in her. Danika did not think too much of it. As long as Marigold did not trouble her as she had in Parrington, Danika would not go looking for her.
Evan looked at Marigold not far off, and looked at Gilbert. He felt that something was off.
If his memory served him right, the scandal that Gilbert was involved with when he was abroad had something to do with someone called Marigold.
Could it be the Marigold that Danika was talking about? He thought that it was likely. Gilbert didn’t look happy at all.
“You’re not young anymore, Gilbert. Just get to it if you’ve found someone suitable.”
Gilbert was a few years older than her. He was already in his thirties. He had long turned the appropriate age for marriage.
Gilbert was not expecting Danika to start pressuring him into marriage. He had come out for food. Running into Marigold was already bad luck enough. He was now completely speechless.
He glared at her, angry. “Alright. We haven’t met in a while, and you’re worrying about me. Do you intend to introduce someone to me?”
“Well, if you don’t mind.”
“Hold up. I don’t have these thoughts just yet. I just want to work.” Gilbert waved his hands hurriedly. They were getting sidetracked. Danika seemed as if she were really going to introduce him to someone.
Danika smiled dryly. “You can do both at once. It won’t even take up much of your time. What’s wrong with getting to know someone?”
“What do you mean, it won’t take up my time? If I spend my time on a relationship, I’d be spending less time on work.” Gilbert disagrees. He did not possess any desire to have a relationship.
Danika was helpless to change his stance. She knew that once Gilbert refused something, nothing she said would change his mind. She sighed in exasperation.
“Alright. You can decide for yourself. Grandpa’s in Heaven looking down at us. Don’t let him worry.” “Are you using him to threaten me, you brat?” Gilbert was amused. He flicked his finger against her forehead.
What Do You Take This Place As?
Danika wanted to say that she had no intention of threatening him, but then Evan pulled her towards him. “Danika is under my protection now. You can’t pick on her like that.”
“Oh, so you’re protecting her already.” Gilbert smirked. “Alright, alright. You’ll protect her.”
Danika was a little embarrassed, but she smiled, saying nothing.
After the meal, Gilbert sent Danika home. As for Evan, he returned to Zellweger Inc. If he agreed to do something, he would do it to his best ability.
He wanted everyone to see his strengths so that everyone would know that he was capable and worthy of Danika.
After a whole day’s worth of shopping, Danika was exhausted. She wanted to take a nap, but her phone rang.
It was Eustace. She was stunned and didn’t reach out for the phone. Yesterday’s incident was still fresh in her mind. She remembered what Stephanie had said. She had to calm down. Thus, she did not intend to pick upThankfully, the call ended quickly, and Eustace no longer called again. Danika sighed in relief. She didn’t know what to say to Eustace right now. It just felt so awkward.
On the other side of the city, Eustace looked at his phone. Danika had not picked up. He could guess what she was thinking, so he didn’t chase after her relentlessly. It was good to give her some time to think about it.
At that thought, he put his phone away and continued working.
At night, James drove back to Windsor Villa. He saw someone standing at the entrance.
He drove toward it and stopped in front of the person. He got out of the car.
“James…” Jolene looked at him, biting her lip.
James couldn’t describe what he felt when he saw her, but there were no changes in his expression. “What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you already be out of the country?”
“I gave it another thought and decided to stay because I couldn’t bear to leave you,” Jolene said.
Doubt flashed through James’ eyes, but mostly, he felt sardonic. “You were clamoring to leave, but now you suddenly want to stay. Do you think I’m a clown, Jolene?”
“I…I don’t mean it that way.” Jolene shook her head quickly. “I only want to stay with you because I like you.”
“You think you can leave and stay whenever you want. What do you take this place as? A hotel?” He smiled coldly. There was no warmth in his eyes. Jolene grew anxious.
She had chosen to stay because Rowena, after hearing the entire story of how James let her leave, deduced that James had feelings for her. If she didn’t want to leave, she would choose to stay.
It was a gamble. Jolene knew it very clearly, but she still wanted to give it a shot. She used to think that James had no feelings for her at all. She saw no hope for her here, and she would live a happier life with her mother outside of the country.
