Filed to story: The Regretful Billionaire: An Unpredicted Reunion
“I wasn’t doing honest work abroad. Instead, I hung out with some people and established a certain reputation for myself after a few years. That was how I managed to get some men to work under me,” Evan explained.
He thought it wasn’t technically wrong for him to word it that way. He did hang out with someone abroad; it was just that this “someone” happened to be a mercenary leader.
Danika’s tightly furrowed brow didn’t relax, and her eyes seemed to have a hint of confusion. “How did it turn out that way? With your abilities, you should have landed an excellent job after graduating.”
“Well, I can only say that it’s not as easy to get by abroad as I thought it would be.” He didn’t want to tell Danika what had happened specifically. In the beginning, he hadn’t expected to end up where he was now.
However, if one were to ask whether he regretted it, Evan’s answer would probably be
“no.” If he hadn’t decided to take this path in the first place, he would still be an ordinary employee when he returned to the country. With that kind of status, how would he be able to compete with Eustace?
Start Again
Danika didn’t know what Evan was thinking. But when she heard Evan speak about his experience overseas, she naturally assumed that he hadn’t been doing well during all those years abroad. As a result, he ended up going astray and taking the wrong path.
She sighed and didn’t doubt what he’d told her. “Then, what’s next for you? What do you plan to do? Are you going to continue with your current path?”
She had seen Evan’s people suffer losses and thought it wasn’t feasible for him to carry on in the same way. On top of that, she wasn’t exactly supportive of him going down that same road.
“I haven’t decided yet.” Evan smiled, but inwardly, he wondered what else he could do if not this.
“Evan, now that you’ve decided to return to the country, let go of everything abroad and start again. Wouldn’t that be better?”
She and Evan grew up together, and although she wasn’t as close to him as she was with Gilbert and the others, she still didn’t want him to continue down the wrong path.
Things were different in the country compared to overseas; if Evan continued as he was, he would end up in jail sooner or later. She didn’t wish for him to end up like that.
Danika looked at Evan sincerely. At that moment, Evan felt immensely touched by her gesture. He wanted to nod and agree to what she said immediately but was still rational enough to resist that urge.
He looked at Danika and asked, “Danika, if I let go of everything, will you be willing to be my girlfriend?”
“Evan, these are two different things. I just don’t want you to continue down the wrong path!” She couldn’t understand why he was so insistent about that.
On the other hand, Evan was very clear about everything. If Danika was willing to be with him, he would consider giving up on everything he’d built overseas. But if she was unwilling, he didn’t have a good reason to give up.
He didn’t hold the same opinion as Danika about him going down the wrong path. He wasn’t like Eustace, who was born into a wealthy family. Everything Evan had now was achieved through his blood, sweat, and tears. He had so many men under his command, and giving up all that wasn’t an easy choice.
“For me, Danika, they are the same thing.” Evan looked at her solemnly. He was being serious about it.
Danika’s expression also became grim, and she said nothing more. She understood what Evan meant, but she couldn’t agree with him.
As they sat in silence, the waiter knocked on the door and brought in the food.
Evan immediately put on a smile. “Let’s eat first. We’ll talk later.”
Although he couldn’t agree to Danika’s request, he didn’t want their relationship to suffer a huge blow because of it. He just hoped that she wouldn’t mind the matter too much.
Danika nodded, picked up her fork, and started eating without a word. She didn’t know how to persuade Evan and knew very well that she had no right to tell him what to do with his life, but she couldn’t bear to watch him continue down a path of selfdestruction.
“Evan, you know the situation in the country, right? It’s different from abroad.”
In foreign countries, people like Evan wouldn’t be pursued by the police, at least not to a serious extent. But things were different here, and once any evidence was found, the police would breathe down their necks and come after them relentlessly.
Evan smiled and nodded, but the look in his eyes showed that he was clearly unconcerned about the country’s authorities that Danika mentioned. “I know, so don’t worry. I brought people with me just to protect myself and not for any other purpose.”
“Really?” Danika asked skeptically in her heart.
If he had no plans to do anything, how did Xavier die?
“Danika, don’t you think we’ve all been used by Eustace this time? ” Evan suddenly spoke.
His words stunned Danika momentarily.
“Used?” Danika repeated internally, puzzled by Evan’s choice of words.
Seeing her confusion, Evan continued, “Xavier was killed at his request. The last time you were in trouble, he was the one who notified me to save you. In the end, both the
Quinceys and I suffered heavy losses, but he didn’t lose anything and became the ultimate winner.”
Evan thought not only did Eustace win against Zeke, but he’d also won Danika’s heart. But, of course, Evan wouldn’t admit to this.
Bring His Plan Forward
Danika didn’t quite agree with what he said. “Eustace may be the mastermind behind the whole Xavier incident, but why did you agree? You know he’s using you, yet you still agreed. Did you two reach some kind of a deal?”
Evan wasn’t stupid; he wouldn’t have made a deal that would only bring him losses.
At that moment, Evan was at a loss for words. Could he tell Danika he didn’t get anything from Eustace in return? Eustace had threatened to expose his identity to Danika. He wouldn’t have agreed to it if he hadn’t been anxious about how Danika would see him once she found out what he’d been up to.
Who would have thought that Danika would find out what he’d tried so hard to keep hidden so soon despite his efforts to cover it up?
If he knew it would turn out like that, he should have just told Danika the truth from the beginning. Then, he wouldn’t have ended up being used by Eustace.
“I’m grateful that you saved me. But at that time, I think Eustace had no choice. After all, he didn’t have as many men as you did. Knowing that you had the manpower, it was reasonable for him to approach you for help.”
Danika didn’t think there was anything wrong with it. If she were Eustace, she would do the same.
“Aren’t you aware you’ve been speaking up for him every single time?” Evan chuckled, but his smile looked somewhat strained.
If he couldn’t see how biased Danika was toward Eustace, then he really was a fool.
Danika came to her senses and didn’t deny it. “I believe he wouldn’t use me.”
Evan looked downward and lowered his head, not letting Danika see the killing intent that flashed across his eyes.
“Okay. Since you trust him, what else can I say?” He forced a smile, aware that he’d reached a dead end.
After a brief silence, the two finished their meal and walked to the restaurant’s entrance together.
Realizing they were about to part on bad terms, Evan refused to let things end that way between him and Danika.” Let’s still be friends, Danika.”
“Of course,” Danika said. “You’re still a manager at Zellweger Inc, after all.”
But that was all.
Danika gave up trying to persuade Evan because she knew he wouldn’t listen. She simply accepted that they had different views and were destined to drift apart.
Evan forced a smile. “Sometimes I think it would’ve been better if I hadn’t gone abroad.”
If that were the case, he might have already ended up with Danika, and Eustace wouldn’t have had the chance to come between them.
Danika smiled but didn’t say anything.
Evan drove Danika back to the hospital. The atmosphere between them changed silently and gradually, becoming somewhat solemn and even depressing.
Soon, the car arrived at the hospital entrance. After Danika got off, she inexplicably breathed a sigh of relief.
“I’ll get back to work. Drive safely, Evan.” Danika waved to him before turning and walking into the hospital.
Evan didn’t say anything but watched as Danika walked into the hospital.
It seemed that he had to bring his plan forward; otherwise, he might not have any chance left. Although his plan was despicable, in order to win Danika over, he had to do it no matter how dirty his hands got.
He had to make one last effort, and perhaps he could finally be together with Danika this time.
In the hospital, Danika was busy and unaware of Evan’s plans. Helga’s surgery, which she had prepared for a long time, was scheduled for that afternoon. Perhaps because she’d interacted with Helga too much, she attached great importance to the surgery and wanted everything to proceed smoothly without a hitch.
As soon as she was back at the hospital, she began to prepare. She put the matter with Evan to the back of her mind as she got busy.
I’ll Do My Best
Helga’s sister and Amy were already waiting at the operating room’s entrance. When they saw Danika approaching, they both hurried over.
“Dr. Zellweger, the surgery…” Helga’s eyes were slightly red, and she couldn’t even bring herself to ask the question.
Danika nodded to her and said, “Don’t worry. I’ll do my best.”
“Okay.” She didn’t say anything else, fully aware that words were meaningless in a life-or-death situation like this. The only thing she could do was pray hard for her sister.
“Dr. Zellweger, will my mom be okay?” Amy didn’t know what illness her mother had, but she knew her mother was about to have surgery. Her aunt told her it would be painful, so she worried.
Danika looked down at her and smiled, “She’ll definitely be fine, Amy. You have to be good, okay?”
“Okay, I’ll be good and wait for my mom to come out.” Amy nodded. She was around four or five years old and didn’t really understand the concept of death.
Danika entered the operating room, and the surgery began.
Handling Helga’s illness wasn’t difficult for Danika. She’d done countless simulations for the surgery. Even if she closed her eyes, she could tell where the next incision should be made. Nevertheless, Danika felt a lot of pressure this time because the thought of Helga’s complicated life and Amy expectantly waiting outside the operating room weighed on her.
Fortunately, the outcome was a good one.
Four hours later, the surgery was over, and Helga was pushed into the ICU. As long as she got through the first night after the operation, there would be no major problems later.
Danika felt that she hadn’t let Amy and Helga’s sister down. When she walked out of the operating room and saw them, she felt a sense of relief.
“Dr. Zellweger, where’s my mom?” Amy asked.
“She has been transferred to a ward. You won’t be able to see her for the next few days, but after that, your mom will be able to recover and be with you as you grow up.” That was probably what Helga wanted the most.
