Filed to story: The Regretful Billionaire: An Unpredicted Reunion
It was Graham’s first time hearing everything that had happened. He could understand Danika’s grandfather’s intentions since no one knew when Danika would be brought home. The old man must’ve worried about Danika’s future.
Hence, he arranged the marriage. Parrington’s most renowned family’s heir was an excellent choice to ensure her safety and comfort, after all.
The old man could’ve never imagined all that transpired after, however.
A Nice Prospect
Danika gauged Graham’s expression, anxious for his response. “So now you know. What happened isn’t Eustace’s fault. No one likes the idea of marrying a complete stranger or having it happen to them.”
“Then why does he like you now?” Graham huffed, still upset that Danika was defending Eustace.
Danika really didn’t know how to answer that. After a long while, she said,” Fate, most likely.”
Graham just about choked on his own spit. “Fate? Misfortune, more like!’ he thought.
“Whatever it is, I still don’t think you two are compatible,’ Graham insisted. Eustace had many good aspects about him, but in the end, he still mistreated his daughter. That was something Graham couldn’t forgive.
Danika hadn’t intended to change his perspective, just tell him the truth.” You don’t have to worry about me anymore. I can take care of myself.” She had chosen her words carefully so Graham wouldn’t get angry. “You should worry about Jolene instead. She’s not a kid anymore. It’s time you found a nice prospect for her, no?”
Jolene and Rowena would get so pissed if that really happened. Graham sighed. “I can understand if you don’t like Rowena, but Jolene… she’s your sister no matter what. Don’t scheme against her, please.”
He actually hoped the sisters could get along well, but that didn’t seem possible anymore, so he had permanently given up hope. Now he just prayed they didn’t have any conflict with each other.
Danika knew he wanted to be a good father, but…
“I can stay out of her way, but can she stay out of mine?” she asked with a knowing smile. “You know what your daughter is like. I’ll be kind and warn you first. If she messes with me, I’m not going to hold back.’
She didn’t have the evidence she needed yet. But the moment she did, she’d make sure Rowena and Jolene never had a chance to mess with her again.
Graham knew Danika wasn’t bluffing, so he nodded. “I hear you. I’ll tell her this. I’ll also consider what you said about marriage.”
He accepted her suggestions because he was worried about what Jolene might do to Danika the longer she stuck around. He really didn’t know what to do if both his daughters ended up at odds with each other. So, he could only have Jolene marry someone and move out of the family home.
Hopefully, she’d drop her desire to claim the family inheritance and stop messing with Danika.
Danika, however, knew better. Even if Jolene married someone, she and her mother might still have eyes for Zellwegers’ inheritance.
She needed to prepare herself to prevent being so devastatingly attacked again like last time. “Brandon Britt liked her, didn’t he? His family is one of the Elites, too. They’ll be a good match.’
They’d make the perfect pair-neither were good-hearted people.
“Brandon Britt…” Graham gave it some thought. “The Britt family would make alright in-laws,” he finally said. “Now it’s just up to Jolene whether she agreed or not.”
Aren’t You Worried About the Glass Family?
Danika said nothing, knowing Jolene would never agree to it, for now, at least. She believed she deserved better, like James, for example.
Unfortunately for her, James didn’t feel the same.
Just then, Eustace started placing the food on the table. Danika got up to help him. ‘Rest a while. I’m gonna go help Eustace.”
She had said her piece to Graham. All that could be done now was for the man to make a decision. Someone as intelligent as he was bound to come up with a win-win solution.
“It’s alright,’ Eustace said when Danika entered the kitchen. “I can handle this myself. Go sit.’
“I’ve been sitting all day.” Danika quipped, taking the platter of brisket from Eustace’s hands. She set it on the table, then went back to the kitchen. Eustace had already started making another dish.
“You don’t need to make so much food. What if we can’t finish it all?” Danika was worried Eustace might tire himself out. There were already five different courses on the table, and still, he wasn’t stopping. She knew he wanted to leave a good impression on her father, but he really didn’t need to overdo it. After all, no one could stop Danika from making her decisions in life, not even Graham.
“This won’t take a second, promise,” Eustace replied. He wasn’t actually tired. In fact, he was feeling energized and giddy after overhearing their conversation in the living room, especially knowing Danika was firm about their relationship. He had to do his best to support her, as well as get on Graham’s good side.
With the last dish of spinach lasagna ready, Eustace went to his place and brought over a bottle of his finest red.
“Care to have a drink, sir?”
“Sure. We’ll see who can hold their own.” Graham scowled. No way was he going to let Eustace get him drunk.
Eustace poured him a glass, then got something non-alcoholic for Danika.
As Graham observed him, he concluded that if Eustace wasn’t dating Danika, he might actually find him to be a decent man. However, that wasn’t the case.
When the three had sat down, Eustace raised his glass to Graham. “A toast to your health, sir.”
Graham raised his glass in turn, clinking glasses with Eustace.
“Don’t drink too much,’ Danika warned before eating a mouthful of salad.
Graham sampled Eustace’s cooking, finding it difficult to not admit that his food was top-notch, on par with the chef he had hired at home.
“I heard you plan to move the Quincey Group’s headquarters to Bardoff City?’ Graham asked lightly.
Eustace nodded. “Yes. There are better business opportunities there. It’ll be closer to Danika too.”
“Huh. Aren’t you worried the Glass family will mess with you?” Even some of their mild antics had caused Eustace great inconvenience. One could imagine what great trouble would land on Eustace if they started plotting against him once they knew he was going to move his place of business to Bardoff.
Eustace smiled. “Where there’s a will, there’s a way. One can’t just retreat in the face of a challenge.”
Your Consent
Graham really didn’t know how Eustace could be so confident about it, but he didn’t pursue things further. What happened to Eustace was none of his business. All he had to do was persuade Danika not to continue being with him lest she get in Trouble.
But Danika didn’t mind. She asked curiously, ‘The family business has started stagnating too, right?’
Graham frowned. He didn’t like where this was going.
“Why don’t you consider buying over the Glass’ business?” Danika suggested.
If that happened, Eustace wouldn’t have to worry about being troubled by them, nor would Rowena be a threat to Danika any longer.
Graham shook his head. “Things aren’t that simple, Danika. The Glass family is one of the Ten Elites in Bardoff City. Our family isn’t capable of taking them on.”
They might even get themselves in serious trouble.
“What if you work together with Eustace? If you need further help, the Windsors can step in too. I’m sure they’d be interested in his venture.” The fall of the Glass family only meant more benefits for the rest of the families.
The Ten Elites would never help one of their own, after all.
Seeing Danika so intent on it happening, Graham turned to Eustace. ‘What do you think?”
Eustace nodded. “I have no qualms about this plan. All we need is your consent to get started.”
For a split second, Graham felt his age get to him.
These youngsters were truly admirable, talking about taking over one of the Ten
Elites like it was just some startup company. Even Eustace was onboard with
Danika’s plan, and his family couldn’t even be said to be on par with the Spade family in Bardoff. At most, his was a third-class family.
Seeing Eustace’s acquiescence, Danika added, “I think you can really consider this, Dad. Our family will be able to upgrade itself by taking down the Glass family.”
Graham’s heart skipped a beat. This was the first time in his life that Danika had called him “Dad.”
He heaved a heavy sigh. He knew Danika was doing this to help Eustace; still, he couldn’t help but soften up when Danika called him Dad.
“I’ll give it a serious thought,” he promised.Danika beamed. ‘Take your time to think about it. We’re in no hurry.”
They had to settle the complications in Parrington first, anyway.
After dinner, Eustace got up, ready to leave. There was no reason for him to stay any longer, and Danika saw him out.
In the hallway, Eustace gazed deeply into Danika’s eyes for several long seconds, inviting her to ask, “What are you looking at?”
He smiled, then wrapped his arms around Danika unexpectedly. “Thank you, Danika.”
“What for? I didn’t do anything special,’ she murmured.
“You’ve done so much for me already.” Eustace knew very well that Danika’s suggestion to her father had been for his sake
Are You Bluffing?
They did not stop embracing until footsteps sounded from behind them. Seeing Eustace still in the hallway, Graham frowned. “What are you still doing here?”
“I’m just about to leave.” Eustace nodded slightly and smiled at Danika before taking out his house keys and unlocking the condo across from Danika’s.
“Goodnight,” he greeted the father and daughter, then went inside. Danika turned to go back into her place when she noticed how grumpy her father looked. “Are…you okay?”
“He lives here?” Graham asked sternly. Why else would the heir to Parrington’s top family be living there except to stay close to his daughter? Graham fumed at the thought.
Danika hurriedly explained, “He’s lived here long before I have.” She was telling the truth too. Eustace had lived in the neighboring apartment even during the two years of their marriage.
Graham snorted. “She’s defending him again,” he thought.
“Alright, why don’t you get some rest?” Danika went up to her father with a smile, hand gently wrapping around his arm.
Graham softened up instantly. “Okay.”
The next day, Danika left for work early in the morning, planning to have a meal with some colleagues. They had been kind to her since day one, so it was only right that they had a farewell meal together.