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55: SUDDEN GOOD BYES
Last Updated:
2025-01-07 23:59:16
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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
Last Updated : 2025-01-08The 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
Last Updated : 2025-01-08The Billionaire’s Regret 58: HEY, STRANGER
ELARA’S POV Two weeks. It has been two weeks since I came back from New York. Two weeks since everything returned to normal or at least that’s what I like to think. Because Work has been steady, with new clients rolling in, thanks to Mr. Bellini and his wife’s help. I think I should feel relieved, maybe even happy, but for some reason, something feels off. The Hales project has been my primary focus since I got back. Today was the last inspection, and their representative made sure everything met their expectations. I should be celebrating its completion, but my mind is elsewhere. It’s also been two weeks since I last saw Nate. Not a call, not a text. Nothing. It’s like he vanished into thin air. But what was I expecting? That’s how things are supposed to be. A sudden buzz from my phone snapped me out of my thoughts. Fishing it out of my purse, I glanced at the screen. It was a text from Nico. NICO: Meet me at Crystal’s. My heart skipped a beat. Nico had been avoid
Last Updated : 2025-01-09The Billionaire’s Regret 59: ITS NOT WHAT YOU THINK
ELARA’S POV It felt like a million years before the waiter finally finished placing the food on the table. Nico had ordered way too much, more than we ever used to. But he’d picked all our favorites. Crystal’s had always been our place. A small, family owned restaurant tucked away in the city, serving some of the best dishes Vegas had to offer. Every time we came here, we’d order half the menu and laugh about how ridiculous it was. But today felt different. Off. And I couldn’t even tease him about the ridiculous amount of food because he was still giving me the cold shoulder. “Do you need anything else?” the waiter asked. “No, I think we’re good,” I replied with a small smile. Nico simply nodded and picked up his fork, quietly taking a bite of his salmon. I followed suit. The food tasted amazing, just like always, but it did little to settle the awkwardness hanging between us. We ate in silence. Bite after bite, I kept hoping Nico would say something, anything. Normally,
Last Updated : 2025-01-09The Billionaire’s Regret 60: A LIAR
ELARA’S POV “Not what I think’? Things happened so fast, Elara. So fast,” Nico said, his voice laced with disbelief.I felt trapped. I couldn’t lie to him, but I couldn’t risk telling him everything either.“I guess your husband is really something, then,” he added sarcastically.“He’s not my husband,” I snapped, the words escaping before I could stop myself.Nico froze, his fork halfway to his mouth. Shock washed over his face, and for a moment, I thought he might drop it entirely.That’s it. I said it.Now there was no going back.“What do you mean he’s not your husband?” he asked slowly, as though he didn’t quite trust what he was hearing.I bit my lip, debating whether I should even go down this road. But if I didn’t, this misunderstanding would only get worse.“It wasn’t real,” I said finally, lowering my gaze to the table. “The remarriage… it was just an act. A charade.”“For what?” His voice was sharp, demanding. “Why the hell would you do something like that?”I took a deep b
Last Updated : 2025-01-09The Billionaire’s Regret 61: MAKING AMENDS
ELARA'S POV“Nico,” I say, trying to keep my frustration at bay. “I know it’s hard to believe me after all you saw, but I want you to believe me when I say this: Nate and I are not together. What happened at the villa was just for the week, and it’s over. Nate and I were never an item, and we never will be.”Nico’s eyes lock onto mine. Even through the heat of his anger, I can tell he knows I’m not lying.He lets out a long, weary sigh. “If you say so, then…”The indifference in his tone stings, but I know it’s just the anger talking. Nico has every right to be upset. I’ve never seen him this mad before, but I also know him well enough to trust that once his temper cools, he’ll see things more clearly. At least, that’s what I hope.“Nico,” I whine, dragging out his name. “It was awful of me not to tell you, and I’m sorry. Can we please put this behind us and just pretend it never happened?” I pout dramatically, batting my lashes in a way I know looks absolutely ridiculous.I catch the
Last Updated : 2025-01-10The Billionaire’s Regret 62: LAST MINUTE DEMANDS
ELARA'S POV As expected, the ice cream truck was right there on the side of the park. Nico and I each grabbed a cone before strolling through the park, chatting about almost anything we could think of.The cool evening breeze and the soft orange hues of the setting sun made the atmosphere feel peaceful and carefree.“Nico,” I said, breaking the silence as we passed a fountain.“Yes?” He turned his head toward me, his expression curious.“Uhm… can we keep the whole villa thing between us? I don’t want Elliot to find out. You know how dramatic he can be.” I rolled my eyes just thinking about how over the top Elliot could get.“I understand,” Nico said with a small smile, nodding in agreement.“Thank you,” I replied, relieved that he wasn’t going to make a big deal out of it.Before he could respond, his phone began to ring. The slight furrow in his brows told me it was work related. After a quick glance at the screen, he answered, his tone immediately shifting to professional.A few mi
Last Updated : 2025-01-10The Billionaire’s Regret 63: YOU ARE NOT BREATHING
ELARA'S POV“Everything is set. I even have a cab ready for you when you get to New York,” Jenna smirked, handing me my suitcase.“You can cancel it. I know how to find my way when I get there,” I replied, brushing off her insistence.Unlike the last time I was headed to New York, my chest didn’t feel like it was caving in. There was still a small knot of unease, but it wasn’t unbearable. Maybe it was because Elliot hadn’t protested this trip, and I didn’t feel like I was sneaking off. Or maybe it was because I was looking forward to seeing Mom again.“I can’t cancel it,” Jenna said with a shrug. “It’s supposed to be a surprise. I don’t even know why I told you about it.” She slapped her forehead dramatically.“It better not be one of those cringy welcome signs with balloons,” I warned, narrowing my eyes at her.“It won’t be,” she promised, but the amused twinkle in her eye told me otherwise.“If it is, I’m throwing you into a shark tank,” I teased, though a small smile tugged at my l
Last Updated : 2025-01-10
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The Billionaire’s Regret 120: I’LL SEE YOU SOON
ELARA’S POV I should walk away. I should say thank you for the save and disappear into the crowd, back to my brother or my car or anywhere that isn’t here standing in front of a man I don’t even know, feeling like I should. But I don’t move. Because there’s something about him. Something about the way he watches me, not with expectation, not with amusement, but like he already knows I won’t leave just yet. “I take it you have a habit of stepping in where you’re not needed?” I arch a brow, tilting my head slightly. His smirk doesn’t falter. If anything, it deepens. “I don’t know… Were you going to handle it?” I narrow my eyes. He’s playing with me, testing me. And I don’t like it. “I was two seconds away from pouring my drink in his lap,” I say smoothly, waving my now empty glass. “But I suppose your approach was more… effective.” A little smile tugs at my lips. I was actually planning on doing it, but only if Mr Caldwell had followed me after I left. His ey
The Billionaire’s Regret 119: I wanted to
ELARA’S POV“You know, dear, expanding a business in early July is not something I’d recommend,” Mr. Caldwell says, his voice smooth but condescending, his hand lingering on my back a little too long for my liking.I shift slightly, forcing a polite smile, hoping he gets the hint. But instead of stepping back, he inches closer.Men like this are exactly why I avoid socializing at grand events like these. The flashing cameras, the overwhelming crowd, the endless small talk—it’s exhausting. And then there are the men—the ones who mistake common courtesy for an invitation.Elliot had insisted I come tonight as his plus one. I had wanted to stay home, lose myself in work, but I agreed to this because, for the past two days since we returned to Vegas, we hadn’t had a moment alone. And I needed to talk to him.To tell him the truth.But the moment we arrived, it seemed like everyone had someone to introduce to my brother, or Elliot himself had someone he needed to speak with. I quickly grew
The Billionaire’s Regret 118: TRUST OR TROUBLE
ELARA’S POV I made it very clear to her last time. I didn’t want her butting in with this kind of stuff. That’s what we hired the ad team for. That’s what the staff is for. I wanted her to focus on the work laid out for her, nothing more. Is that too much to ask? But then, when I look at her and see that expression. the shift in her face, the subtle guilt in her eyes it makes me rethink. Maybe she really did do this with the company’s best interest at heart. And maybe I’m the one getting sensitive? “I’m sorry, Elara,” she says, her voice a little shaken this time. That surprises me. “I feel so bad now. I shouldn’t have done that, but they seemed like such a good company to partner with. And when I saw the chance, I just thought we’d want to seize it… to take the opportunity to make more.” She exhales sharply before continuing, “But now I know it’s not my place to decide that. I should’ve been more careful.” She blurts the words out like they’ve been weighing on
The Billionaire’s Regret 117: DO THE HONORS.
ELARA’S POV Jenna ends her call with a sharp click, slamming the phone back into place. My gaze flickers to her, my mind still circling the last thing she said. “She won’t notice a thing.” Who is Brick? And who exactly is this person who won’t notice anything? Me? No, that can’t be right. I don’t have the full context of the conversation. I shouldn’t jump to conclusions. But if I shouldn’t jump to conclusions, then why is she in my seat, giggling into the phone with some guy named Brick while she’s been ignoring my calls for nearly a week? A tightness spreads through my chest, but I mask it with a slight arch of my brow. I push the door shut behind me, the soft click of it sealing us inside. “What are you doing in my office?” I ask, keeping my tone as neutral as possible. Jenna gasps dramatically, her face lighting up in exaggerated excitement. “Elara!” Instead of answering my question, she jumps up from my chair and rushes toward me. Before I can react
The Billionaire’s Regret 116: A VERY SMART WOMAN
ELARA’S POV My hands feel numb as I stare out the window. White, fluffy clouds with soft, foggy outlines stretch across the sky, staring back at me. On any other day, I would have admired how bright and pure they looked, how their silver linings shined in the sunlight, or how the sky from up here seemed like an endless ocean. But today, I can’t think about any of that. Because no matter how hard I try, I can’t erase the image of what I saw last night. Nate and that woman… I don’t know what I was expecting from him, but it wasn’t that. Not after everything he told me. Not after the flowers. Not after the chocolates. Not after the note. FLASHBACK Our eyes met. For a second, I thought I imagined it, something flickered in his gaze, but it disappeared just as quickly. Then my eyes fell to the blonde woman sprawled on top of him, her hands wrapped around his neck. She let out a soft giggle. My stomach twisted. The heat in my chest was unbearable, spreading like wildfire.
The Billionaire’s Regret 115: CURIOSITY
ELARA’S POV Fair enough. I glance to the opposite side of the room, where a woman has now taken a seat at what was an empty table just minutes ago. UNKNOWN: Relax, Goldie. No matter how hard you look, you won’t find me. So go ahead and drink your sorrows away in peace. ME: Who says I’m drinking away my sorrows? I ordered one mojito. And I haven’t even taken a sip of yet. UNKNOWN: Seems I guessed wrong, then. ME: You definitely did. I finally reach for my drink, taking a slow sip. The cool, minty flavor mixed with just a hint of alcohol is exactly what I needed. It’s been ages since I last had a mojito. After what feels like a long time. My screen lights up again. UNKNOWN: I have a gift for you, Goldie. Private rooms. Room B3. I’m sure you’ll love it. A gift? A few chats ago, they mentioned wanting to give me something. And now, suddenly, it’s waiting in one of the private dining rooms? A bad feeling settles in my gut. Obsidian’s private rooms are used f
The Billionaire’s Regret 114: GUARDIAN ANGEL
ELARA’S POV “Nate forgot this last time. He said he’d come back for it, but he never did. Will you give it to him?” My eyes fall to the blue necktie in Sienna’s hand. I think I need to commend my luck, I’m trying to stay away from him, but something always seems to push me right back toward him. “Elara?” Sienna prompts with an arched brow, nudging the tie forward. “I don’t think I can take it to him. He said he’d come for it, right?” “Yes.” I force a smile. “Then I’m sure he will.” “But you guys are together… so I thought it would be easier if you take. Plus if it stays with me, I don’t think that would be a good idea. I can’t have some of the staffs mistaking this very expensive tie for one of ours.” A little part me told me to Just give up and take the tie, it’s just some stupid tie right? I let out a sharp breath, then forced a smile. “You can keep it in your office, then. I’m sure no one will think to use something tucked away in there.” I twist the doork
The Billionaire’s Regret 113: THIS IS FOR THE BEST
ELARA’S POVThe sound I hate the most right now has to be the ringing of my phone.After my call with Nate, I didn’t know what to do with what he sent me. So, I decided to leave it on the counter while I changed out of my wet clothes.Maybe I can think of something for when next I set my eyes on them. I tried calling Jenna again today. Finally, her phone was on, but for some reason, she wasn’t picking up, not even leaving a text. So It could probably be her calling now.I switch off my hair dryer, hoping it’s her.I guess I didn’t pray hard enough because it’s not Jenna. But at least it’s not someone I was dreading. It’s Sienna.Pressing the answer button, I bring the phone to my ear.“Hello, Elara.” Sienna’s voice comes through the line.“Hello,” I say with a small smile, as if she can see it.“Are you busy right now?” Her tone seems a bit off.“No, I’m at home. Is everything okay?” I ask.“Yes… but, uhm, I know this is last minute, but I have the pictures we took a few days ago rea
The Billionaire’s Regret 112: THE GIFT
ELARA’S POV The car stays silent for a second before a smile spreads across my brother’s face. “I know that.” My eyes widen, and my jaw almost hits the floor. Maybe he heard me wrong. Maybe he didn’t understand what I was saying, because if he did, he wouldn’t be smiling. And earlier, he said he hadn’t found any evidence to prove our relationship wasn’t real. He knows? How does he know? “Did you hear what I just said?” I gasp in disbelief. Elliot lets out a chuckle, shaking his head. “That much I know, El. It’s quite obvious. What kind of remarried couple lives in separate houses and only sees each other during the day? I figured as much. Even though you still have your ring on, I know there’s a part of you that’s not fully in this. And to be honest, that’s what’s giving me hope right now that you’ll see through that man and let him go for good.” I don’t even know what to say. This whole remarried couple facade… it’s all backfiring. I should’ve known it was this obvious. So
