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34: I’M LOST
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2024-12-20 20:58:54Related chapters
The Billionaire’s Regret 35: CRUMBLING WALLS
Elara’s POV“El, it’s really you,” Nico says, walking closer until he’s standing right next to me.The smile on his face widens as though he’s genuinely happy to see me.This can’t be happening. It can’t be him.Why is Nico here of all places?Shit. This is bad.“It’s me,” I say, forcing a chuckle, though it sounds awkward even to my ears.“Let me guess, you got lost?” he asks, tilting his head with a teasing smirk.“Yes,” I reply, laughing nervously. “One second I was in a room full of people, and the next, I’m out here admiring the place. I didn’t even realize I’d wandered so far, and now I can’t seem to find anyone.”“That’s Villa Felicità for you,” he says with a shrug.“I can see that,” I respond lightly, though I’m not really in the mood for small talk.“It’s dinner time already. Everyone’s in the dining room. Come on, I’ll take you there.”Before I can protest, he pulls my hand and links it with his. The gesture catches me off guard, but I try my best not to let it show.Things
Last Updated : 2024-12-21The Billionaire’s Regret 36: WALKING IN WITH THE ENEMY.
NATE'S POV She walked in with Nicholas DeLuca. Of all the people in the world, she chose him. And to make it worse, her hand was linked with his filthy one.I couldn’t focus on anything else. The cheerful chatter around me faded into a dull hum, like white noise. My gaze was locked on her and that smug bastard beside her.Didn’t she tell him she was with me? Or did she blow our cover and spill the truth about us? Could it be that she invited him here to expose everything and make me look like some pathetic liar?No, she wouldn’t do that. She couldn’t. We’d both be ruined if Mr. Bellini found out that we were faking this entire arrangement.But then the memory of how close she looked with him back in Vegas replayed in my head. The way they stood together there was unsettling. And now, seeing her this close to him again... it feels like too much of a coincidence.Elara isn’t the type to let men get close to her. At least, the Elara I knew wasn’t. The old Elara kept her distance, she nev
Last Updated : 2024-12-22The Billionaire’s Regret 37: THE FIRST DANCE.
NATE'S POV Dinner ends in a blur. Elara and I haven’t spoken a word to each other since our little argument. The silence between us feels heavy, like an invisible wall keeping us apart, even though she’s sitting right next to me.As the plates are cleared, soft music starts playing in the background. Elara stays seated beside me, her hazel eyes focused on the people dancing.A small, smile finds its way to her lips, and for a moment, I wonder what she’s thinking. She seems calm, even happy, like she’s forgotten the tension between us.Meanwhile, Nicholas keeps stealing glances at her, his gaze lingering far too long for my liking. It’s as if he thinks he has some sort of claim on her, and each time I catch him looking, it feels like a dagger twisting in my chest, sharper and deeper every time.More couples step onto the dance floor, swaying to the gentle beats of the song. Even Mr. Bellini is dancing with his granddaughters, their laughter blending with the Italian music fills the ro
Last Updated : 2024-12-22The Billionaire’s Regret 38: TENSION AND TANGO
NATE’S POV “You’re unbelievable, Nate,” Elara says sharply as my hand settles on her waist, guiding her onto the dance floor. “Am I?” I reply, smirking as I raise an eyebrow at her. Her cheeks flush slightly more from frustration than anything else and I can’t help but admire how stunning she looks when she’s angry. I spin her in time with the music, keeping her close. “It’s true,” she snaps, her voice low but firm. “Why would you do that?” “Do what?” I ask, feigning innocence. “You know what—” she starts, but I twirl her before she can finish, cutting off her words and leaving her breathless when she faces me again. She exhales sharply, her eyes narrowing. “I don’t want to make a scene.” The song ends, and she pulls away from me so quickly it’s like my touch burns her. I don’t like it, but I let it slide for now. Then the music changes, and my chest tightens as the unmistakable rhythm of a tango fills the air. I glance at Elara. She freezes as soon as the firs
Last Updated : 2024-12-23The Billionaire’s Regret 39: NOT AGAIN
ELARA’S POVUnbelievable.Absolutely fucking unbelievable.I can’t even begin to wrap my head around what just happened tonight.First, Nate has the nerve to drop the “husband” bomb on Nico without giving me so much as a warning.As if that isn’t bad enough, he drags me onto the dance floor, forces me into a tango, and then he has the audacity to try to kiss me!Who the hell does he think he is?“Here’s your room,” Flavia says, her voice warm as she opens the door to what I assume is my designated prison for the night.“Thank you, Flavia,” I say, forcing a smile onto my face despite the anger brewing inside me.“Don’t mention it, Elara. It’s a shame you couldn’t stay for the night games, but you look like you need rest. Tomorrow, I’ll give you a proper tour, and we can have even more fun,” she says, her smile so genuine that I feel a pang of guilt for not matching her enthusiasm.“Thank you so much,” I manage to reply. “I’ll make sure to get plenty of rest tonight. Tomorrow, I’ll be
Last Updated : 2024-12-24The Billionaire’s Regret 40: A CHANCE TO EXPLAIN EVERYTHING
ELARA’S POV“Wait, are you seriously going dressed like that?” Flavia exclaims, her face a picture of horror as she looks me up and down.I glance at my outfit a loose pajama set from last night, wrinkled and thoroughly inappropriate for public viewing. My only effort at looking presentable had been washing my face and tying my hair into a messy ponytail.“Well… Nate forgot our bags,” I explain with a sheepish shrug. “So I don’t exactly have any yoga friendly clothes to wear.”Flavia gasps dramatically. “You can’t go to yoga in pajamas, silly!” She nudges me playfully, but her tone leaves no room for argument.“I’ll be fine,” I insist, though my resolve weakens under her judgmental gaze.“Nope, not happening. Come on, I think I have something you can change into,” she says, grabbing my hand before I can protest.Before I know it, Flavia is pulling me down the hallway. I don’t even have time to grab my shoes not that I have many options besides the heels I wore yesterday.When we fina
Last Updated : 2024-12-25The Billionaire’s Regret 41: SOMETHING IS OFF
ELARA’S POV “Nico,” I call softly as I approach him, my heart pounding in my chest. I try to gather my thoughts, but they scatter like leaves in the wind. He lets his arrow fly with precision, the sharp sound of the bowstring breaking the silence. The arrow hits its target dead center before he finally turns to look at me. “Hi,” I say awkwardly, shifting from one foot to the other. “Elara,” he replies, his tone cool and distant. The way he says my name sends an uneasy chill down my spine. Something is definitely wrong, and I know exactly why. I can’t blame him for feeling this way. He knew about my divorce. Then, after almost two years of me being single he suddenly hears that I’m back with my ex husband. No explanations from me. If I were in his shoes, I’d be distant too. “Good morning,” he says after a moment, offering a polite but guarded smile. He pulls another arrow from his quiver, handling it with ease. I watch him closely, taking cautious steps to stand nearby but care
Last Updated : 2024-12-26The Billionaire’s Regret 42: YOU’RE OVERREACTING
ELARA’S POV I gasp, my heart racing as I’m pinned against the wall. My eyes meet a pair of stormy grey ones, narrowed and filled with something dark. There are dark circles under his eyes, his face looking strained, like he hasn’t slept in days.“Let go,” I snap, struggling against his grip.His hold is firm, and his towering figure makes me feel smaller than I’d like.his breath warm against my cheek as he steps closer.“Why?” he whispers, his voice low and dripping with sarcasm. “Is this uncomfortable?”I roll my eyes, frustration building in my chest as I try to push him away. “Of course it’s uncomfortable! What the hell is wrong with you?”His eyes narrow, something dangerous flickering in their depths. He leans in, his voice low but filled with anger. “Didn’t seem to bother you when you let Nicholas trail his filthy hands all over you.”My stomach drops. “Are you serious right now?”He ignores my words, his jaw clenched tightly. “Because from where I was standing, it looked lik
Last Updated : 2024-12-27
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The Billionaire’s Regret 57: I DON’T BELIEVE YOU
ELARA’S POV “What sort of business trip did you go to?” my mom asked, fixing me with that sharp, probing gaze of hers. It was the kind of look that told me she wasn’t buying anything I was about to say. “You left on a Friday afternoon and came back on a Sunday evening. How does that even make sense?” Even I know it doesn’t make any sense but I can’t, but I know better than to tell her where I actually was. Because she won’t only lose it she will probably disown me. I let out a sigh. “Like I said, Mom, it was a consultation. Those can happen any day of the week, as long as the client’s okay with it,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady while avoiding her piercing stare. Her eyes narrowed as she studied me, her suspicion practically radiating off her. I kept my gaze glued to the TV, desperate to look like I didn’t care. “Well, if you say so…” she muttered, but her tone said otherwise. Then, her fingers reached out and squeezed my hand, making me hiss in pain. “And
The Billionaire’s Regret 56: HE LEFT
ELARA’S POV As we settled into our seats on the jet, Nate leaned over to help me buckle my seatbelt. His fingers brushed against mine, and I felt a sudden, unexpected warmth rising to my cheeks. I tried to ignore it, glancing away quickly, but the flush didn’t fade as fast as I hoped. Once we took off, Nate turned his attention to his laptop, his fingers moving fast across the keyboard. He was completely engrossed, probably working on something important. I don’t know what I expected from this flight, but it wasn’t… silence. He sat just far enough away to feel distant, like a wall had suddenly sprung up between us. Maybe I’d read too much into things earlier. I shifted in my seat, fidgeting with the armrest, unsure of what to do. Making conversation felt pointless, he was clearly busy, so I tried to focus on the in-flight movie. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t concentrate. My gaze kept drifting to him, drawn in by the way his sleeves were rolled up to his elb
The Billionaire’s Regret 55: SUDDEN GOOD BYES
ELARA’S POV. For the rest of our time before lunch, I didn’t see Nate, but I got a text from him that he was going to take care of something important. a little part of me thinks he just wanted me to deal with the grapes we were harvesting alone but I know he was better than that. When I was done with most of our lane and filling half of our basket, Mrs. Rosa said we should call it a day and head for lunch leaving the rest for the farmers to take care of. During lunch, Nate still wasn’t there to share the awkward tension and teasing I’d been getting from Flavia and Catherine. Even though Flavia wasn’t there to witness the kiss, but Catherine made sure she elaborated on everything at the table, exaggerating a few parts of it. Thankfully Nico wasn’t at the table to hear the excruciating story. I’d have to explain it to him later, but at least that would be on my own terms.After lunch, Valentina and Farrah left immediately, while I lingered around, with Catherine, and Flavia in th
The Billionaire’s Regret 54: GET A ROOM.
ELARA’S POV Even with the stares I’m probably getting, I know better than to stop. Instead, I push myself to run even faster. I can hear Nate’s footsteps closing in behind me, each one growing louder and more determined. One thing I remember clearly from the years we were married is that Nate hates dirt. He absolutely despises getting dirty.and, the amount of sand I poured on him earlier? It wasn’t just regular sand. It was sand mixed with fertilizer. The thought makes me grin a little. But my victory is short-lived. I don’t notice the water pipe in my path until it’s too late. My foot catches it, and I lose my balance. I’m about to hit the hard, soil when I feel a strong hand grab me. It’s Nate. His eyes lock onto mine, and for a moment, everything around us feels like it has stopped. The world fades into nothing but the two of us. His dark, intense eyes hold mine in place, and I can’t seem to look away. I can feel the warmth of his breath against my face. His lips are so cl
The Billionaire’s Regret 53: STAY IN YOUR LANE
ELARA’S POV“Elara, since this is your first time, I’m going to pair you up with your husband,” Rosa says with a smile.“Nate comes here often, so I hope he’ll be a good teacher in showing you how we harvest the grapes,” she adds, though her eyes are fixed on Nate instead of me.“She already knows I’m the best when it comes to teaching,” Nate says confidently, pulling me just a little too close.He leads us to the section of the vineyard where we’re supposed to work. Things were going well, even with Valentina’s death glare practically burning into my back.“That’s not how you cut it,” I say, pointing at him. “You’re going to ruin the grapes before they even make it to storage.”“I’ve done this for years, it’s not my first time,” Nate grumbles, dropping a bunch of grapes into the basket with more force than necessary.“Oh, give me that,” I mutter, frowning as I snatch the cutter from his hands.He tries to grab it back, but Mrs. Rosa’s voice interrupts us.“Is everything okay over the
The Billionaire’s Regret 52: THE POT STIRER
NATE'S POVAfter breakfast, we all headed out to the gardens for one of the Bellini family’s traditions: harvesting grapes from their vineyard. It’s something they do every year with their workers, and they even plant new vines afterwards. It’s a lovely tradition, really if you’re into that sort of thing.Me? Not so much.I’ve been dragged into this ritual ever since I was a kid visiting the Bellinis with my grandfather. Back then, I tried to get out of it by feigning illness or “accidentally” oversleeping. Of course, none of it worked. And now, as an adult, I’m still here, stuck doing something I’ve never liked.My eyes wander across the fields as everyone gets to work. Each person is decked out in their harvesting gear, carrying baskets as they move between the vines. I can’t help but admire how picturesque it all looks, with the sunlight streaming through the grape leaves.But then, my attention snaps to something or rather, someone i can’t ignore.It’s Elara.And Valentina.Talki
The Billionaire’s Regret 51: MISUNDERSTANDINGS.
NATE’S POVI can’t believe what I’m hearing right now.Other people’s man? What is that supposed to mean?I don’t recall telling her anything about dating anyone, though to be fair, we haven’t had much time to discuss such things.But I thought she, of all people, would know that I’m not in a relationship.With all the time we’ve spent together in the past, I figured it would be obvious to her.Does she think I have someone else in my life? The urge to clear up this misunderstanding rises, but I suppress it.Instead, I simply lie back in bed beside her.“There can only be one of us on this bed, and it certainly isn’t you, Nate,” she hisses, yanking the covers away and exposing my body to the cool air in the room. “Get off. Go back to wherever it is you slept last night.”I bite back the smile that almost forms on my face. “This is where I slept last night,” I point out, my voice calm and steady.“Liar,” she mutters under her breath, her tone dripping with distrust.“What do I gain by
The Billionaire’s Regret 50: SOMETHING'S GOING ON
ELARA'S POV “What’s this, Elara?” Nate asks, his eyes narrowing as he reads the label on the container.Before he can finish, I snatch it away and shove it behind me.“It’s none of your business,” I snap, hoping he hasn’t seen enough to start asking questions.My heart pounds in my chest. Bringing the pills here was a mistake. If Nate sees them, he’ll ask questions I’m not ready to answer. Questions I’ll never be ready to answer.but going a long time without taking them will do more harm to me. I don’t want to explain that I’m sick. That I need to take these pills for a few years, maybe longer until the wounds in my stomach heal. After the miscarriage, the internal damage left me in pain, and my developed anxiety hasn’t loosened its grip since.But telling him now? What would it change? Years ago, when I begged him to listen, to care about me and the child I carried, he turned his back. That child is gone now, and so is any reason to tell him. There’s no good in opening up old woun
The Billionaire’s Regret 49: WE’RE STUCK HERE
ELARA’S POV“You know, old man, if you want her to check out another portrait for you, you need to pay up,” Arturo says, handing me a glass of wine.I take it but don’t drink, just swirling it around in the glass.“I don’t mind doing it for free,” I say with a smile. “I do this kind of thing all the time, and clients don’t pay me for it.”“But here’s the thing, those are clients, and he’s not,” Arturo replies, raising an eyebrow at me.“He doesn’t have to be a client for me to help out,” I say, laughing a little.“Not everyone’s focused on money, Arturo,” Mr. Bellini adds with a smirk, making both of us chuckle.The banter between them is funny to watch. It’s not something you’d expect between most fathers-in-law and sons-in-law. Mr Bellini told me that Flavia and Arturo are engaged, which makes sense now.As we laugh, my gaze drifts. From where I’m sitting in the foyer, I notice two figures standing a little ways off.It’s Nate and, of course, Valentina.His back is to me, so I can’t
