Filed to story: The Regretful Billionaire: An Unpredicted Reunion
Hannah stormed out angrily after saying that.
Danika and Eustace had long been hiding at one side.
Upon seeing Hannah leave, they took their time and didn’t rush in.
“No wonder Hannah was so friendly today.I knew it! She had an ulterior motive,” Danika thought.
She sighed helplessly and didn’t know what to say.
From the fight David and Hannah just had, something must have happened on Felicity’s side.
But didn’t she get married? Why did she still need to borrow money? “Don’t think too much about it.You should ask Uncle David about it personally later,”
Eustace suggested, afraid that Danika was too concerned about them.
Danika nodded.
Even if Eustace didn’t say anything about it, she would still ask David so that she could make heads or tails of the situation.
Actually, she wasn’t unwilling to give money to David, but she knew that the money would ultimately end up in the hands of Felicity and Hannah, and they would just spend all that money given to them carelessly.
Danika didn’t want the mother and daughter to develop a habit of asking her for money, so she never gave in.
However, if they were really in a pinch, she wouldn’t sit back and do nothing.
Felicity’s Current Condition
The two waited at the door for a while. Eustace went to find Old Mr. Quincey, and Danika walked into David’s house alone.
“Uncle David.” As soon as she entered, Danika saw David sitting on a stool smoking. She felt a little sorry when she saw him in such a troubled state.
She walked over and sat down opposite him. “Uncle David, is something wrong?”
David glanced at her and immediately said with a laugh, ” What could be wrong? Don’t think too much.”
“Uncle David…” Danika looked at him, hesitated for a moment, and said, “| heard the argument between you and Aunt Hannah just now.”
David’s body stiffened, and his eyes reddened. “Forget you heard anything.”
“Tell me about it, Uncle David.” Danika could see that David was really helpless. If he had a way to resolve his predicament, he wouldn’t be acting like this now. He didn’t want Danika to know, and he didn’t want to ask for her help either. David always felt that although she was his niece in name, she wasn’t biologically related to him, so it was different.
However, under Danika’s sincere gaze, he gave in and told her about the situation. Perhaps, deep down, he also hoped that Danika could help.
From David, Danika learned about the incident. It turned out that when Felicity was pregnant, she insisted on marrying that man. David couldn’t stop her, so he let her go. But little did he expect that Hannah and Felicity extorted tens of thousands of dollars from that family, claiming it was the betrothal gift for Felicity. Later, they squandered all the money.
Afterward, that man revealed his true colors and started physically abusing Felicity, who was pregnant. She was beaten bloody several times.
David had considered bringing her back, but they said that if he wanted to bring her back, he had to return the tens of thousands of dollars that they paid as Felicity’s betrothal gift. But Hannah and her daughter had long spent that money, so there was no money left to return to that man’s family.
Recently, he’d been arguing with Hannah because of it, feeling that she shouldn’t have taken the monetary gift. If not for that, things wouldn’t be so difficult now. Hannah, however, didn’t think she’d done anything wrong. All the families in the village take a betrothal gift when marrying off their daughter. If the other families could do so, why couldn’t she?
Besides, she didn’t know at the time that the man was such a scumbag. He even hit his pregnant wife, which was inhumane.
These days, Felicity called every day, crying on the line, asking them to come and save her. Even though it broke their hearts, the fact remained that they didn’t have the money.
It was only last night that David received a call from Danika and learned that she was coming. Hannah suggested that they ask Danika for money, but David refused, which led to the argument earlier.
Danika didn’t know what to say after hearing the whole story. Felicity…She couldn’t even find the right words to describe her.
“Danika, I’m telling you this not to ask you for money. Don’t worry, I’ll figure something out,” David said, wiping away the tears in his eyes before looking at Danika.Although he put it that way, Danika couldn’t bear to see him struggle financially like this.
“Uncle David, I’ll give you the money,” Danika said. David was about to refuse, but Danika interrupted, “I know you don’t want my money, but Felicity is your daughter. I know you’re a tough guy with a soft heart. She’s suffering there, so you must feel bad too.”
Although Felicity hadn’t exactly been a good daughter and had done many wrongs, Danika could tell that David still cared for her.
So, Danika insisted on helping. However, she also had her conditions. “But Uncle David, bear in mind that even though we can save her this time, who knows if there’ll be a next time? If she never learns her lesson, these things will happen again in the future.”
I Can’t Help Her Forever
David nodded. He understood the rationale, but it was hard to sit back and do nothing about his daughter.
Danika came to a decision. “Think of this money as a loan from me. Get her to draft a loan agreement.”
Taken aback, David looked troubled. “But Felicity’s pregnant. She can’t work…”
“Lam in no rush to get my money back. She can pay me back slowly, but you and Aunt Hannah cannot offer help. If you do that, you’ll be doing more harm to her.” Danika wanted Felicity to earn her keep. Else, that woman would never appreciate the value of money and spend like there was no tomorrow. David understood her intention and agreed without hesitation, “Of course.”
After that, David called Hannah to convey Danika’s message. He asked his wife to make a trip to Felicity’s in-laws and get a handwritten loan agreement from Felicity.
Hannah was displeased to hear that, but David threatened her, “If you don’t like the idea, I’ll let her stay with her in-laws. From now on, I shall not see her as my daughter.”
Cornered, Hannah had no choice but to rush to Felicity’s in- laws’ residence after the call.
“Danika, thank you.” David was overwhelmed by gratitude after the call to Hannah.
Danika smiled coolly. “Uncle David, you’ll always be family. It’s just a small favor. Don’t worry about it.”
“Alright.” David skipped the formalities and asked, “What would you like for dinner? We have all sorts of vegetables on the farm.”
“Let’s have what Grandpa used to make for us. I haven’t tasted those dishes in a while and have been missing them.”
Danika had a wistful look in her eyes. The simple home- cooked dishes were heavenly delicacies to her.
In the evening, Eustace came home with Old Mr. Quincey. They would stay a night at David’s place before heading back to Parrington the next day. David was glad to host them and enjoyed drinking with Eustace at night. The atmosphere was pleasant and happy.
They had had dinner by the time Hannah came home, but no one cared much about her. She begrudgingly handed the loan agreement to Danika.
“Danika, Felicity is your cousin. You’re wealthy. Do you have to do this to her?” Hannah still hoped that Danika would hand them the money without any condition. Danika accepted the agreement and flashed her a smile. “
Aunt Hannah, it’s true that I do not need the money, and I can give it to you without any condition.”
“Right…”
“But have you ever thought about it carefully? I can help her once, but I can’t help her forever,” Danika remarked. Hannah was silent.
Danika added, “Felicity is no longer a child. Do you want her to act this way forever? You and Uncle David are at an age to enjoy your retirement, but you still have to work because of her. Is this how you want to live out your lives?”
Hannah had nothing more to say to that. Of course, she would like to enjoy her life without worrying endlessly for
Felicity. But it was hard to refrain from doting on her only daughter.
“Aunt Hannah, the reason I need her to return the money is to let her have a taste of hard-earned money. I want to instill in her the habit of earning her keep instead of begging you for money. If you don’t wish to fund her for the rest of your life, don’t give her money. You’ll be doing her harm otherwise.”
Danika left the living room and retired to her bedroom. It was none of her business whether Hannah could think it through.
Old Mr. Quincey’s Trick
Hannah and David lost sleep that night as they had a long talk about Felicity’s future. The conversation was out of Danika’s knowledge.
When Danika woke up the next morning, David and Hannah had made breakfast for her. She saw the smiles on their faces and knew that they had reached an agreement last night. That was great.
“Danika, won’t you stay for a couple more days?” David was reluctant to see them depart on that day. He had no idea when would be Danika’s next visit.
“It’s okay, Uncle David. I have work in Bardoff City,” she turned him down. Then, she added, “If you and Aunt Hannah are free, you can visit us in Bardoff City. If you can’t locate our place, just call us, and I’ll have someone pick you up.”
Tears brimmed in David’s eyes. Sometimes, he wished that he had a daughter as thoughtful as Danika.
“Yeah. Your Aunt Hannah and I will visit you when we’re free,” David replied. Before this, he was on the fence about attending Danika’s wedding, but he finally arrived at a decision. He must go.
After breakfast, Danika was ready to leave with Eustace and Old Mr. Quincey. To her surprise, she saw Felicity rushing up to her before she departed.
“Danika!” Felicity called out to her. She stopped and watched Felicity approaching her. Eustace frowned and stared at that woman warily, for he did not have a good impression of her.
Felicity didn’t seem to mind his aversion and marched up to Danika. “I will pay back every single cent I owe you.”
Danika raised an eyebrow. She was caught off guard by Felicity’s promise. At first, she thought her cousin would scream at her over the loan agreement, and she even prepared to be lambasted. Things had turned out differently than she expected.
“I’m glad to hear that from you.”
Indeed, Danika was glad.
Felicity was older than her, but she was spoiled rotten by Hannah.
That was why she acted like an immature adult child, reckless and selfish.
“I heard you’re getting married.Is that true?” Felicity asked.
Danika nodded and looked at Eustace.
“Congratulations,” Felicity blurted out, even though she didn’t mean it.She was acquainted with Eustace— she had attempted to flirt with him but failed miserably.
Now, she realized that Danika was in a different social class and was about to marry a remarkable partner.
They were no longer from the same world.
Perhaps, they never were— Felicity had merely refused to admit it.
Danika didn’t chat more with Felicity.