Filed to story: The Regretful Billionaire: An Unpredicted Reunion
“Is this…am I hallucinating?”
People from the first-class neighborhood were either wealthy or influential or both, most never showing a hint of emotion in public, hence why the guards were questioning their reality right now with the snowball fight.
“Maybe…maybe they’re just taking the chance to have some fun and relax a little,” the other guard answered.
The snowball fight went on for two long hours.
Afterward, the group went straight to Eustace’s place.
The warm air inside the house was soothing to those bitten by the cold.
Smiles were still bright on their faces, indicating the contagious joy they’d felt from letting their inner children out to play.
Paul came by just then, too, with Melanie Yews in tow.It didn’t seem like Paul was with her, however.
“You don’t mind if I tag along, do you, Danika?” Melanie asked Danika in a hopeful manner.
She had been persistent in coming along with Paul because of wanting to wish him Happy New Year on the dot.
Danika was surprised to see her, though she quickly got the gist of why she was there.
“I don’t mind.But you do have to ask what Eustace thinks.This is his house, after all.”
Melanie then turned to Eustace, still hopeful.
Eustace smiled and nodded.
“Welcome.”
A bright smile instantly bloomed on Melanie’s face.
Free Help
Just then, Danika got a call from Stephanie, inviting her to celebrate the New Year together.So, she told her about their gathering at Eustace’s place.
When Stephanie mentioned she might join, Danika added, “Fair warning though, Paul and Melanie are here.”
Though she knew Stephanie wasn’t interested in Paul anymore, she couldn’t say the same for Paul.
Danika couldn’t promise conflict wouldn’t happen if Stephanie really came over.
Hearing that, Stephanie was silent for a time before finally saying, “Don’t worry.I just wanna spend the night with you, nothing to do with them.”
“Alright.I’ll send you the address.”
After hanging up, Danika glanced at Paul in the distance, with Melanie rambling on his side.
The man didn’t seem too focused on what she was saying.
Danika walked over to Eustace and told him about Stephanie coming over.
“I need you to hold Paul back if he does anything stupid later.
“Roger that.”
Eustace nodded.
He had long been aware that Stephanie didn’t have any feelings for Paul anymore, so he could only hope Paul didn’t act too rashly later.
“Aren’t you going to start cooking? I can help out,”
Danika offered.
There were only two hours left until dinnertime, and given the number of people joining that night, there was probably a lot of food being made in the kitchen.
Eustace shook his head, smiling.
“No need.I won’t starve you, don’t worry.”
Danika rolled her eyes.
“Your loss on free help.”
“I know how kind and considerate you are,” Eustace teased.
“But I’ve already done my preparations.”
Why waste his time and effort when he could pay someone else to do it? Plus, the only person he wanted to cook for was Danika, not the entire group.
“Where’s Grandpa?” Danika asked.
“I don’t see him around.” Eustace pointed upstairs, looking glum.
“He’s resting.”
“Why? Is he alright?”
Eustace sighed sadly.
“He’s not as strong as he used to be.I thought what happened last time was only temporary, but…”
Sometimes he was scared his grandfather might pass away all of a sudden.But he couldn’t show fear, so he never did.
“Grandpa will be okay.We can send him to Bardoff Hospital for a checkup after the New Year,” Danika suggested.
Eustace nodded, staying silent.
Both knew deep down it was only a matter of time, however.
The doorbell rang suddenly.
Thinking it might be Stephanie outside, Danika went to open it.But it turned out to be Alfred.
“Isn’t this Eustace’s place?” Alfred asked curiously when he saw Danika.
“It is.”
Danika spotted Mortimer behind Alfred, still in a wheelchair.
Maybe it was because of how long the man had been in a coma, but there was no longer that hostility toward her in his eyes.
They’ll Misunderstand
“We heard the old man’s in Bardoff, so we thought we’d visit,” Alfred explained, glancing at Mortimer.
That look said it all.It was Mortimer who wanted to see his father.
Danika stood there, uncertain about whether she should let them in or not.
Eustace came to the door to her rescue, though his expression darkened the moment he saw who was standing outside.
“What are you two doing here?”
“I want…to see…your grandfather, Eustace,”
Mortimer spoke, words still choppy from not having spoken in so long.
Eustace’s brow furrowed deeply.
“He doesn’t want to see you.”
“I know you hate me, Eustace, but that’s my father.Would he really feel that way?” Mortimer asked helplessly.
Eustace pursed his lips.
In truth, he wasn’t sure what his grandfather thought about Mortimer Quincey.
The old man hadn’t mentioned a word of him since he came.
Alfred then said, “He’s already come all this way.Just let them meet this once, at least.We can’t exactly stop them from seeing each other.It’s their business.”
Eustace glared at him.
“What’s this got to do with you?”
“You think I want to be involved?” Alfred scoffed.
He wouldn’t have come all the way to be face-to-face with Eustace if his father hadn’t requested to see the old man.
Still, the half-siblings didn’t seem to be as hostile to each other as they used to Eustace looked upstairs, hesitating before finally letting the two inside.
“I’m warning you—if you upset Grandpa even the least bit, I’ll throw you out myself.”
He didn’t trust Mortimer one bit.
The old man was already weak in health.
What if Mortimer pissed him off again, and his condition worsened? After the two went in, Alfred brought Mortimer straight upstairs.
