Filed to story: The Regretful Billionaire: An Unpredicted Reunion
Marigold felt grateful. Gilbert had not sided with that woman, at the very least. On top of that, he said our child. Their child. It was Gilbert’s words, not hers. She couldn’t help thinking about it.
However, now was not the time to be saying this. Once she was sure that no one would be taking her child away, she stayed quiet.
‘Gilbert…”
‘Go away. I will not go with you,” Gilbert said determinedly to the woman. There was no room for negotiation.
Her expression turned sour. “Gilbert, you might not know who your parents are yet, and you don’t know which family you belong to. If you did…”
‘I still wouldn’t go with you. I have no interest in you at all,” Gilbert interrupted mercilessly.
She looked extremely unpleasant. She swept her gaze over Gilbert and the people around him, saying nothing. Then, she took out a business card and gave it to Gilbert. “If you change your mind, you can give us a call.”
Besides her number, her status was also written on the card. She figured that as long as Gilbert knew of her status, he might change his mind.
He accepted the card but flung it to the side without so much as a glance.
Can you go now?”
Coldly, the woman turned and left.
After she left, Danika picked up the business card.
Esther Bradshaw, Vice President of Bradshaw Operations.
Bradshaw Operations?
Danika thought this was weird. She knew of this company, but it was not an impressive one in Bardoff City. It didn’t even compare to the Wagners now. So where had that woman’s confidence come from when she looked down on Marigold?
Eustace walked over too. When he saw the business card, he grew somber.” Bradshaw Operations is not as simple as they seem.”
“What does that mean?’ Danika looked at Eustace. Everyone else looked at him, too.
“Bradshaw Operations doesn’t look like anything much, but the Bradshaws themselves are actually much stronger than we think. They own a lot of property privately, but it’s not a part of the company. That’s why it looks harmless. However, if we count all their property, the Bradshaws won’t lose to any of the Ten Elites,” Eustace said.
Danika frowned. If what Eustace said was true, things would prove difficult.” How do you know this?” she asked.
“Someone from Bradshaw Operations contacted me before for a collaborative project. I found that their finances were odd and had someone investigate them,” he answered. He wouldn’t have known about their deceptive appearance if it weren’t forthat.
Danika nodded and looked at Gilbert, concerned. “What do you think, Gilbert?”
“What do I think? What do they have to do with me? I got to where I am today by myself.” Gilbert didn’t care if he had a good family.
At these words, Danika knew where Gilbert stood. “Alright. We support your decision.”
But even though Gilbert rejected Esther, no one could guarantee that the Bradshaws would let it go easily.
‘Hold up,” Zack said. ‘Are we going to believe her just because she said she’s Gilbert’s mother? We should at least do a DNA test. How else would we believe her?”
When he found his biological family, they only determined their relationship after a DNA test. How else could they confirm it otherwise?
“It doesn’t matter. I don’t care, anyway.” Gilbert turned and left the swimming pool. In his eyes, regardless of Esther’s relationship with him, he would not leave with her, and he would not go to the Bradshaws.
Watching him leave, Marigold grew worried. “Gilbert is alright, isn’t he?”
“Don’t worry. Gilbert will be fine. But you might have to care for him a little more these few days.” Although Gilbert said he didn’t care, Danika knew that Esther’s sudden appearance would affect him somewhat. Even for her, when she knew that Graham was her father, it took her a long time to calm down.
Marigold nodded. She would have done it without Danika’s prompting.” Yeah, I’ll take care of him.”
They dispersed. No one talked about the sudden interruption. The party was still going on. Gilbert was already back in the hall, talking with guests as if nothing had happened.
The guests began leaving after they had eaten. Although Danika was worried,she didn’t say much. Gilbert had to face this on his own. As his sister, all she could do was stay by his side and support his decisions no matter what. Besides, he had Marigold by his side, which was why Danika wasn’t that worried.
Soon, the guests were all gone. Danika and the others left, too, leaving only Gilbert and Marigold in the hotel. Even the child was taken home by the nanny.
Gilbert had a lot to drink today. Hence, after he was done sending off his guests, he leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes halfway as if he was asleep.
Marigold walked toward him, worried. “Are you…alright?’
At her voice, Gilbert opened his eyes. He wasn’t surprised to see Marigold.” I’m fine. Get the driver to start the car.” He’d had so much to drink that he definitely wouldn’t be able to drive home.
Marigold nodded and called up the driver, telling him to place the car at the entrance and help her get Gilbert out. She put her phone away and held Gilbert. “The driver is coming. I’ll help you up.”
“I’m fine. I can walk on my own.” Gilbert tried to stand up by himself.
However, he had overestimated himself. The moment he stood, he collapsed to the side. Marigold hurriedly pulled him. Unfortunately, she had no strength to do so and was pulled down with him.
“Ow!’ Marigold exclaimed, falling on top of Gilbert. His broad chest made her dazed. Hearing his heartbeat from between his ribs, she blushed.
“I’m sorry. I…” Gilbert apologized and tried to get up, but then he was stunned. Marigold was looking at him, and for whatever reason, her eyes were making him feel a certain way.
As he was lost in his thoughts, Marigold kissed him.
Her emotions were in overdrive. She couldn’t help herself. She didn’t want to waste the opportunity God had given her. Although Danika had warned her not to be too hasty, Marigold was in no mood to think about that.
With her soft lips pressed against his, Gilbert swallowed. For a moment, he wanted more. But the moment the thought arose, footsteps sounded at the door, and he snapped back to reality, pulling Marigold up at once. When the driver walked in, nothing seemed amiss.
“Mr. Hawthorn, Miss Wagner, the car is here,’ the driver said.
Gilbert murmured a response. He looked like his usual self. Only Marigold’s face was as red as a tomato.
The driver supported Gilbert while Marigold followed behind them. She hadn’t calmed down yet.
What had she done?
She’d kissed Gilbert!
Gilbert must hate her so much right now.
Oh Marigold, why was she so impatient? She’d already promised Danika to take things slowly. Why did she kiss him?
Her thoughts were in a frenzy. They stayed like that until the car reached the villa. The driver left, leaving Marigold alone with Gilbert once more. It was only then that she had the bravery to look at him.
Gilbert hadn’t expressed anything. But when he felt her gaze, he looked at her.
“I’m sorry. I…” She had no idea how to explain herself and didn’t know if her apology would even mean anything. She had to admit that she was afraid now.
She was afraid that Gilbert would chase her out.
However, Gilbert wasn’t mad at all. He merely looked at her, saying, “You were so brave before. Why are you so cowardly now?”
She’d already kissed him. Why was she apologizing now?
Marigold was perplexed. What did Gilbert mean by that? Did that mean he wasn’t going to blame her?
She was utterly bewildered. He felt even more unreadable to her now.
“Why did you kiss me?” Gilbert looked at her as if wanting to see right through her.
Marigold came back to her senses and felt his gaze. “Because I liked you. There’s not much reason behind it.”
She didn’t deny her crush on him. Denial meant nothing right now. Gilbert was no fool. There was no way that he wouldn’t know about her feelings for him.
“I thought that you would change after what happened before.’ Gilbert smiled lightly. After what happened, they had not contacted each other for a few days. He thought that Marigold would give up. He didn’t expect that she would still like him.
She bit her lip and said, “I’m sorry. I was impulsive. I didn’t control myself.”
After what happened, she told herself not to do anything like that again. But just a few days later…
Even Marigold didn’t feel too great about herself, much less Gilbert.
“Impulsive? So you’re saying that your feelings for me are just impulsive?” For whatever reason, Gilbert was upset.
“I said the kiss was impulsive. Not my feelings.” Marigold paused. She looked at Gilbert, whose gaze was shifting weirdly. “Are you not mad?”
“Why would I be? I wasn’t taken advantage of,” he said.
Marigold couldn’t believe that this was what Gilbert had said. If this was about being taken advantage of, Gilbert wouldn’t have rejected her before. She was confused. Then, an unbelievable thought came to her mind. “Have you…fallen for me?”
The moment she said those words, the air grew tense. Only their breaths could be heard.
Fallen for her?
Gilbert didn’t know what that felt like. He only knew that he didn’t hate Marigold’s kiss. But did that mean he had feelings for her? It probably didn’t.
He shook his head. “How could I like you? Have you forgotten that I have no interest in you?”
“But you…”
“Like I said, I wasn’t the one taken advantage of.” Then, Gilbert went upstairs into his room. He didn’t care what Marigold thought.
Gilbert’s words made her disappointed. Was he not angry simply because he wasn’t the one at a disadvantage? It sounded logical, but Marigold thought that something was amiss. Gilbert wasn’t like that.
In the end, Marigold reached her conclusion. She took her phone out excitedly and called Danika. She told her everything and then asked, “What do you think this means, Danika?”
“What do you think? He has probably fallen for you,” Danika replied. She was happy with this outcome.
“Really?” Marigold couldn’t quite believe it. Had she obtained what she wanted so badly this easily?