Share

CH.96

last update Last Updated: 2025-01-25 22:49:06

MAISIE

I woke up at 11:09, jolted by the sudden thought that I was late for work.

Panic hit me like a bucket of cold water. I jumped out of bed, got dressed in record time, and was about to rush out of my room when it hit me—there was no work today.

The trip.

Klay had told me yesterday before leaving the company to pack my things and skip work.

“There’s no need to come in tomorrow,” he’d said.

Relieved, I dropped my bag, kicked off my shoes, and flopped back on my bed with a grin. I could still squeeze in a little more rest.

But then it came back to me—the call.

I scrambled to find my phone, my mind still foggy from sleep. The memory of last night was hazy, but I remembered Jason.

I checked the call log. Four hours.

Four hours?

I stared at the screen, trying to piece it together. I’d fallen asleep, but what about him? What had he been doing all that time? Listening to me breathe? Did he fall asleep too? I didn’t know, but the thought made me smile.

Even though he wasn’t beside me, I f
Locked Chapter
Continue Reading on GoodNovel
Scan code to download App
Comments (1)
goodnovel comment avatar
KierraC
Jason needs to tell Maisie the truth so she’s not doubting how he feels. I know it’s most likely an act for the trip. I wouldn’t be surprised if he has something planned to end their relationship. Miriam is a lot at times but she’s so petty lol…
VIEW ALL COMMENTS

Related chapters

  • Ruthless Billionaire Ex-Husband's Regret   CH.97

    MAISIEMiriam’s playful tone and exaggerated gesture caught me off guard, and despite the ache in my chest, I couldn’t help but laugh.“They say a friend is a gift you give yourself,” I thought, smiling at her.Miriam was that gift for me. She was the kind of friend who walked toward me when everyone else walked away. Her kindness, sudden and unexpected, was like a balm for every wound life threw at me.I sighed and leaned my head on her shoulder as we walked.“If I were a man,” I said dramatically, “I’d have married you by now. We’d have two or three kids running around.”Miriam burst out laughing. “Two or three? You’re ambitious! I’d stop at one.”Her laughter was infectious, and soon I was laughing too. The absurdity of my words combined with her reaction lightened my mood—at least for a moment.I glanced over at Don, who was walking on Miriam’s other side, his headphones firmly in place. He was completely oblivious to our nonsense, nodding his head slightly to whatever music he wa

    Last Updated : 2025-01-25
  • Ruthless Billionaire Ex-Husband's Regret   CH.98

    MAISIEI blinked then I turned to Klay, frowning. “What are you even talking about?”Klay leaned back in his seat. His expression was unreadable, but there was something sharp in his tone when he replied, “You tell me. Why are you wasting your time staying with him instead of being with me?”For a moment, I thought he might be talking about Jason. But then it hit me—he was talking about Philip.My stomach twisted uncomfortably.I scratched the back of my neck, avoiding his gaze. I didn’t want to have this conversation, not with Klay. It wasn’t in my favor to tell him about my breakup. If I did, he’d latch onto it and I knew he wouldn’t leave me alone.“I told you I love him, sir,” I said flatly, keeping my tone neutral.Klay rolled his eyes so far back into his head, it was almost comical. “Love him,” he repeated with boredom. “I’m better than him, and I can give you everything you’ve ever dreamed of. Honestly, I don’t see what’s so special about him for you to hold on to. You suit me

    Last Updated : 2025-01-26
  • Ruthless Billionaire Ex-Husband's Regret   CH.99

    MAISIEI pulled myself together, forcing my voice to remain steady.“Don’t call me that silly name!” I snapped, glaring at him.Jason pulled the strap again, letting it snap against my skin. The sting spread through me like wildfire, sharp and unrelenting.My features trembled for a few seconds, betraying the chaos his vague, unreadable gaze stirred inside me.He didn’t let go this time. His grip was firm, deliberate then his voice came low and calm like a storm brewing in the distance.“Disobedience, much like any other aspect of life, evolves over time. Eventually, what once seemed intolerable transforms into something more acceptable, akin to the gradual metamorphosis of a butterfly.”Tolerable.The word lingered in the air, heavy and suffocating, wrapping around me like the rope in his hands.Then he released the strap without warning. The suddenness of it made my whole body jolt as if I’d been struck by lightning.My breath caught in my throat, and for a moment, I couldn’t move.

    Last Updated : 2025-01-27
  • Ruthless Billionaire Ex-Husband's Regret   CH.100

    MAISIEMy heart pounded in my chest, each beat louder and faster than the last. It felt like I’d just run a marathon, but the only thing I’d been running from was Jason.I believe that when a person falls in love with the right person, they can forgive them for all their mistakes.When you love, you don’t care about what’s been said or done.What do I need in this world when my world is him?I went back to where Miriam and Don were sitting, watching something on my computer. I think it was probably a movie then proceeded to my seat.I couldn’t bring myself to care enough to check. Their laughter, soft and unbothered, filled the space, but it only made me feel more out of place.Karina had pushed her seat back a little, reclining to sleep. It was better this way. I didn’t have the strength—or the patience—to bear her closeness to him. Jason.I hated how aware I was of every little thing about her, about him. The way she’d leaned her head against the seat, the way he didn’t seem to noti

    Last Updated : 2025-01-28
  • Ruthless Billionaire Ex-Husband's Regret   CH.101

    MAISIEI quickly sat up, my fingers moving instinctively to type a reply.I wrote that I had only just seen his message and apologized for the delay. But before pressing send, I hesitated.My pride stepped in, whispering that I didn’t owe him an explanation.My thumb hovered over the screen for a moment longer before I pressed delete. I erased every word as though they had never existed.The hardest thing is when you write something, pouring your thoughts and emotions into it, only to let your pride force you to erase it.I lay back down, staring at the ceiling, feeling the weight of the unsent message settle over me.What was I going to do with him? With myself? With my son?I just wanted to sleep—to escape the storm of thoughts swirling in my mind, even if only for a little while."I'm sorry, my soul," I whispered into the quiet room. "I made mistakes against you. I pressured you so much to be who they wanted you to be, thinking their approval would complete my journey."The words f

    Last Updated : 2025-01-29
  • Ruthless Billionaire Ex-Husband's Regret   CH. 102

    MAISIE My heart skipped a beat and my eyes sparkled with anticipation.Was I really about to learn something that no one else in the world knew about him?For a fleeting moment, I felt special—like I was the only person he trusted enough to reveal this part of himself.“What I’ve spent my life doing,” Jason began low and contemplative, “Is hating the success of others and taking pleasure in their failures. That’s who I was… until someone came into my life and turned it upside down.”He paused, staring out at the waves as if searching for the right words.“Before that someone, another person wreaked havoc in my life, tearing it apart piece by piece. They pushed me to the brink and left me with nothing but a sliver of myself. Yet… their hatred… their coercion never fully destroyed me.”I blinked, trying to make sense of his cryptic words. “Who is this other person?”Jason’s hand resting lightly on my thigh stilled.The sudden halt made my breath catch in my throat.“My brother!” His vo

    Last Updated : 2025-01-30
  • Ruthless Billionaire Ex-Husband's Regret   CH.103

    MAISIEI could hear the raw emotion behind his words. The weight of regret, the pain of misplaced blame, the sorrow of a goodbye that never came. It clung to his voice.My chest tightened as I watched his usually composed demeanor crack under the weight of his own memories. It wasn’t just guilt he was carrying—it was grief, and it was deep.“I later regained my memories and discovered it was all my brother’s doing. When I refused to divorce you after the one-year arrangement with your father, he erased everything I’d ever done for him. Every sacrifice, every moment of kindness—it all meant nothing to him. He only saw my refusal as betrayal. I was so angry, so frustrated that I drowned myself in alcohol. And in my drunken state, I made a mistake I’ll regret for the rest of my life,” his words trailed off.My mind couldn’t process everything he’d just revealed. I was too broken and too busy takin in my father’s betrayal.Was I really nothing more than a business deal to my father? He tr

    Last Updated : 2025-01-31
  • Ruthless Billionaire Ex-Husband's Regret   CH.104

    MAISIEJason laughed softly, straightening up and helping me to my feet. “I’m saying it depends on trust. Our destiny is written, so let’s live quietly, baby.”I sighed, reluctantly nodding. “I understand.”“I arranged for your room to be upgraded to a two-bedroom suite. This way, both you and Don can enjoy your privacy," Jason informed me.I was taken aback, my mouth opening and closing in disbelief, unable to find the words.Jason gave me a smile that seemed to melt the tension between us. Then, he took my hand and walked me toward the hotel.Do I deserve this man?Later that night, I knocked on Don’s door to check on him. He opened it for me with a toothbrush in hand before disappearing back into the bathroom to finish brushing his teeth.“Did you have dinner with them?” I asked, sitting on the edge of his bed as I waited for him.“No,” Don replied from the bathroom. “But your boss sent me room service.”Klay? Why would he do that? “Anyway, you should go to bed early. Tomorrow’s g

    Last Updated : 2025-02-02

Latest chapter

  • Ruthless Billionaire Ex-Husband's Regret   CH.166

    MAISIEI wiped away the tear that had rolled down my cheek and turned off the microphone. Looking up, I took a deep breath, trying to compose myself.Being an emotional person with so many feelings can be absolute torture sometimes.I gasped when the door suddenly opened only to sigh with relief upon seeing Jason standing there.My coat hung casually over one shoulder, my bag dangling from his hand."Are you done?" I asked, walking toward him."I finished seconds before you spoke on the microphone," he admitted. "I was listening to your words while I was in the corridor."Mentally reviewing everything I'd just said, I felt a wave of embarrassment wash over me. Damn the alcohol for loosening my tongue!"Did I say too much?" I asked, my cheeks warming.Jason lifted my coat, holding it open for me to slip my arms through."No," he said softly. "And you know what? I won't hate him even if he despises me to my core. I'll protect him and always stand by his side, even against his will. I'll

  • Ruthless Billionaire Ex-Husband's Regret   CH.165

    MAISIE"I’ve learned to control myself even more when you're with me," Jason murmured, turning his chair to face the computer.His fingers resumed their effortless dance across the keyboard, yet his thoughts were nowhere near the screen. "It feels like my soul is constantly on the verge of escaping, rushing toward you. No matter how much I look at you, it never feels like enough. I memorize the way you move, the way you sit in stillness. Every little detail of you pulls me in, and my heart beats in sync with your smile."He exhaled softly. "I love you so deeply, so fiercely, that I have to hold myself back. Because if I don’t… I might lose myself entirely."If I had to name what we shared, I'd call it a safe relationship. I'd found myself in the hands of a man who saw beyond my physical form, who cherished the essence of who I was.In this era dominated by cravings and instant gratification, the worst thing that could happen would be surrendering to those shallow expectations and beco

  • Ruthless Billionaire Ex-Husband's Regret   CH.164

    MAISIEJason propped his chin in one hand while his fingers danced across the keyboard."Outrageously beautiful!" He glanced at me from the corner of his eye.I placed my foot on one arm of his chair and pulled my hair back with deliberate slowness. The silky strands slipped through my fingers as I held his gaze."Doesn't my outrageous beauty make you feel anything?" My voice came out huskier than intended, betraying my nervousness."Something like what?" He threw his weight on the back of his chair and placed his warm hand on my leg.His touch sent electricity through my skin, making it difficult to maintain my composure.I bit my lower lip, hesitating for several seconds while gathering my courage. The office suddenly felt too warm, too intimate."Jason... do I not excite you?" The words tumbled out before I could reconsider.His eyebrows rose slightly as he began stroking my leg with gentle, circular motions.My heart hammered against my ribs, and confusion clouded my thoughts."Do

  • Ruthless Billionaire Ex-Husband's Regret   CH.164

    MAISIE"What about Don?" Jason quirked an eyebrow, sliding his hands into his pockets elegantly.The realization hit me. Don! How could I forget?I slumped back into my seat dramatically, resting my forehead on the cool surface of the table."I really wanted to go with you," I mumbled, frustration evident in my voice. Something inside me yearned to be near him, like a magnetic pull I couldn't explain or resist.Miriam's gentle hand patted my head. "What kind of friend would I be if I didn't help you get what you want?"I lifted my head, confusion written across my face. "What do you mean?""The audio equipment is rented for today only," Miriam explained, leaning closer with a conspiratorial gleam. "I need to return everything before ten tonight. I'll tell Don he needs to help me because Nathan has a headache. We'll take our time, maybe drive around a bit before I drop him off. You just need to be back before we return.""I don't have a headache!" Nathan protested.Miriam shot him a wa

  • Ruthless Billionaire Ex-Husband's Regret   CH.162

    MAISIEThe atmosphere between the two tables instantly chilled.Klay stood up, his posture rigid with barely contained anger."Follow me!" he commanded Dame:But Dame merely smiled provocatively. "Why?"Her defiance visibly increased his anger. He fixed her with a penetrating stare and said through clenched teeth, "Why?...""Should I care about your anger?" she challenged, lifting her chin.I swallowed nervously, watching the tension escalate between them. I'd never seen this side of their relationship before."Shut your fucking mouth and stand up fast!" Klay growled. His usual composure was completely shattered.Dame matched his intensity with a withering glare. "Stop cursing! You're not the only one who can do that, you ugly motherfucker!"Professor Hunt placed a calming hand on her shoulder. "Wait, Dame... calm down."Klay's gaze zeroed in on the professor's hand like a laser sight. "Get your hand off her!"I looked at Miriam nervously, and she returned the same anxious glance.The

  • Ruthless Billionaire Ex-Husband's Regret   CH.161

    MAISIEI stopped at the door of Nathan's office when I got there. I peered in and saw Jason deeply absorbed in going over some papers, his face furrowed.I knocked softly on the doorframe and adopted a playfully formal tone. "Will you let me in, Principal Harding?" I teased, referencing his serious demeanor.He looked up with his expression immediately softening into a smile. "Come in."I stepped inside before closing the door behind me with a gentle click.Making my way across the room, I settled into the chair across from him while he returned his attention to the papers in his hands."I got you a surprise!" I announced, holding up the plate with a flourish."Surprise, is it a piece of cake?" he replied without looking up, though I could detect a hint of amusement in his voice.I raised my index finger dramatically as if making an important point. "Wrong, it's not just any cake... it's chocolate cake!"His eyes remained fixed on the documents before him. "No, thank you."Disappointm

  • Ruthless Billionaire Ex-Husband's Regret   CH.160

    MAISIEJason stopped briefly to get a bottle of wine on the way to Nathan's place. I was astonished by the label when he came back to the car and gave it to me."You didn't have to!" I exclaimed, examining the expensive bottle."It's not in my nature to arrive empty-handed, butterfly."When we arrived at Nathan's place, I carefully balanced both gifts in my arms as we got out of the car. Even from outside, I could hear Miriam's voice through speakers singing the birthday song.She had mentioned planning something special, but knowing Miriam, I expected something much wilder than whatever was happening here.We made our way directly to the back garden, where the celebration was taking place. As soon as Miriam spotted us, she set down her microphone on the table where Nathan sat and jogged over to greet us.She looked stunning in a modern black dress that showed off her legs with her hair pulled back in a ponytail.The garden around us was beautifully decorated in white, creating an atm

  • Ruthless Billionaire Ex-Husband's Regret   CH.159

    MAISIEJason didn't follow—perhaps he knew better than to try.I tried to concentrate on wrapping Nathan's present that had finally arrived, but my hands were shaking too much to fold neatly or tie the right ribbons.The sound of an ambulance arriving next door kept drawing my attention away from my task. The sirens wailed, cutting through the evening quiet like a harsh reminder of what had just transpired.I'm not saying Jared didn't deserve consequences for his actions. He had caused immeasurable pain with his interference in our lives yet did he deserve to be injured badly enough to need emergency medical attention?The question troubled me, even as I struggled with ribbon and tape that refused to cooperate with my shaking fingers."Stop giving people second chances they don't deserve, Maisie. It's maturity to accept that no good can come from some people!" Jason's words echoed in my mind.Perhaps he was right. Perhaps no good could ever come from Jared. However, the violence I'd w

  • Ruthless Billionaire Ex-Husband's Regret   CH.158

    MAISIEMy heart pounded against my ribs as I followed them. I knew what was coming: violence, pain, and more fuel for the cycle of hatred that seemed inescapable between these brothers.I hurried down the path to Jason's house, my footsteps quick but hesitant. The front door stood open, swinging slightly in the evening breeze, and I could hear crashes coming from inside. Furniture being overturned, glass breaking.I paused at the threshold with my hand gripping the doorframe. Did I really want to witness this?A particularly loud shatter from the living room made my decision for me. I stepped inside, drawn by concern despite my better judgment.The scene that greeted me was chaos. Jason stood in the center of his once-pristine living room, unwinding his silk tie from around his bloodied knuckles. His breathing was measured but heavy, like a predator conserving energy between attacks.The white shirt beneath his suit jacket was now spattered with crimson droplets."All my troubles bega

Scan code to read on App
DMCA.com Protection Status