Filed to story: The Regretful Billionaire: An Unpredicted Reunion
Leonard was stunned, and then he immediately beamed brightly. “Don’t worry, Stephanie. I won’t let you get hurt at all.”
He pulled her into his arms. He just hugged her and did nothing else. Even so, he was already pleased.
As Stephanie nestled in his arms and felt his warmth, she felt a little uncertain for a moment.
Could this man in front of her truly bring her happiness?
Stephanie was actually feeling nervous. However, it was time for her to take a step forward.
When they returned to the front yard, they were already holding each other’s hands. Danika could tell at a glance that the air between them had changed.
She could not help but smile. She then nudged Eustace with some smugness.” I bet the two of them have gotten together.”
Eustace looked in the direction of Danika’s gaze and saw Leonard and Stephanie holding hands. In that instant, Eustace could tell as well.
Inappropriate
“I was wondering where they had run off to. I didn’t expect that Leonard would actually confess his feelings to Steph today. What an appropriate timing he had chosen,” Danika said softly while looking at the two of them.
Eustace didn’t respond. At that moment, he could only feel sorry for his best friend, Paul. There was probably no chance for Paul anymore.
Seeing that he said nothing, Danika figured out what he was thinking. “You better warn Paul not to cause trouble. If something happens to Steph or Leonard, I wont spare him.”
“Don’t worry. Paul is not that kind of person,” Eustace said. He knew Paul would certainly feel miserable when he got the news, but he probably would not go to the extent of hurting Stephanie and Leonard.
Truthfully, Eustace wasn’t confident about it. After all, Paul had always been obsessive. In his mind, Stephanie had always been his, and now, Stephanie was taken by somebody else. It would be strange if he could accept that.
While they were talking to each other, Stephanie and Leonard arrived in front of them. “Danika, let me introduce you to my boyfriend, Leonard.”
“Congratulations.” Danika smiled. She could tell that Stephanie was quite happy.
“I’m leaving Steph in your care, Mr. Sullivan. I wont spare you if you dare to treat her badly.” As Stephanie’s best friend, Danika felt she had to warn him beforehand.
Leonard nodded and said in an extremely serious manner, “Don’t worry, Miss Zellweger. I will be good to her.”
She was his first girlfriend, but she would also be his last.
The dinner party was still going on. It was obvious that Max was very happy that day; he was having a good time with his friends as well. Jade didn’t interrupt them. She just drank champagne with Danika and others and chatted casually with them.
The dinner party ended very late at night. After everybody had left, Jade helped Max back to their bedroom.
At that moment, only the two of them were left in the huge mansion. It was so quiet that they could even hear each other breathing.
Max was a little drunk, so it took Jade a lot of effort to get him onto the bed. She truly had no energy left to help him take a shower. She was going to take his jacket off and let him sleep straight away.
However, just when her hand touched the button on Max’s jacket, Max grabbed her hand. “Jade.”
She blinked. She was a little surprised to see that Max’s eyes were opened. “You’re not drunk?”
“I’m drunk,” Max said. Then, he pulled Jade into his arms. ‘But even if I’m drunk, I still remember tonight’s the night we consummate our marriage.”
Jade’s cheeks immediately turned red. “How inappropriate.”
“Inappropriate? We’re a married couple now.” Max was not happy about it. He immediately rolled over and pinned Jade under him.
At that moment, they were close enough to easily feel each other’s breath. For some reason, they become nervous.
They stay frozen in place for a few seconds. Jade was the one who made the first move in the end. “Why are you dawdling? Are you a man or not?”
Max could not help but laugh. He was truly pissed off by what she said.” You’ll know if I’m a man or not soon.”
Upon saying that, he lowered his head and kissed Jade on her lips.
The driver Max had hired first dropped Eustace and Danika home before he was ready to continue and drop Leonard and Stephanie home.
“We’re gonna go now,” Danika said to Stephanie, who was in the car.
Stephanie nodded and waved at them. “Bye. I’ll see you again another time. h
Immediately after that, the car started again and disappeared from Danika and Eustace’s sight.
“Let’s go. It’s a little chilly outside. Don’t catch a cold.’ Eustace wrapped his arm around Danika and walked toward their home. He didn’t let her stay at the entrance.
I Like How Things Are Right Now
Danika finally had free time after Jade and Max’s wedding. Thankfully, the holiday was coming to an end as well, which meant she would be returning to work at the hospital, sparing her from the boredom of staying at home.
“Dr. Zellweger, are you back from the holiday?” When she got back to the department office, she was greeted by many. She nodded and responded to them. She much preferred the environment in the hospital. While there was competition sometimes, most staff were focused on their patients and didn’t engage in workplace drama.
On the first day of her return, she had to meet a seemingly endless number of patients. The consultations went on until 7 pm. The sudden busyness tired her out, but she felt exhilarated at the same time.
“Are you done with work?” Eustace showed up at the door when she wasn’t looking. He was dressed in a grey coat and was leaning against the door frame. Looking at him from afar, he had a distant quality that would keep people away from him. Only Danika knew that he was cold on the outside but passionate within.
She changed out of her white doctor’s robe and walked up to him. “Yeah. Let’s go. I’m hungry.”
“Okay. Are you tired?” he asked with concern when they left the hospital.
She shook her head-the day’s work wasn’t too tiring for her. “I like how things are right now.”
Soon, they left the hospital. McKenna and Derrick showed up from a corner, and she remarked, “Didn’t I say that Danika Zellweger would choose a man who’s a match for her socially? Look, I was right.”
“Yes, yes, babe, you were right.” Derrick had no idea why she had to bring up the topic.
“So, have you totally given up on her?” she pressed on.
Looking dumbfounded, he surrendered and said, “Oh god, I did not have any feelings for her anymore. Why wouldn’t you believe in me?” McKenna had harped on the question multiple times, and he assured her as many times, but she didn’t seem convinced.
She pouted and looked in the direction where Danika and Eustace had left. “It’s not that I didn’t trust you. I think it’s normal to fall for her because she’s such a stellar woman.” She would have fallen for Danika if she were a man.
“Does that mean you’d fall for Eustace Quincey since he’s an outstanding man?” Derrick countered with a little annoyance.
“What nonsense! I didn’t even know him,” she refuted. Although Eustace was a capable and good-looking man, she didn’t feel anything for him.
Derrick held her hand and said, “See? You won’t fall for someone easily just because of their credentials. Don’t fret over this again, alright?”
He had nothing but regrets for his previous interest in Danika. He had merely wanted to leech off her because of her social standing, but his plan backfired.
As for McKenna, he admitted that he first cozied up to her because she was the daughter of a hospital department director, but now…
He stared at the woman in his arms as his gaze softened. He had no idea who was the predator or the prey in this game of love between them anymore.
Once Eustace brought Danika back home, he immediately started prepping dinner in the kitchen. She followed suit and offered to help, adding, “You don’t have to go through this fuss. We can dine out or get a private chef to help.”
“No, it’s no trouble at all. I like cooking dinner for you,” he replied while washing the greens.
She was taken aback for a while before she chuckled, thinking, “This man is in flirting mode at any time.”
1 Once Loved You
While Danika and Eustace were flirting with each other, Stephanie ran into someone she wished she wouldn’t meet. She had just got off work when she noticed a man standing in the elevator lobby of her apartment. She immediately halted in her tracks as she stared at him in astonishment and nervousness.
She did not know why he came to meet her this late in the day. Perhaps, she was a little traumatized and scared of him due to the unsavory incidents that she went through in the past.
Still, she gritted her teeth and went up to him with much courage. She kept a few steps in the distance between them, which was just perfect for a conversation or an immediate escape.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
Paul threw away the cigarette butt between his fingers and glanced at her.” Why are you standing so far away from me?”
She ignored him and reiterated, “Why are you here?”
“Nothing. I just wanted to ask if you’re with Leonard Sullivan now.’ Eustace had broken the news to him with the intention of making him give up on Stephanie. Unfortunately, Eustace underestimated Paul’s obsession with the woman. How could Paul give her up so easily? Once he got the news, he immediately showed up at the entrance to her apartment to ask her about it.
Feeling jittery, she tried hard to mask her anxiety. ‘Yes. Leonard is my boyfriend now.”
Paul’s expression crumbled. The veins on his forehead bulged in anger, and he appeared to be ready to give her a beating at any second. She was afraid of him and took a few steps backward. ‘Paul Wagner, do not try anything funny! I told you long ago that I was not into you anymore.”
“Steph, how could you say you are not into me anymore? I don’t believe you. ” Paul was living in his fantasy and refused to believe she was in love with another man.
She was troubled and at a loss for how to handle him. “Paul, let’s look to the future. We deserve to live our lives.”
“No! I can’t live without you,’ Paul exclaimed.
She rolled her eyes at him, feeling speechless. “Paul, you should stop trying to flatter me. You know better than anyone how you treated me in the past. That’s no love-it’s purely a need to control.” He wouldn’t have hurt her in that way if he truly loved her.
“Steph, I know I was wrong and am willing to change. I just need you to give me a second chance,” he pleaded, his eyes moist with tears, looking pitiful.
Too bad she had no lingering feelings for him anymore, and his pitiful demeanor did not win her sympathy. She stared at him and announced coldly, “I’m sorry, but I have a boyfriend now. I love him a lot and do not plan to date anyone else now.” In other words, she refused to give Paul a chance.
Hearing that, he went up and grabbed her wrist. “Why? You loved me so much. How could you suddenly claim that you’re not in love with me? Have you never loved me from the start?”
She felt pain in her wrist and frowned. ‘ Paul, don’t you think the question is rather unimportant now?”
“It’s not!” he yelled. Of course, it was important! He wanted to know if she had ever loved him.
She sighed and looked at him with pity. “I once loved you.’ But she wasn’t in love with him anymore.
He stared at her with teary eyes and refused to let go. “I don’t believe you! How could you not love me anymore? You must be lying. You’re still angry at me, aren’t you?”