LOGINShare
Unwanted reunion
Last Updated:
2024-10-29 19:42:56"Uncle Adrian!" Daisy exclaimed enthusiastically, freeing herself from Hayley's grasp and rushing over to Adrian.
Adrian lifted her up and affectionately kissed her temple before carrying her in his arms. He gently patted her hair, "How are you, my little angel? Did you have a good time?" He gazed at Daisy with fondness. But Daisy shook her head sadly, "Not really. I got mommy worried." Adrian furrowed his brow at her, mirroring her sad expression. "Why? What happened?" He turned to Hayley with curiosity, not even realizing Leonardo was behind him. "What went wrong?" Adrian's voice was filled with concern. Hayley shook her head, "It's nothing, Adrian. Don't worry about it."Adrian frowned at her before turning back to Daisy.
"What happened, baby? Why was Mommy worried?"
Hayley tried to convey through eye contact to Daisy not to tell him, but she couldn't understand.
Daisy innocently told Adrian. "Luna and I got lost today. Mommy got worried."Adrian's eyes widened, his brow furrowing even more. "H-How did that happen?"
"It's no big deal, Adrian," Clara interjected, "It's all been resolved. Right now, all you need to do is thank the stranger who found them." Adrian turned to Clara, confused. "Stranger? Who was it? Where is he?" "He's standing right behind you," Clara replied, smiling. This should have been the moment for Hayley to be fraught with anxiety, but instead, She was expressionless, anticipating what would happen next when Leonardo and Adrian meet. Hayley watched as Adrian turned his head to face Leonardo. "Him?" He asked skeptically. "Yes," Clara replied. Without hesitation, Adrian extended his hand towards him for a handshake. "Thank you so much for finding my daughter and her friend. I owe you one," he expressed his gratitude. "I'm Adrian. Adrian Lewis. May I know your name?" Leonardo shook his hand, stealing glances at Hayley before returning his attention to Michael. "I'm Damian. Damian Logan." As they conversed a few more words, Hayley's mind drifted into a deep abyss. She watched Leonardo closely, unable to grasp her thoughts, but admiring his physique as her eyes roamed over his body. He looked very good in his black leather jacket, taking her back to... Her admiration was abruptly disrupted by Adrian's words."I must admit Damian, you bear a striking resemblance to my daughter. It's almost as if you're her doppelganger. One might think you two are related," Adrian joked.
Gosh! If only he knew.
Leonardo chuckled, nodding in agreement.
"You're right. We do look alike, don't we, little girl?" He playfully ruffled Daisy's hair, but Hayley quickly stepped in and slapped his hand off."No, you don't! There is no resemblance whatsoever!" She scolded, her tone turning harsh and her eyes darkening.
Leonardo froze, retracting his hand and straightening his posture. Hayley's reaction seemed to have caught everyone off guard, including Adrian. They all looked at her with puzzled expressions.
"What's gotten into you, Nina? You're being very rude! It was just a joke," Clara reprimanded, disliking her behavior.
"I don't find such jokes funny," Hayley retorted, taking Daisy from Adrian's arms.
Adrian glanced at her but remained quiet, choosing to apologize to Leonardo instead. "I apologize, man. Please don't take her words to heart," he pleaded. But Hayley interjected sharply, "Let him take it to heart for all I care. I don't give two f's anyways." "Nina!!" Clara scolded sternly.Hayley knew they had perceived her behavior as rude, especially because this man had supposedly found her child and she was expected to be grateful. But if only they knew the true reason for her outburst. If only they could understand the pain she had endured at the hands of this heartless and callous man, standing before them in the guise of Damian whatever.
Her mind was filled with rage as the memories came flooding back. Hayley knew she couldn't stay there any longer, lest she do something she would regret later. So without further discussion, she stated abruptly, "I want to go home." Adrian and Clara turned to look at her, eyeing her with puzzlement as if they were expecting her to have done something."What?" Hayley asked irritably, annoyed by their unreadable gazes.
"What's the matter with you, Nina? Apologize to him. He found your child and this is how you repay him? Where are your manners?" Clara chided, clearly irritated.
Hayley retorted, "Apologize to him. For what? For stalking our children and spying on their every move? Do you even know this man? Can you be sure of his intentions?!"
Clara gaped at her in shock, shaking her head in disbelief."What has gotten into you, Nina?"
"Nothing is wrong with me! This is your fault, Clara. I entrusted my child's care to you and you allowed her to wander off into the arms of a stranger. A stalker! What is wrong with you, Clara?"
Hayley couldn't quite understand the root of her strange behavior, but in that moment she needed someone to vent her anger and frustrations on. And unfortunately for her, Clara had just happened to be her victim.
As Clara's face twisted with shock, she stepped back, unable to believe Hayley's words. "Are you seriously taking this out on me right now?" she asked in disbelief.
"I am taking it out on you!" Hayley retorted, her eyes sparkling with annoyance.
"Ladies, please. Enough! That's enough!" Adrian interrupted his voice firm. "Let's just be grateful that we found the kids, and stop blaming ourselves for our mistakes..." he turned to Damian, "I apologize for this, Mr. Logan. Perhaps we can talk some other time. Please. Here is my card." Adrian took out a business card from his suit pocket and handed it to Leonardo. "I am the CEO of MF Arts. You can always come to see me at the company."
Leonardo took the card, glancing at it before tucking it into his pants pocket. "Thank you. I apologize if I..."
"No need to apologize. We are very thankful to you. I believe my love is just having a bad day. Please excuse us, and forgive her outbursts. Trust me, she isn't usually like this."
Leonardo simply nodded and said, "I understand."
Hayley observed Leonardo closely, feeling annoyed by his façade of being a calm and understanding gentleman. Adrian held her hand and whispered in her ear, "Let's go love. Come on." Hayley exhaled deeply before nodding. She followed behind Adrian after he bid farewell to Leonardo and Clara.When they reached the car, Adrian opened the door for her before getting in on his side.
Hayley could sense his sadness and worry at her behavior. Adrian held onto the steering wheel, his gaze fixed on Hayley while she stared ahead at the windshield, her expression neutral. In a demanding but composed tone, he asked, "What the hell was that? Who was that man?"
Related chapters
BILLIONAIRE'S REGRET: Ex-wife wants revenge! Problem
"Who was that man?" He asked again when Hayley remained silent.An eerie silence descended upon them in the car as the question hung in the air.Annoyed, Hayley replied, "How am I supposed to know, Adrian? You were right there when Clara introduced him as the stranger who found the kids."Adrian's gaze shifted away from her towards the steering wheel, his grip on it tighter and tense. Hayley couldn't read his thoughts, but she could sense his sadness and anxiety. That was the first time she had snapped at him like that.After a moment, he let out a sigh. "It's alright. Let's just go home," he said, not wanting to escalate things between them.A pang of guilt washed over Hayley, causing her heart to constrict at the sad tone in his voice. But She was too angry and stubborn to apologize at that moment.They drove home in silence. Tonight was supposed to be their special date night, but Hayley had managed to ruin it with her rude behavior. He needed no soothsayer to tell him Hayley had
BILLIONAIRE'S REGRET: Ex-wife wants revenge! The Call
Hayley watched the phone ring incessantly and for a moment before the sound ceased."Hello? Who is this?" She heard Emily's dulcet yet demanding tone over the phone.Relief washed over Hayley. Her heart fluttered with gladness to hear her voice again after almost six years.Trying to calm her nerves, Hayley replied. "Hello, Em... It's me," She hesitated, "Hayley. Hayley Forbes."Silence followed. Hayley waited for her response, but two minutes ticked by with no answer."Emily? Are you still there?" Hayley asked, pulling the phone away from her ear to check if the call had disconnected."H- Hayley?" Emily stammered. The surprise in her voice was palpable. "You're alive?"Hayley let out a scoff, her heart melting at the same time. "Yes, I am alive. How have you been?" She asked, sidestepping the reason behind her sudden call after five years."I can't believe this..." Emily's voice cracked. "You're alive, Hayley. And I had no idea. It's been six years. I thought you were dead. I've been
BILLIONAIRE'S REGRET: Ex-wife wants revenge! More Trouble
As the door swung open, Hayley's gaze froze upon seeing the two familiar and bright bright grey orbs in front of her. Her smile dissipated, and her heart thudded against her chest in a state of shock.The excited voice of Daisy shattered Hayley's reverie and she blinked weakly, unsure of what to do in that moment. Leonardo stood before her, still holding Daisy in his arms.Reacting quickly and without second thoughts, Hayley reached out and pulled Daisy out of his hold, placing her down, her eyes darkening as she glared daggers at him.Their gazes locked, Hayley's insides brimming with anger and tension, while a smug smile played at Leonardo's lips."Angel!... Mr. Logan.." Adrian exclaimed, astonished.Hayley had almost forgotten he was still standing behind her. She turned to face him, composing herself to prevent him from being suspicious of her reaction.Leonardo greeted Adrian with a nod. "Mr. Lewis." They shook hands.Pretending to be oblivious to the silent scowls Hayley was se
BILLIONAIRE'S REGRET: Ex-wife wants revenge! Welcome
Meanwhile..."Please have your seat, Mr. Logan." Adrian urged, circling to sit behind his desk as Leonardo took his seat in the plush office seat."Welcome to my office," Adrian said genially after taking his seat. He paused before continuing. "You want something to drink or eat or something?" He asked politely.But Leonardo shook his head. "No, thank you. I'm good."Adrian studied him for a moment before shrugging. "All right. If you say so." He continued, "But what kind of CEO would I be, if I can't give my guest a drink of the best wine in my office." He rose to his feet, walking briskly over to a small wine bar at the end of the office.Adrian picked a bottle of wine with two wine glasses before returning to Leonardo. He popped the wine and poured it into the two glasses before taking his seat. "Long time, no see, Mr. Logan. I was expecting you to come earlier, but to my surprise, you didn't. I was worried you had taken my fiancée's words to heart. Had you, Mr. Logan?"Leonardo f
BILLIONAIRE'S REGRET: Ex-wife wants revenge! "You have what's mine."
"Yes. That's what Nina told me... Come to think of it," Adrian said, furrowing his brows at Leonardo as realization dawned on him. "Why am I even telling you this?"Leonardo was too stunned and dumbstruck to even form a meaningful response. He swallowed, slowly shutting his mouth that had dropped before after hearing what Adrian said.Leonardo felt his heart prick him painfully. Hayley really told her new lover that he was in prison? The father of her child? How could she be so heartless and nonchalant, but then again, He started it all. He was the root of his own problems. He brought these upon himself. But Leonardo was glad he was back now. He was back to make amends. To right his wrongs, no matter how long it takes. Hayley was his and his only. His heart warmed up when he recalled Adrian had said Hayley hadn't given in to him for five whole years. This meant there was still hope for him. He remembered the way Hayley had gazed at him the other day at the park. He could tell Hayley
BILLIONAIRE'S REGRET: Ex-wife wants revenge! Connecting the dots
Leonardo stood outside Adrian's door for a moment, his eyes darting to and fro, contemplating the right direction towards Hayley's office. He wanted to see her and talk to her before he left.After staring at the two opposite directions for a while, eventually, he decided to go left. He walked briskly, making his way through the series of office doors until his eyes finally caught sight of the one with a gold metal plate at the top of it, the word 'SENIOR CREATIVE ARTIST' was boldly inscribed on it. He didn't need anyone to tell him whose office it was. Hayley's.Leonardo took off his glasses. A smirk curved up his lips as he gazed at the metal plate for a while. Hayley had really come this far. She wasn't the weak and dependent lady he used to know. He was glad and proud of her growth.Leonardo's eyes slowly trailed down to the doorknob. He contemplated for a while before heaving out a sigh.Without knocking, he twisted the doorknob and opened the door.Hayley's eyes darted towards t
BILLIONAIRE'S REGRET: Ex-wife wants revenge! Denial
"E- Ex-husband?” Hayley stuttered, her knees growing weak.This was one of the days she dreaded_ Adrian finding out the truth about her or her past. She feared the day she would finally tell him the truth. But at that moment, Hayley wasn't ready to tell him shit. She had to navigate her way through this predicament as soon as possible.“Yes, Nina. Your ex-husband!” Adrian snapped, his tone demanding.Hayley blinked twice and regained her composure, her shocked expression wearing off. “What do you mean my ex-husband? Did you think Damian Logan is my ex-husband? The father of my child?” She questioned in denial.“Why. Isn't he? I'm tired of your lies, Nina. Tell me the damn truth!” Adrian walked over to her, staying by the doorway as they gazed at each other intently.So much for a dumb and slow-witted man, Hayley huffed inwardly recalling Leonardo's words. It didn't even take Adrian long before he found out the truth.“When have I ever lied to you, Adrian? I don't understand your accus
BILLIONAIRE'S REGRET: Ex-wife wants revenge! Back in Clasold City
Leonardo Anderson arrived at Clasold City exactly at 4 pm after staying on air for nearly six hours. On getting to the airport, his personal assistant, Toni Scott was already awaiting him. Toni Scott was a tall, gangling man around twenty-eight years of age. He was handsome with long brown hair that cascaded on his face. He was Leonardo's most trusted aid among his numerous workers. Scott rushed over to Leonardo when he caught sight of him. “Welcome back, Sir. How was your trip?” Scott greeted with a grin, taking the small traveling bag from Leonardo's grasp. Leonardo patted his back, his eyes roving the airport as they walked toward the car. “Thank you, Toni. It was fine.” He lowered his head, glancing at the time on his wristwatch. It was almost 4:30 pm. Leonardo turned to Scott. “How long will it take before we get home from here? I don't want to be late for dinner.” Scott replied sedately. “About 45 minutes, Sir.” Leonardo contemplated before he continued. “I have to ma
Latest chapter
BILLIONAIRE'S REGRET: Ex-wife wants revenge! Lovers 2
A brief wave of disbelief washed over Leonardo as he stared at Hayley in astonishment. "What?" he blurted out absentmindedly, a hint of excitement seeping into his voice.Hayley felt a blush rise to her cheeks as she observed his reaction, realizing this was the first time she had seen his response to her pregnancy news."Are you serious, baby?" Leonardo asked, his eagerness palpable as his gaze shifted to Hayley's abdomen, contemplating whether she was teasing him or if she truly meant it.A genuine smile spread across Hayley's face as she rolled her eyes at his question. "Yeah, duh...""Mi reina!" Leonardo exclaimed, a surge of pure excitement bubbling within him. He could hardly fathom it. His joy was boundless as he reached for Hayley's hand, holding it gently.Hayley reveled in his excitement, her eyes filled with affection as he began to speak."Hayley Forbes..."She interrupted him, shaking her head playfully. "No, it’s Nina or Hazel now. I can't go by that name anymore, Leona
BILLIONAIRE'S REGRET: Ex-wife wants revenge! Lovers
Hayley hurried with overwhelming joy and excitement toward Leonardo's room, with Daisy beside her. Her elation was palpable as she realized that Leonardo was awake; she could hardly contain her eagerness to see him. At the same time, Leonardo engaged in conversation with his brother, Lorenzo, who had remained by his side since the women had departed an hour earlier following his awakening. Leonardo had undoubtedly been taken aback to see his family upon waking. However, his initial surprise gradually shifted to confusion when he noticed the absence of both his woman and daughter. However, they had reassured him that Hayley had stepped out briefly and would return shortly, while Daisy was in another room with Rosalie and Emily. With this information, his anxious heart began to settle as he accepted their reassuring words. After a further thirty minutes had elapsed without Hayley's return, Leonardo's concern began to intensify. Unable to contain himself, he called out to Lorenzo, who
BILLIONAIRE'S REGRET: Ex-wife wants revenge! Joyful moment
.Hayley returned to the hospital after delivering the lawsuit documents to the wardress at Wendy's prison. Approximately an hour prior, the prosecutor, Alexa, who was overseeing Hayley's case, had provided her with the papers following their meeting. Hayley then drove to the prison, where Wendy and Lillian were incarcerated, and handed the documents to the wardress, choosing not to visit any of them. That was the least of her concerns; her only interest in seeing them was during the court proceedings, where the judge would render his final decision. With a sigh of frustration, Hayley pulled herself back to the present as she made a right turn onto the highway, heading towards the hospital. She recalled that the love of her life remained unconscious when she left earlier, and a wave of anxiety washed over her as she wondered if he had awakened from the coma. Thoughts of Leonardo tightened around her heart, causing her anguish. Hayley eventually regained composure as she caught sight
BILLIONAIRE'S REGRET: Ex-wife wants revenge! Karma 2
Wendy collapsed on the ground, her head buried in her palms as she absorbed the news of Alison's sudden accident. It hit her like a thunderbolt, shattering her heart into pieces. Her daughter had been involved in an accident and according to what the wardress had mentioned, Alison had also fallen in a coma after the incident. Wendy swallowed, her face flooded with tears. Her heart ached painfully as she grappled with the reality. How could this be? How did this happen? She felt a pang of guilt constrict her heart tightly, knowing she was mostly responsible for the unfortunate circumstance that had befallen her daughter. If she hadn't gotten herself in trouble in the first place, none of this would have happened. With that, her cries intensified as she remained on the ground. "I'm very sorry, ma'am," The wardress tried to sympathize, her tone laden with pity. But that did little to console Wendy, whose thoughts were all over the place. Meanwhile, Lillian had also been shocked upon he
BILLIONAIRE'S REGRET: Ex-wife wants revenge! Karma
"What are you saying? He has a guardian! You can't take that action."Lillian's heart raced with anxiety as she absorbed the unsettling information relayed to her over the phone. Despite her efforts to maintain her composure, her hand trembled slightly as it pressed the receiver to her ear. Beads of sweat began to form on her temples, and her anger flared as the caller finished her statement.Her grip on the phone tightened, and Lillian shot back, her frustration palpable. "What do you mean by that? You can't do that! He has a mother! I am his mother!"She fell silent as the caller replied, a response that clearly unsettled her. Lillian started again. "Listen, you cannot do this to me. Ethan is my son. I’ll be out of here very soon. Just be patient, please." Lillian pleaded, a tear streaming down her cheek that she quickly brushed away.She listened closely to the caller's words until the line beeped, indicating the call had ended.Her heart shattered, and fresh tears flowed down her
BILLIONAIRE'S REGRET: Ex-wife wants revenge! All caught
Hayley headed out of the hospital as soon as she received the news about Freya's capture. Right after Lillian was apprehended, she had instructed an officer of the law to discreetly conduct a search for Freya, ensuring that she returned to the city in one piece so she could serve her fair punishment for her actions. Hayley was quite surprised by the speed of the development, however, that was the least of her concerns at that moment. A blend of satisfaction and annoyance brimmed within her as she headed out to the awaiting car, parked in the hospital lot. She had nearly forgotten Emily was trailing behind her until Emily's voice sailed into her ears, pulling Hayley from her thoughts. "Where are you going, Hayley? Who was it on the phone?" Emily pressed, her tone filled with concern. Realizing she hadn't shared the news with her, Hayley stopped midway and turned to Emily in an attempt to placate her confusion. "I'll be right back, Em. I need you to stay behind and watch my mother a
BILLIONAIRE'S REGRET: Ex-wife wants revenge! Beautiful friendship
Hayley made her way to the restroom section of the hospital and leaned against the door once she stepped inside. Her heart raced, stirred by memories of her confrontation with Clara.Painful tears stung her eyes despite her efforts to remain composed and resolute. She felt she didn't deserve to cry. If anyone ought to shed tears, it should be Clara, not herself. She hadn't done anything wrong.With this resolve, Hayley sniffled back her emotions, wiping away her tears with the back of her hand before heading towards the sink to wash her face. She stared at her reflection in the mirror afterward, her chest heaving. She drew in a deep breath and exhaled before further questioning herself if she had been too harsh on Clara or if she truly deserved what she got from her. Her thoughts were disrupted as the door to the bathroom swung open, startling Hayley. Without moving an inch, Hayley caught a glimpse of the person who had just walked in through the mirror and saw it was Emily."Hey, ar
BILLIONAIRE'S REGRET: Ex-wife wants revenge! Regret and remorse
Meanwhile, Clara watched in silence as she absorbed the affectionate scene unfolding before her. Occasionally, her gaze would trail from the newfound couple to Hayley, who watched with enthusiasm and joy. Clara felt her heart pricked painfully, once again remembering that she and Hayley were no longer friends. And it was all her fault. She literally betrayed Hayley. Abandoned her when she needed her the most and turned her back to her in her times of trial and peril. She wondered if Hayley was ever going to forgive her for her actions.Sure, she had only acted out because she didn't like the way Hayley's deception affected Adrian. But recognizing Hayley's other predicament with Wendy and Lillian, she had now come to understand why Hayley had lied to them about her identity in the first place. She was obviously running from something and just didn't want to get entangled with her past again. It was unfortunate that Leonardo had just shown up to thwart those plans of Hayley.Reflecting
BILLIONAIRE'S REGRET: Ex-wife wants revenge! Love in the air
A momentary, awkward silence enveloped the trio as Hayley and Adrian's gazes remained fixed on each other, each moment stretching painfully. Hayley was obviously heartbroken, recognizing Adrian still didn't remember her at all. She couldn't believe all the memories they shared had all been erased from his mind. It was a painful realization.However, she inhaled deeply after a moment and forced a smile to appear on her face as she started, "It's good to see you, Adrian. I'm glad you're doing okay," Hayley said, her smile faltering as she averted his gaze.Adrian's response was curt. "Yeah, you too." He paused before adding. "And I apologize for not recalling who you are. My memory's quite messed up at the moment..." He apologized, seeing Hayley's devastation was palpable.Hayley lifted her gaze to him again, her eyes flickering between his face. She stared into his naive emerald orbs and her insides fluttered with warmth. At least he apologized for not recalling her. That was somethin
