Filed to story: The Regretful Billionaire: An Unpredicted Reunion
“That horrible woman. I can’t believe she’d think to use this against us!” Graham growled angrily. Rowena had actually plotted to use the woman he loved the most to hold him ransom!
Danika hurriedly calmed him down. “It’s alright now. All that matters is we didn’t fall for her tricks.”
“We can overlook this for the time being. As for our moves against the Glasses—I’ll make sure to speed things up.” Graham decided he couldn’t take his sweet time anymore. Who knows what the Glasses might come up with the longer they were allowed to breathe?
What if they tried to do something to Danika?
Danika nodded. “I’ll head to work then. Be careful, Dad.”
She left for the hospital after having a light breakfast, leaving Graham in his study. He stayed there for a good long while before finally leaving, meeting Rowena on the way out.
Fear flashed in her eyes before it quickly disappeared. What was there to be scared of still? She had a strong card to play anyway.
“Good morning,” she greeted Graham, meeting his gaze.
“Did you give these to Danika?” He tossed the photos to Rowena.
Having anticipated this since last night, she’d prepared a response. “Yes, I did. I’m sure she’s told you everything.”
There was no reason to keep things courteous any longer. Their relationship had long flushed down the drain anyway.
Graham nodded, grumbling through gritted teeth, “I never expected such tenacity from you.”
“I wouldn’t have done this if you hadn’t forced my hand.” Rowena didn’t feel like she’d done anything wrong. She couldn’t just leave her own family in the lurch. In fact, she was the one who had suggested this trick to her family, who quickly found a suitable candidate to play the part of Danika’s mother.
With a cold snort, Graham went downstairs.
Rowena went after him, asking, “Danika told you of our conditions too, I’m guessing. So when do you plan to stop attacking us?’
“What’re you in a rush for? Even if I’m willing to stop, you think James will let this go so easily?” Graham sneered, not revealing the truth to Rowena.
It would do their families some good to have the Glasses relaxed and unprepared for a couple days so they could continue their next series of attacks.
Do You Really Take Yourself for My Fiancde?
Even though Rowena knew this, she could only force Graham to take action. “I don’t care what you do, but if you don’t get him to stop within three days, we will take action!”
Graham eyed her coldly before leaving the house, much to Rowena’s dismay. Shouldn’t he be begging her to have mercy on Danika’s mother? Not be this… cold and uncaring.
Had he actually stopped loving her after all these years?
What should’ve been good news to Rowena as Graham’s wife was now conflicting because that meant Graham and James might just continue attacking them, disregarding that woman.
Rowena was suddenly at a loss of what to think or feel.
Meanwhile, James was just walking downstairs in his villa when Jolene plated breakfast on the dining table.
She had been forced to learn how to cook these days, refining and perfecting her skills just so she could appeal to James’ appetite. Of course, they had significantly improved after James’ constant criticism and picking, so now her cooking was of fair, home-cooked quality.
“Steak sandwiches again? Is that all you know what to make?” James criticized. It was something that Jolene had grown used to all these weeks living with him.
She’d have apologized and gone to make something different in the past. But today, she went into the kitchen and brought out several more plates of food.
“What are you craving? I made scrambled eggs and sausages, pancakes and bacon, muesli, chicken Caesar salad…”
James hid his surprise, scoffing, “What, no baked beans on toast?”
Jolene blinked in surprise and nodded. “I’ll make some right away.”
Annoyed, James grunted, “Ugh, just stop. I don’t have time to wait for you to cook.”
To which he was met with silence.
James sat down and instantly dove into the steak sandwiches. Just because he picked on Jolene didn’t mean he actually didn’t want to eat them. Jolene knew this, too, though James didn’t care that she did.
Seeing her still standing to the side, he muttered, “The hell are you still here for? Go do whatever you have to do.”
“Eyesore,” he thought.
“James…” Jolene began, immediately getting a cold glare from the man. She swiftly changed her words up. ‘Mr. Windsor.”
Only then did James reply lazily, “Yes?”
“Can you…stop attacking the Glasses, please?” Jolene asked sheepishly, though she knew she had no right to ask. Still, she couldn’t just sit by and watch her mother’s family die off. Rowena would be left with no one to support her if the Glasses actually collapsed.
James nearly guffawed. “No wonder you made so much food. You were waiting for your chance to ask that, weren’t you?”
Jolene said nothing, silently affirming his suspicions.
“Do you really take yourself for my fiancee, Jolene Zellweger? Butting into my affairs whenever you feel like it?” James sneered. Was Jolene so dense?
Jolene’s expression turned frightened and sad at the same time. She’d thought herself numb to all his jabs these past weeks, but it turned out she could still feel immensely wounded by his words.
How Generous of You
Jolene remained still, biting her lip and holding back her tears. The sight of her infuriated James. ‘The hell does the Glass family have to do with you, huh? It’s not like they’ve ever helped you with anything.”
“My uncle and cousin are my family too,’ Jolene responded. They were her relatives, so they had everything to do with her!
James scoffed. “Sure. But do they feel the same about you?”
He was pretty sure the Glasses thought of Rowena and Jolene as pawns to exercise their bidding, easily tossed away at a moment’s notice.
Evidently, Jolene hadn’t thought about that. “Of course they do. We’re family.”
James sneered, shaking his head at how foolish she was. He set down his silverware and said sternly, “Stay out of what doesn’t concern you, understand?”
“Mr. Windsor…” Jolene tried again, but James instantly turned and left the house. She sighed in place, having expected it already.
Nearly every single layer of her pride had been stripped off throughout her days in this house. She was no longer that selfish, childish girl she was before. In fact, she had been humbled deeply by her stay.
As much as Jolene never anticipated that to be the outcome of her actions, there was no one to blame except herself.
Danika hadn’t received many patients in her first few days of work at Bardoff Hospital, given she was relatively green in reputation here. But she wasn’t worried. She was confident in her skills and knew recognition would come eventually.
In the evening, just when she was about to clock off, Derrick appeared in her doorway.
“Hey, you better not go back on your word about dinner, Danika,” he chirped. Danika blanched, just wanting to get this over with. “Of course, I won’t. We can head for dinner now if you want to.”
Derrick nodded. “Alright. Let’s go then.”
He followed behind Danika as she led the way, not asking where they were heading for dinner. It didn’t matter to him so long as they could spend time alone. Still, the sight of the hospital cafeteria did jar him somewhat.
“This is where you mean to have dinner?” Derrick asked incredulously.
Danika nodded, getting her ID out. “Yeah. Get anything you want. I’ll pay for it.”
“How generous of you,” Derrick silently thought.
“Uh…why don’t I buy you dinner instead? I know a nice steakhouse nearby,” he suggested. No way could he spend time alone with Danika with so many people around.
Danika shook her head, already getting a tray for food. “I like the hospital’s food.” She was doing her best to kill his attempts at getting them alone. It’s not like she was blind to his intentions. After tonight’s dinner, she no longer wanted anything to do with this man.
Derrick was left to glumly get some food, though his appetite had long fizzled out.
When they sat down to eat, McKenna came over to Derrick’s side and snapped, “So this is the woman you left me for, Derrick?”
Her eyes glared at Danika all the while.
What Does That Have to Do with Me?
Danika frowned, immediately realizing what a big mistake having this meal in the cafeteria was.
“Stop that nonsense! I have never been with you in the first place!” Derrick hurriedly exclaimed, worried Danika might misunderstand.
Further angered by this statement, McKenna yelled, “We weren’t together because I hadn’t agreed to be with you yet!”
She was entirely outraged by the fact that Derrick could easily drop his pursuit of her.
“I’m sorry if my actions previously came across as being romantically interested in you, McKenna, but I truly do just see you as a sister?” Derrick explained, trying to sound sincere.
McKenna gritted her teeth. “Don’t call me that, you asshole!”
“Please just stop coming onto me, won’t you, McKenna? This is pointless!” Right now, Derrick was terrified of his image crumbling in Danika’s eyes, so he was doing all he could to handle the situation.
Unbeknownst to him, Danika didn’t care whatsoever. She hurriedly finished her food, longing to leave at the very next second. Who was interested in dating Derrick Clearwater? Not her.
“I’m coming onto you?” McKenna gaped, pointing at herself in shock. Their commotion had long drawn several curious eyes from across the cafeteria. Derrick was actually known to be quite frivolous with his female coworkers in the hospital. However, because he had never suggested romancing anyone besides McKenna, none of them could say or do anything.
That was also why McKenna dared to come to him for an explanation.
Derrick was deeply regretting his choices now, cursing himself for having wanted to date this woman in the first place. He wouldn’t have if it weren’t for her father’s status!
Comparatively, Danika was the bigger fish. He sobered up at the thought, feeling the need to clear the air with Danika.
“I’ll repeat myself again, McKenna. No matter what misunderstandings you’ve had about me in the past, I want you to know now that I have no romantic intentions.
Please stop this from now on. I don’t want us to have this unnecessary conflict anymore,” he said sternly as if McKenna was the troublemaker here.
