Filed to story: The Regretful Billionaire: An Unpredicted Reunion
Eustace was rendered speechless. Turning to Leonard, he said,” She’s just talking nonsense. Don’t take her seriously. If you want to make plans, just invite Stephanie.”
“Sure.” Leonard didn’t mind. The four of them chatted and laughed, but Stephanie remained silent.
She mainly hadn’t figured out how to face Leonard, so she couldn’t bring herself to talk and laugh with him.
While the four of them had their dinner, they didn’t notice that there was someone else sitting in the corner of the restaurant, whose gaze had never left them. To be exact, his gaze never left Stephanie.
Eustace’s sharp senses detected something amiss. When he spotted the man, he was frustrated. What was Paul doing here?
Was it a coincidence? Obviously not.
Danika happened to glance in that direction and noticed that it was Paul. She didn’t find it surprising. She expected no less from a control freak like him.
Perhaps even to this day, Paul still regarded Stephanie as his woman. He certainly wouldn’t be happy to see Stephanie having a meal with another man.
Danika couldn’t be bothered to pay attention to him and didn’t point him out to the rest.
Instead, she continued to chat with them with a smile.
Eustace, on the other hand, couldn’t ignore Paul like Danika. He made an excuse to leave the table and walked over to Paul.
“What do you want?” Eustace demanded solemnly, sitting across Paul.
Are You Telling Me to Give Up?
Paul took a sip of his drink and looked at Eustace, who sat across from him. “I’m here to have a meal. What else?”
“If Stephanie sees you, she might not think the same way,” Eustace retorted with a roll of his eyes. Stephanie was very annoyed with Paul constantly monitoring her, but he didn’t seem to know how to control himself.
Paul frowned at that comment. “What are you and Danika up to? Are you two opposing me on purpose?”
Even a fool could tell what they were trying to do.
“You’re overthinking it. I met with Leonard to discuss the possibility of working with him. As for anything that’s going on between him and Stephanie, I have no right to intervene,” Eustace replied.
Before Paul could say anything, he continued, “However, what Danika wants to do is her own business.”
“Her own business?” Paul sneered. “She’s just nosy. What does my relationship with
Stephanie have anything to do with her?”
“She and Stephanie are good friends. How is that none of her business?” Eustace questioned.
Paul wanted to argue, but Eustace beat him to it. “Danika thinks you’re bad for Stephanie, and it’s all because you couldn’t hold yourself back. All those things you did in the past have made her think you’re unreliable. Isn’t it normal for her to worry?”
“That’s all in the past now.” Paul wanted to clarify that he wasn’t the same person anymore.
Eustace didn’t speak but just stared at him. If Paul had changed his ways, Eustace wouldn’t have seen him here today.
Paul understood the meaning behind Eustace’s silence. He gritted his teeth and unwillingly said, “I just came to take a look. If it were you, could you remain indifferent?”
Paul thought the way he reacted to finding out the woman he liked being in contact with another man was very reasonable.
“You’re not wrong, but you have to consider Stephanie’s view on the matter.” If
Stephanie knew he was here, she would be even more repulsed by him.
Eustace heard a sigh and looked over, only to see Paul’s downcast eyes. “Paul, if you like her, you must learn to control yourself.”
“Am I not controlling myself enough?” Paul retorted.
If he didn’t like Stephanie, he would have made a move on her the day he arrived in
Bardoff City. Despite his coming to this city for some time already, he hadn’t made a move on her, nor had he stirred up any trouble for the Zellwegers. Wasn’t that sufficient proof of his sincerity? Did Danika really think he was afraid of her?
“I understand how difficult this is for you, but other people are unable to do the same. They only see what you’ve done. You need to do twice as much to make up for the mistakes you made in the past.”
Changing others’ perceptions of someone who had committed grave errors couldn’t be done overnight.
Paul drank his tea and nodded helplessly. “I understand what you’re saying, but there’s one thing I can never be sure of. Even if I put in double the effort to make up for my mistakes and change, will Stephanie come back to me?”
He was afraid that he would end up with nothing. The feeling became more and more apparent after Leonard appeared. Previously, Stephanie had come into contact with other men, but he’d never worried before because he could sense that Stephanie wasn’t interested in any of those men; she didn’t show even a tiny bit of intrigue toward them.
But Leonard was different. Paul could tell that Stephanie treated him differently. Eustace knew of his worries and could also see Stephanie’s difference in attitude toward
Leonard.
“Paul, you have no choice now. It’s because you didn’t cherish her in the first place.
Why don’t you just give up? That’d be better for both of you.”
Eustace thought they should each go and pursue their own happiness. Perhaps that would be a better alternative for both parties.
Nevertheless, what he’d said made Paul’s gaze toward him turn unfriendly. “Are you telling me to give up?”
“I just think it might be better this way,” Eustace replied.
“I’ve also told you to give up on Danika before. And what did you say to that?” Paul sneered, mocking inwardly that it would always be hoes before bros. Eustace only wanted him to give up because he wanted to help Danika.
Only One Goal
As they couldn’t continue the conversation, Eustace didn’t force it. “Don’t worry, I meant what I said earlier. I won’t interfere with what’s going on between Stephanie and
Leonard. But there’s one thing I have to make clear.” Eustace then looked at Paul with a cold gaze. “If you dare to lay a finger on Danika, don’t blame me for disregarding our brotherhood.”
He knew Paul well. If Danika brought Stephanie and Leonard together, Paul would blame Danika for it. If that happened, there was a high possibility that Paul might resort to something irrational.
Paul didn’t say anything, so Eustace stopped talking. Some things only needed to be said once.
Eustace got up and made to leave. “You should go back.”
Then, he turned around and walked back to Danika. Whether Paul took his advice and left wasn’t something he could control, so he wasn’t concerned about it.
After the four of them had dinner, they didn’t rush to go home but strolled along the riverbank. Danika and Eustace walked in front, deliberately giving some privacy to
Stephanie and Leonard.
“What did you say to Paul just now?” Danika asked, feeling curious.
“What else could I say? It was the same old.” Eustace turned his head to glance at her as he smiled helplessly.
“He…Does he have any intention of making a move against Steph?” Danika asked cautiously. If Paul was going to resort to that, she would have to be prepared.
Eustace sighed. He knew what Danika was thinking. “Don’t worry, Paul has really changed for the better. He won’t do that now. w
Danika wasn’t sure about that. Stephanie was just having a meal with Leonard, but
Paul came to check on them. If they really got together, could Paul endure it?
“Danika.” Eustace suddenly called her name.
Danika looked at him in confusion. “Paul is my friend. Although he has done many wrong things in the past, can you give him another chance?”
Danika was puzzled. “It’s not like he likes me. Why would I need to give him a chance?”
The one who should give him a chance was Stephanie.
“You’re Stephanie’s friend. If you’re willing to give him a chance, then Stephanie will naturally be willing too,” Eustace replied.
Although he said he wouldn’t get involved in their affairs, he couldn’t ignore his buddy and do nothing about it. He could imagine how desperate Paul would be if Stephanie really got together with Leonard. Stephanie was the last ray of light for Paul. If he lost her, Eustace didn’t know how he would survive.
Upon hearing what Eustace said, Danika stopped in her tracks, her expression solemn.
“Eustace, I hope you understand one thing. Steph is my friend. My goal has always been the same—I want her to have all the happiness she deserves. If she still likes Paul and insists on being with him, though I may not be optimistic about it, I won’t stop her.
I’ll even give her my blessing. But if she doesn’t like Paul anymore and wants to get together with Leonard in the future, I’ll give her my full support.” Danika took a deep breath and concluded, “For me, it doesn’t matter if she chooses Paul or Leonard in the end. What matters is that she’s happy.”
As long as it was Stephanie’s choice, she would accept anyone regardless of who they were.
Hearing Danika’s serious reply, he understood what she meant. Hence, he didn’t intend to continue with that topic. ” Okay, let’s not talk about this. Why don’t we talk about something else?”
Although Stephanie and Paul were their respective friends, they had to figure out what to do with their own lives themselves.
Instead of worrying about others, Eustace thought he should worry about himself. After all, until now, Danika still hadn’t agreed to get back together with him.
Have I Charmed You Too?
Behind them, Stephanie and Leonard walked together.
The weather was freezing on this chilly winter night, and Stephanie couldn’t help but shiver. She regretted agreeing to go for a walk with Danika and the others. It was so cold! They should have gone home to rest instead of going for a walk. Stephanie questioned wordlessly in her heart as to why they were making themselves suffer.
As she was complaining about the situation inwardly, warmth suddenly enveloped her.
She turned and realized that Leonard had draped his coat over her.
“No, it’s okay…” Stephanie tried to refuse and made to return his coat.
But Leonard didn’t give her the chance to do so. He held her shoulders firmly, not letting her take it off. “Keep it on. I’m not cold.”
