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CH.13
Dernière mise à jour:
2024-11-26 17:19:41
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Ruthless Billionaire Ex-Husband's Regret CH.14
MAISIEI suddenly felt like the worst mother in the entire world for constantly putting work before my own child's needs and emotional well-being.I sighed. "Aw honey, I thought if I worked myself to the bone and gave you everything you could ever ask for materially, you'd be happy and have the perfect life. But I guess I was just being naive and selfish by assuming fancy things could make up for a lack of quality time together."Don watched me silently with those big dark eyes as I continued to pour my heart out. "You were right earlier - I've been an absolutely terrible mother lately, putting my job first when you should always be my top priority." I felt tears welling up as the guilt washed over me.I raised my pinky finger and made a vow to my son. "But I promise you, from now on I'll cut way back on work and spend way more quality time with you. Just you and me, doing the things that matter. We'll do anything you want, bud. Pinky promise."The dimpled smile that broke across his f
Dernière mise à jour : 2024-11-26Ruthless Billionaire Ex-Husband's Regret CH.15
MAISIEI took one last long drag off the slender cigarette, savoring the harsh smoke filling my lungs before crushing the butt under my knee-high leather boot. Smoking's a filthy habit, I know, but it helps take the edge off after long days like this.Before heading back inside, I spritzed myself with a light fragrance to mask any lingering smoke smell—Don's asthma is something I take very seriously. Once inside, I flopped down on the living room couch and pulled out my laptop to power through those property listings that needed reviewing before tomorrow morning's meeting with the new clients. Don was already asleep, and I felt a pang of guilt knowing I'd need to break my promise temporarily for this one big work event.The next day, I rushed to drop Don off at school before booking it downtown to the office. Despite promising myself I'd cut back on overtime this month, I ended up spending the entire day buried under mountains of paperwork, contracts and prepping for our company's big
Dernière mise à jour : 2024-11-26Ruthless Billionaire Ex-Husband's Regret CH.16
MAISIE'Shit, have I said something highly inappropriate he took offense to?'After a beat of tense silence that felt like it stretched on forever, Klay finally answered in a clipped tone, "I expect you to be present for the entire duration of the event tomorrow night. From start to finish. No exceptions."His expression was hard, leaving no room for argument. "Was that understood?"I felt myself shrink a little under his intense gaze. Swallowing hard, I nodded meekly and mumbled, "Yes, I understood, Mr. Woods."The elevator came to a stop with a soft ding and the doors slid open.Not wanting to piss him off any more than I already had, I gave him a polite little nod and hurried out ahead of him without another word.Once I was finally outside and safely alone in my car, I let out a deep, frustrated sigh. Running a hand through my hair, I tried to make sense of what the hell had just happened.Klay's insistence that I stay for the whole party weighed on me as I pulled out of the parkin
Dernière mise à jour : 2024-11-26Ruthless Billionaire Ex-Husband's Regret CH.17
MAISIE"He must be a real big shot," I muttered to myself as I watched the frenzy unfold while also straining to catch a glimpse of the VIP when they finally emerged from the backseat.Just then, a slight vibration in my hand made me tear my eyes away from the commotion. It was an incoming call from Eve. She was a sweet, fresh-faced university student who'd been Don's babysitter for years, although she was hardly around. Despite her sometimes haughty persona, she was good with him, and we'd developed a friendly rapport.I had Miriam to thank for finding her.I felt a pang of guilt for not being home with my son right now but quickly brushed it aside as I accepted the call."Everything okay over there? Is Don giving you trouble tonight?" I asked while keeping one eye on the scene outside."Maisie, I'm about to lose my mind with this kid!" Eve exclaimed, skipping any formal greeting as usual.The poor girl had no idea the madness and chaos I was dealing with on this end.I let out a wear
Dernière mise à jour : 2024-11-27Ruthless Billionaire Ex-Husband's Regret CH.18
MAISIEMy breath straight up caught in my throat when Jason scooped up my fallen phone, straightening up again with the same unreadable, intense expression on his handsome face.He stared at the lock screen for a beat, seeming weirdly intrigued by whatever image or wallpaper was displayed.His dark brows furrowed slightly and his gaze flickered between the illuminated screen and my own face, silently scrutinizing me in the same way that always made me feel so exposed.A jolt of pure panic shot through me once I realized with horror what he must be seeing. The background photo on my phone was a candid shot of Don Jason was surely clueless even existed until this very moment.Over a thousand volts of adrenaline-fueled terror coursed through my veins as the implications and questions raced through my mind.Did he somehow recognize or realize who the little boy in the picture was? What would his reaction be to finding out I had a child during our years apart? One that was his own flesh and
Dernière mise à jour : 2024-11-27Ruthless Billionaire Ex-Husband's Regret CH.19
MAISIETen minutes later, I found myself staring at my own reflection in one of the gleaming bathroom mirrors.My cheeks were still tinged an embarrassing shade of pink, but my expression had returned to its usual calm, neutral facade. On the outside at least, I appeared to be the picture of relaxed composure and control.On the inside, however, it was an entirely different story. My heart continued pounding erratically in my chest, my stomach tied up in anxious knots.I had no idea how I was going to get through the rest of this evening with Jason in such proximity.I didn't know how long I could handle being subjected to his dizzying presence and that all-consuming, smoldering gaze.Splashing some cold water on my face, I took a few deep breaths in an attempt to calm my rattled nerves.I knew there was no avoiding or escaping him tonight unless I wanted to face Klay's wrath for being insubordinate.The only way through this was to keep my head down, avoid any unnecessary interaction
Dernière mise à jour : 2024-11-27Ruthless Billionaire Ex-Husband's Regret CH.20
MAISIE"Dame Woods!"The woman next to Klay supplied her name with an air of authority, snapping me out of my daze.Ah yes, I knew I recognized her aristocratic features now - she was Klay’s very distant cousin but one of the company's most prominent investors and major shareholders. A real big fish.I gave a slight nod of my head in respectful acknowledgment, trying not to look too much like a deer in the headlights. "It's truly an honor to meet you, ma'am."I'd heard through the office rumor mill that Dame had a notoriously difficult personality and hair-trigger temper. No, I wouldn't judge her too harshly right off the bat, but you can bet your ass I'd be trying my damnedest to avoid getting on her bad side as much as humanly possible for the sake of keeping my job and this high-stakes project running smoothly."The glamorous one next to you is Irene, and that's her husband Trevor over there looking like he'd rather be anywhere else," Felix chimed in with a cheeky grin, introducing
Dernière mise à jour : 2024-11-28Ruthless Billionaire Ex-Husband's Regret CH.21
MaisieMy heart skipped a beat when Irene suddenly turned her probing gaze on me, a devilish gleam in her eyes. "So Maisie, I noticed you've spoken to everyone here except Jason. Why is that?"Her tone was strangely calm, which only made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up more. It was obvious the nosy bitch was just trying to stir up drama and upset me for her own twisted amusement. I needed to come up with an answer fast before she went for the jugular.I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, my mouth suddenly feeling drier than the Sahara as I still avoided meeting Jason's eyes like the coward I was. Get it together, Maisie!I took a deep, steadying breath before turning to face my ex with a forced smile plastered on my lips.My stomach clenched when I met his piercing gaze. He examined my face as if waiting to see how I was going to save myself from this.We engaged in a brief staring contest, his sharp eyes locked with mine in a battle of wills that had me frozen like a deer ca
Dernière mise à jour : 2024-11-28
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Ruthless Billionaire Ex-Husband's Regret CH.202
MAISIEI froze, then rushed closer to her. "Lily, what did you say? Say it again!"She placed her tiny palm on my cheek."Amma!"It wasn't perfect, but it was close enough. After months of trying, she'd finally said something resembling "Mama."Joy exploded through me like fireworks. I started bouncing up and down, unable to contain my excitement."She said it! She said 'Mama'! Did you hear that? She called me 'Mama'!" I shouted, throwing my arms wide and then forming a big heart shape with them for Lily.Suddenly, I realized I hadn't captured this momentous occasion. "Wait, I need my camera! This is important!"I started frantically searching through my bag. "Don't say anything else until Mama comes back with the camera, okay?" I called over my shoulder as I dug through my belongings.I've always been one to wear my emotions openly, especially happiness. After everything I'd been through in my life, I'd promised myself I would never downplay joy when it came my way. I would celebrate
Ruthless Billionaire Ex-Husband's Regret CH.201
MAISIEI was making my way back from checking on Don and his friends who were busy taking photos and being typical teenagers when Lily suddenly began squirming in my arms, making urgent sounds and pointing.Don had asked us to keep his relationship with Jason private at school. As far as his classmates knew, Jason was just his stepfather, the school principal who had married his mom.I understood his need for privacy; teenage social dynamics were complicated enough without adding that layer.Lily's movements became more insistent, drawing my attention back to her. She was staring fixedly at something, her little body practically vibrating with excitement.Following her gaze, I realized we were standing near the elephant enclosure. A massive African elephant was resting in the shade of a large tree, separated from us by sturdy metal bars and a deep moat.I moved closer to the viewing area, and Lily immediately grabbed onto the bars, her eyes wide with wonder as she took in the enormous
Ruthless Billionaire Ex-Husband's Regret CH.200
MAISIEI turned back to face her, noting the familiar look of contempt that always appeared whenever Karina's name came up.Miriam had disliked her from the start, but her hatred had intensified after I'd explained the full story of how Karina had conspired with Jason's brother Jared, how she'd betrayed years of friendship with Jason just to trap him in a relationship."What's she done now?" I asked, not entirely sure I wanted to know.My feelings toward Karina were complicated. For a long time, I'd seen her as nothing but a manipulative obstacle standing between Jason and me. Then, during our final confrontation, I'd glimpsed something else—a young woman crushed under the weight of family expectations and desperate choices.However, that brief moment of sympathy had evaporated when Jason finally told me everything. The extent of her deception, the calculated way she'd worked with Jared to keep Jason tied to her... I'd never wished anyone ill except for Jared, but Karina had earned a
Ruthless Billionaire Ex-Husband's Regret CH.199
MAISIE"It's okay, sweet girl," I murmured, holding Lily close as our car pulled away from the driveway.Her eyes were still watery, her little chest occasionally hitching with the aftermath of tears. She'd been crying for Don, who had left earlier with Chen and their friend to meet us at the zoo.Don had snuck out while Lily was distracted with her toys, but she'd noticed his absence almost immediately. It was almost comical how both her father and brother would try to slip away unnoticed, terrified of upsetting a twenty-month-old."Come on, Lily," I said brightly, trying to distract her. "Say 'Mama'!"I'd been trying to coax her first words for weeks now. However, she seemed determined to take her time.The pediatrician assured us it was normal. Some children were simply more observant before they started speaking still I couldn't help feeling a little anxious.Lily ignored my prompting, becoming fascinated with the buttons on my jacket instead. She leaned forward, her chubby finger
Ruthless Billionaire Ex-Husband's Regret CH.198
MAISIEThe next morning, I emerged from a quick shower and headed to the dressing room to get ready for the day.I'd passed by Lily's room earlier and found both her and Jason still asleep, though she had somehow migrated onto his chest, her favorite sleeping position since she was born.Whenever she was with one of us while sleeping, she'd inevitably crawl up and settle herself on our chest, her ear pressed against our heartbeat.I pulled on ripped jeans, a white tank top, and a soft gray blazer, then headed back to the nursery, eager to tell Jason about his unprecedented night of sleep.When I reached Lily's room, the bed was empty. I found them on the other side of the room, where Jason was sitting on the floor with Lily in his lap, carefully putting tiny shoes on her feet.She looked adorable in a white sundress, her hair tamed into two small pigtails.I was about to speak when Don appeared behind me with Lily's sippy cup of milk in his hand."Time for breakfast, everyone," he ann
Ruthless Billionaire Ex-Husband's Regret CH.197
MAISIE~A couple of years later~I gave birth to the most beautiful little girl in the world two years after our wedding. We named her Lily, after Jason's mother. Sometimes I call her Lil when she's being especially cute, which is pretty much all the time.It was actually my suggestion to name her after his mother. I knew it would make Jason happy, and it truly did. The way his eyes lit up when I proposed it—that moment alone was worth it.Now she's one year and eight months old, toddling around our home with a determination that makes us all smile.Lily has filled our lives—mine, Jason's, and Don's—with a kind of joy I never knew existed. Her little voice, still forming words but full of expression, makes the whole house feel alive. She's become the unexpected glue that has truly brought our family together.Don had accepted my relationship with his father, but in those early days after the wedding, he still spent most of his time with his best friend.He was trying to adjust to this
Ruthless Billionaire Ex-Husband's Regret CH.196
MAISIEThe moment we appeared, the guests rose to their feet, turning to watch our approach.I saw familiar faces on both sides of the aisle—colleagues from work, parents from Don's school.Miriam stood in the front row, her pregnancy now visible beneath her flowing dress, tears already streaming down her face as she clutched Nathan's hand.But my eyes were drawn inexorably to Jason, waiting for me beneath the arch.The look on his face as he watched me approach… wonder, joy, love so intense it was almost painful to witness made everything else fade away.In that moment, it was just the two of us, connected by an invisible thread that had been drawing us together since our first meeting.Don and I moved slowly down the aisle, each step bringing me closer to my future. The weight of my son's arm beneath my hand was both grounding and symbolic. He wasn't just giving me away; he was walking with me into our new life.When we reached the front, the officiant smiled warmly at us. "Who give
Ruthless Billionaire Ex-Husband's Regret CH.195
MAISIEThe moment I stepped on the back porch, the world seemed to pause. Across the lawn where rows of white chairs arranged in a semicircle. Wildflowers in shades of blue, purple, and white lined the aisle—the same flowers that grew naturally along the stream at the property's edge, now woven into garlands that transformed our backyard into an enchanted garden.Jason squeezed my hand once before releasing it. Then he moved ahead to take his place at the simple arch we'd constructed from twisted branches and adorned with more wildflowers and fairy lights that would twinkle as evening approached.His best man, Klay, stood beside him, while Felix and the rest of Jason’s friends lingered a few feet away. Dressed in sleek black silk suits, they exuded an air of refined elegance, each one strikingly handsome in their own way.I took a deep breath, steadying myself in the quiet moment before everything would begin.The subtle scent of my bouquet—wildflowers mixed with sprigs of lavender—he
Ruthless Billionaire Ex-Husband's Regret CH.194
MAISIEWe lay tangled together afterward.Jason’s weight was a welcome pressure on top of me and his heartbeat was strong against my chest, gradually slowing to match my own.My ring caught the candlelight and sent prisms dancing across his sweat-dampened skin like tiny rainbows that seemed a fitting metaphor for the joy that filled me.Eventually, Jason shifted to the side and gathered me on him so that my head rested on his chest with his arm a protective band around my waist.Outside, the night had deepened, but inside our sanctuary, time seemed suspended in amber like the honey that still faintly flavored our kisses."When did you plan all this?" I asked, tracing idle patterns through the light dusting of hair on his chest.His fingers combed through my hair, gentle and soothing, occasionally working through tangles with careful attention. "I bought the ring before our trip to Greendale," he admitted, the rumble of his voice vibrating against my ear.I nodded.Tears slipped from t
