Filed to story: The Regretful Billionaire: An Unpredicted Reunion
Rowena nodded solemnly. “He did make a grave mistake. But he’s the only heir my family has. If something happens to him, we’re doomed.”
“Weren’t you already doomed?”
Rowena bit her lip. Yes, they were, but they still had money, So long as they planned their steps wisely, they’d still be able to have a mediocre life.
“I know you hate Randy, Graham, but please, I beg of you. Let him go this once. I promise he’ll never show up in front of you again. I’ll make him stay overseas.”
Graham sneered. “What makes you think I’ll say yes? He nearly killed Danika!”
“Yes, he did. But…please, for the sake of the daughter we have, please just let him go.” Rowenal didn’t want to beg either, but her family had forced her to, and it would be damaging if they cut ties with her too.
Send Him Right to Heaven’s Gates
Graham knew reasoning with her was pointless and waved her off. “The court will decide what happens. I have no power over them nor will I use my power.”
“Will you really not give him a chance?” Rowena pleaded. She had prepared herself for Graham’s cruelty, but her heart was still pained at actually experiencing it. She had loved this man once, after all.
“See her out.” Graham no longer wanted to speak to nor see her again. “From this day onward, I will no longer see to Ms. Glass nor do I want her in my house!”
Some of the servants in the household were used to Rowena’s presence over the years and would still treat her as the matriarch whenever she came around. Surely they’d no longer make the same. mistake now.
Rowena glared at him, eyes red with unshed tears. “I’ll remember this, Graham Zellweger!”
She had decided to let go of the past after their divorce and instead spend her days doing what she loved with the money she had. In fact, she’d been happier than she’d ever been when she was still Graham’s wife. But the man’s attitude still managed to elicit hatred from her heart.
She stormed out from Zellweger Castle, coincidentally meeting Danika, who’d just returned from the music concert.
“How many times has this been now?” Danika scoffed. “Looks like you failed again. Boo-hoo.”
“Jen-” Rowena was about to curse again when she forcefully calmed down and asked, “About Randy. Can you let him off the hook?”
Danika was genuinely shocked by the woman’s audacity. “God will be the judge of that. What I’ll do, though, is send him right to Heaven’s gates. Of course, he might find himself in front of Hell. People like him don’t seem to have a big chance of being in God’s good graces.”
She was way more straightforward than her father, unfortunately. No way was Randy going to be let go for his crimes now that even Rowena had come begging for mercy. Danika would make sure Randy didn’t escape his punishment.
Rowena’s hands balled into fists. “Heh. Like father, like daughter.”
No fucking mercy!
After Rowena left, Danika snorted in disdain before turning to Evan. “Thank you for tonight, Evan. It was nice hanging out with you.”
But Evan was paying attention to Rowena in the distance, brow furrowed in concentration.
“Evan?” Danika called again.
The man returned to his senses. “No need to thank me, Danika. We can hang out more if you want to in the future.”
“Aw, there’s no need for that. Fun is only fun in short bursts here and there.” Danika shook her head. She didn’t want to go to concerts often.
Evan beamed nonetheless. “Go on in. I’ll leave once you’re inside.”
“Alright. Drive safe.” Danika waved at him and then turned to go home.
Was It Fun?
When Danika entered the living room, Graham was still fuming from his conversation with Rowena. He hadn’t anticipated how bold she was, even begging for Randy’s life.
Danika noticed how angry her father was and asked kindly, “What’s up, Dad?”
Only then did Graham come to his senses. “Nothing much, just Rowena. She asked if I could let Randy go. I don’t understand where she got her confidence from.”
“No point ruminating on it. We’ll never understand people’s minds.” The Glasses were important to Rowena. That woman was even willing to destroy the family she married into, so Danika wouldn’t put this past her.
Graham sighed, dropping the topic. “It’s late. Did you do overtime?”
“Nah. Evan invited me for dinner, then we went to a concert.” Danika poured a glass of water as she spoke, then sat across Graham,
The man seemed pleased by that. “How was it? Was it fun?”
“It was alright.” Not too fun. Just…normal.
“You’ve heard of the circulating rumors, haven’t you?” Graham then asked, observing Danika’s minute reactions to see what she felt about them.
Danika eyed him cautiously, immediately seeing through him. “I have. You wouldn’t be responsible for them, would you?”
If it weren’t for Graham allowing such gossip, it would’ve died out at the first squeak.
The man grinned, not answering her question. “So what if it was me? Would you take Evan as your husband if he wants to be?”
Danika rolled her eyes. “How would you know if he wanted to? He’s a good man with his fair share of women to choose from, I’m sure.”
“So you’ll accept him if he marries into the family?” Graham asked, knowing deep down that Evan would more than welcome the idea.
Danika set her glass down, clearing her throat. “Dad, I really don’t see him as anything more than a friend. Please don’t worry about it.”
“Really? But I heard you liked him when you were younger, even confessed your love for him.” He had settled the idea that Danika was interested in Evan the moment he was told this. So why were things not turning out the way he expected them to?
“How many years has it been since, Dad? Who made it so that your crush from when you were a kid should last for the rest of your life?” Danika sighed.
Who the hell set these social rules? First Gilbert, and now her own father.
Graham seemed glum. “You really don’t have feelings for him?”
“Not the kind you think I have. The most I see him is like a brother, like Zack and Gilbert, but incomparable, of course.”
Graham sighed. “Oh, Danika. And here I was, hoping to start looking for your mother once you’re married.”
“Hey, I’m not stopping you from looking for Mom. You don’t have to wait for things to happen on my end.” They were both independent individuals. No point in waiting for one to make a move first.
Go Ahead Then
Graham knew his daughter wasn’t being sarcastic. “I just worry about you, you know.”
“I know, but you don’t need to. I’ve survived on my own all these years, haven’t I?” She was already an adult, for God’s sake.
But the man felt guiltier hearing that. “It’s because you had to survive on your own without my help that I feel guilty, Danika. All I hope is that you can finally find a nice young man to be with so he can. protect you when I can’t.”
“Then you’ve got it wrong, Dad. There’s no upside to relying on others these days.” She had never considered finding someone to protect her. Even if she did, she wanted to actually like that person.
Graham shook his head, sighing again. “Where you got your steadfastness from, I have no idea.”
Danika smiled but said nothing in return.
“You still have feelings for Eustace Quincey, don’t you?” her father asked, still worried.
Danika stiffened up instantly. She hadn’t prepared herself for that question. “Why do you ask? It’s been ages since we were together.”
“Love doesn’t always thin with time. Sometimes it can even grow stronger and deeper.” Just like the love Graham had for Danika’s mother. It had been decades since he’d seen her. He still didn’t know if she was alive, yet he still loved her deeply.
Danika pursed her lips, staying silent now.
Graham sighed a third time. He had only guessed before, but it was confirmed now. “I don’t oppose the relationship, in truth. I just worry you’ll be hurt again. But I know what my Danika is like. She’ll protect herself from harm.”
Worried as he was, he knew he had to let go one day.
Danika wrinkled her nose. “Focus on enjoying your retirement now, please. You don’t need to fret about me any longer.”
“You’re right. Now that you are in charge of the family business, I can pursue other passions.” Graham nodded, trusting Danika.
The woman glanced at him. “Are you really going to look for my mother?”
“Mhm. I’ve wanted to long ago, but just delayed it on and on. I hope your mother still remembers me.”
“Do you know her whereabouts?”
“Sadly, no.” Graham huffed. He would’ve gone after her ages ago if he knew.
“Then what’s your plan?” Danika frowned.
“There’s bound to be clues somehow. I had the portraits of the people who took your mother away drawn. We should be able to trace them.” As long as those people were still alive, Graham trusted his ability to hunt them down.
Danika wasn’t so optimistic. It had been years, after all. People change. Still, she didn’t discourage him. “Go ahead then.”
She knew that was the one thing her father would want to accomplish before his time, or he’d live in regret for the remainder of his life.
“I’ll find her, Danika, and we’ll finally reunite. I want to show her how beautiful and strong our daughter has become.” Graham smiled warmly, feeling hopeful.
Danika smiled and nodded. “This might be good for him,” she thought.
People often found life more enjoyable once they had a purpose after all.
Don’t Overestimate Yourself
The following days passed by peacefully. Danika got used to going to work at the hospital every day while being updated with progress at her companies. She had her personal space most of the time, so life now was much more enjoyable than she had given it credit for.
When she heard about Randy’s death, Eustace was just knocking on her door. Danika was less reluctant to push him out now, likely because he had saved her from certain death those nights.
She hung up her call, then chewed on her lip in thought. After a while, she asked Eustace, “Did you do this?”
