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8: FACING THE FALL OUT.
Last Updated:
2024-12-02 19:46:01
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The Billionaire’s Regret 9: LETTER FROM THE PAST
ELARA’S POVIt has been one year and eight months since my divorce.One year and eight months since I packed my bags and left the city, hoping to escape the pain and heartache that haunted me.When my brother, Elliot, suggested I move to Las Vegas with him, I didn’t want to. The idea of leaving everything behind felt overwhelming. Despite everything, I still held onto hope that Nate and I could work things out. Even with the way he treated me, I foolishly believed there might still be a chance for us to fix things.Why? Because I loved him. I was deeply in love with him, and letting go of someone I love has always been incredibly hard for me. It’s just who I am. I try to find excuses and reasons for people’s actions, even when they hurt me. I cling to the belief that things will get better if I just give it time.But life doesn’t always give you what you want. Sometimes, it takes everything from you, leaving you with no choice but to face reality.Two days after Mrs. Chelsea’s charit
Last Updated : 2024-12-03The Billionaire’s Regret 10: LINES I WON’T CROSS.
ELARA’S POV “So let’s hear it Jenna” “Okay, so the secretary for Hale’s Mining, the one who called, she’s the real reason I took the consultation in the first place,” Jenna begins, shifting nervously as she speaks. “At first, she seemed desperate. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you which company it was. I didn’t think it was important because the pay was good. But I should have been upfront, and I’m sorry for that.”I watch her, my arms folded, not saying a word as she continues.“Anyway, ever since you found out and made us cancel the deal, she’s been calling nonstop. The last time she called, I think she was on the brink of tears. Apparently, her boss threatened to fire her if she didn’t get us back on board. She said her family really needs the money she earns.”Jenna pauses, gauging my reaction before continuing.“I don’t think he’s bluffing about firing her, El. She’s the third person I’ve spoken to this month from their office. The other two were let go. I’m just saying… to save he
Last Updated : 2024-12-03The Billionaire’s Regret 11: A THREE MILLION DOLLARS PROBLEM.
ELARA'S POV The shrill ring of my phone jolts me out of my thoughts as I make my way to the car. I glance at the screen: Jeffrey (Foreman). My stomach knots instantly. Jeffrey never calls unless something has gone terribly wrong.“Jeffrey,” I say, answering quickly, my tone sharp and to the point. “What’s going on?”“Elara, we’ve got a problem, a big problem,” he says, his voice laced with tension. “One of the workers... well, he broke a custom chandelier at the Harper estate. And it’s bad. Really bad.”I stop in my tracks, dread pooling in my stomach. “How bad are we talking?”“Over three million dollars,” he says, his voice tight. “They’re saying it’s irreplaceable. The client’s losing it and demanding we pay for the damages.”Three million. The number slams into me like a freight train. For a piece of glass and metals, my mind reels as I pinch the bridge of my nose, forcing myself to take a deep breath.“I’m on my way,” I reply, ending the call without hesitation.When I arrive at
Last Updated : 2024-12-04The Billionaire’s Regret 12: ITS HIM.
ELARA'S POVI glance at his usual black suit, the kind he always wears, then back at his face. My heart skips a beat, and I quickly stand up my pulse racing.His lips curl into a smile, a slow and familiar one. that made my stomach do a weird flip, and I don’t know why.This can’t be happening.“Long time no see, darling,” he says, his voice smooth and sure. Any doubts I had vanished in an instant.It’s him. Nathaniel.he is right in front of me, in arms reach!“Elara,” another voice calls out my name, snapping me out of my thoughts. I turn to see Nico walking toward me.He’s grinning, like always, his bright smile lighting up his face. He’s just a few steps away now.“Nico,” I say, a smile breaking through my confusion. The anger bubbling up inside me fades. I grab my purse from Nathaniel’s hand without looking at him and hurry toward Nico.“I didn’t know you were back in town,” I say, stopping in front of him.Nico’s been a family friend for years. He’s Mr. DeLuca’s son, and we met
Last Updated : 2024-12-05The Billionaire’s Regret 13: THERE'S STILL HOPE
ELARA’S POV“Elara, my dear!” Mr. Deluca’s warm voice boomed as soon as he spotted me. His white hair seemed even more prominent than the last time I saw him. Without hesitation, he wrapped me in a firm hug, the scent of his cologne mingling with the faint aroma of Italian food wafting through the restaurant.“How have you been?” he asked, his thick Italian accent adding charm to his words.“I’ve been well,” I said with a soft smile.“You’ve grown so much, Bella!” he declared, stepping back to get a good look at me, his eyes twinkling with genuine affection.I chuckled. “The last time you saw me was only two months ago. Do you think I’ve really grown that much in such a short time?”“Oh, come now,” he replied with a wave of his hand. “Each time I see you and your brother, you both look more and more like your father”Nico pulled out a chair for me, gesturing for me to sit beside him. Across the table, Mr. Deluca and Elliot, my brother, were already seated.“But I’m the prettier versio
Last Updated : 2024-12-05The Billionaire’s Regret 14: DO YOU HAVE A PLAN
ELARA’S POV “Do you have a plan?” Jenna asks, sitting across from me, her eyebrows raised. I sigh, leaning back in my chair. “If I had a plan, Jenna, you wouldn’t be sitting here right now asking me this question.” She frowns but doesn’t argue. I don’t blame her for being frustrated. I’ve been staring at the same set of numbers for hours, and nothing makes sense. This morning, I got a text from Mr. Harper. He sent the contact information for the company where he bought the chandelier. Along with it came a message: You need to order it soon so it can arrive before the end of the week. It felt like a punch to the gut. The chandelier is necessary to complete the project, but I don’t have the money to pay for it. Even if I sold my car, emptied my savings, and pawned the expensive watch Elliot gave me last Christmas, I’d still fall short by thousands. Jenna watches me with a serious expression. “Maybe you could ask your brother to help? Three million dollars is nothing to him.”
Last Updated : 2024-12-06The Billionaire’s Regret 15: THE CLOCK IS TICKING
My head is spinning. The chandelier is the last piece of the puzzle for Mr. Harper’s project. Without it, we’ll miss the deadline, and our reputation will be ruined. But I can’t take a bank loan either Elliot would find out, and I can’t let that happen. A dangerous thought creeps into my mind. What if I borrow the money from a loan shark? I shake my head quickly. No, that’s not an option. Loan sharks are nothing but trouble. Before I can spiral further, Jenna bursts back into the office, looking both excited and nervous. “What is it now, Jenna?” I ask, bracing myself for more bad news. “I have good news and bad news,” she says, her tone upbeat. “Which do you want first?” “Just tell me,” I say, already dreading what’s coming. “Fine. The bad news is that I spoke to the chandelier supplier. They said they have one left, but someone else is interested in it. Because Mr. Harper is a loyal client, they’re willing to hold it for us, but only if we pay within two days.” “Two days?” I
Last Updated : 2024-12-06The Billionaire’s Regret 16: EVERYTHING IS FALLING APART
NATE’S POV“Mr. Hales, the last time I passed by the branch, it was closed,” Mr. Cavil, one of our key investors, says as we walk out of the meeting room together.“I hope everything is okay.”“Yes,” I reply quickly, forcing a smile. “Everything is going smoothly. It was just a minor inconvenience, but it has been sorted out.” I hope that’s true. If Lesley hasn’t convinced another company to take over the project, we’re going to have a huge problem on our hands.“That’s good,” he says, nodding. “Because you know those dealers won’t wait longer than what you promised.”“I have everything is under control,” I reassure him, trying to sound confident. “I guarantee we’ll be ready by the time they arrive.”He gives me a curt nod before heading toward his car.As I watch him leave, my chest tightens. The truth is, everything is falling apart.Ever since I saw Elara yesterday hugging and laughing with another manI haven’t been able to think straight. She really did move on.It’s only been a y
Last Updated : 2024-12-07
Latest chapter
The Billionaire’s Regret 95: UNLESS YOU WANT TO QUIT NOW.
ELARA’S POVThe camera clicked steadily as the shoot began, each pose feeling more strained than the last.At first, Sienna kept things simple, directing us into harmless, standard positions. I could handle that. But soon, her instructions turned… odd.My goal is to make Nate uncomfortable and have him leave as soon as possible, not the other way around. “Lean back against his chest, Elara,” Sienna said brightly, her tone annoyingly cheerful.I froze for a moment, then forced myself to move. Slowly, I pressed my back against Nate’s chest. The warmth of him was instant, seeping into me like an unwelcome reminder of things I’d rather forget.“Perfect. Now, turn your head to face him and place your hand on the back of his neck.”What kind of shoot was this? My jaw tightened, but I did as told, reluctantly turning my head. Nate was already watching me, his eyes bright with amusement and that same smug grin that always made me want to punch him.He was enjoying every single second of this
The Billionaire’s Regret 94: ITS A DEAL!
Chapter 94ELARA’S POV“You guys are so cute,” Sienna said as she pulled away, her smile practically glowing.I forced a tight-lipped smile, doing my best not to let my disgust show.“Vera here will show you to the changing room,” Sienna continued, motioning to a petite girl standing nearby. “I’ll go over the setup again while we wait.”The girl, Vera, smiled politely and gestured for us to follow.I trailed behind, trying to keep it together, but my patience was wearing thin.He ruined everything.I thought this was supposed to be my shoot, just me and my idol photographer sienna even agreed to it. But now Nate shows up out of nowhere like he owns the place, acting all smug and charming like we’re perfectly fine.We hadn’t spoken in days. I didn’t even tell him about this shoot. So how the hell was he here?I stopped suddenly and spun around to face him. “What are you doing here?”Nate’s lips curved into a lazy smirk. “Didn’t I already tell you, darling?” His hand moved to touch my
The Billionaire’s Regret 93: I MADE THINGS WORSE
ELARA’S POV I stay frozen, contemplating whether I should tell my brother the truth or keep quiet. “I guess I have my answer then,” Elliot broke the silence before I could. “Elliot—” I began, but he cut me off. “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to. I’ll find out whatever it is,” he said. From the tone in his voice, I could tell he wasn’t joking. When Elliot wants to know something, he doesn’t stop until he gets the answers. I think I just made things worse. “I’ve sent you the address… again. I hope you can make it,” Sienna said over the phone. For the past few days, we’d been talking and making arrangements for the shoot. Just telling her I wanted to cancel last minute didn’t seem right. She seemed so excited about it. I had given her my word, so canceling now felt impossible. “I’ll be there,” I said. “But Sienna, I don’t think Nate will be able to make it, so we might end up with a solo shoot.” Since our last encounter, Nate and I hadn’t crossed paths, not even o
The Billionaire’s Regret 92: CAN YOU TELL ME THE TRUTH?
ELARA’S POV I left my purse in the car but didn’t bother going back for it. Elliot was already walking ahead, and I hurried to catch up. He looked like he had just come from work, still dressed in slacks and a suit. I was wearing something similar, a blouse with rolled-up sleeves though I’d left my jacket in the car. We walked in silence to the old swing set at the corner of the neighborhood. It used to be our go-to spot whenever we got tired of Mom and her endless bickering. It felt oddly nostalgic being here again. Elliot sat on one of the swings, leaning back slightly he turned to me. “So…” he began, “I hear you’re back with that son of a bitch.” I frowned. “Nate’s mom isn’t a bitch, you know,” my tone is light. Elliot snorted. “You know that’s not what I meant.” He scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. “Let me rephrase. So, you’re back with that douchebag.” I sighed and gently pushed the swing with my feet, letting it sway slowly. “It’s… a long story,” I said.
The Billionaire’s Regret 91: WANT TO GO FOR A WALK?
ELARA’S POVMy chest tightens, as though something heavy is pressing against it. My hands won’t stop trembling as I push open the front door.“Why did you tell him, Mom?” I yell, my voice cracking.“It’s my story to tell! I should choose who I tell and when I tell them. Why did you have to put yourself in my business?”Usually, my mom can’t help but meddle, always doing things I never ask for. But I thought she had stopped. I thought she’d finally let me handle my life the way I see fit.“I didn’t mean to tell him, Elara,” she states, her voice steady no hint of remorse to her words. “I had no idea you hadn’t told him. You said you two were working through your differences, giving the relationship another chance, didn’t you?” I had said that.“Then why in the world haven’t you told him about the child?” she presses, her tone firm. “How can you plan to start a new relationship based on lies? A relationship is—”“Good night, Mom,” I cut her off, not willing to hear another one of her l
The Billionaire’s Regret 90: SHE NEVER TOLD ME
NATE’S POV “She didn’t tell you?” Mrs. Westwood’s mouth drops open in shock. I shake my head, my chest tightening. “I thought since you two were giving each other a chance, she would have told you everything.” “She didn’t tell me anything about a miscarriage.” Mrs. Westwood sighs, rubbing her temple. “She didn’t? That’s… strange. I really thought she did.” She exhales heavily before meeting my gaze again. “Well, at least now you understand why Elliot acted the way he did. Please don’t take it to heart. I’ll make sure to explain everything to him.” “It’s fine, Mrs. Westwood. Elliot and I will fix our issues.” My voice comes out even, but inside, I feel like the floor has just been ripped out from under me. “That’s good to hear.” I barely register her words. My thoughts are tangled in one thing. Elara was pregnant. And she didn’t think to tell me? My jaw clenches. My hands curl into fists. I can feel my pulse hammering in my ears. She hid this from me. She lo
The Billionaire’s Regret 89: LET ME EXPLAIN
NATE’S POV “You fucking bastard!” Elliot’s growl barely registers before his fist slams into my face. A sharp sting follows. Pain shoots through my jaw, but I barely react. Instinct tells me to fight back. To block the next hit, throw one of my own. But I don’t. I grit my teeth and take it. Because deep down, I know I deserve this. Elliot pulls back, his fist raised again. I brace myself, ready for the next blow. But it never comes. “Elliot! You need to stop this!” Elara’s voice rings through the night, sharper this time, desperate. “Stay out of this, El!” Elliot snarls, shaking her off. “I need to teach this fucking bastard a lesson.after everything he did you he deserve worse” But she doesn’t back down. She pushes in front of him, blocking his path to me. “Elliot, listen to me! You need to stop. We need to talk first. Let me explain.” She’s pleading, her hands gripping his arm. But Elliot is too blinded by his rage to hear her. His grip tightens around
The Billionaire’s Regret 88: AN OPPORTUNITY.
ELARA'S POV "It’s so nice to meet you." I smile, trying my best not to seem too excited, even though I was."Nathan, long time no see, huh?" Sienna turns to Nate, who simply nods, taking a sip of his drink."I’ve been wanting to come say hello, but you both seemed a little busy with Valentina," she says, gesturing toward where Valentina is."Really?" I muse, tilting my head slightly."Yeah, it’s been a while since I’ve seen Nate. I wanted to say hi and finally introduce myself to his wife. I’m sure Nate hasn’t mentioned me, but we went to high school together. And after that, he decided to ghost everybody me included." she chuckled, "Oh, you did?" My brow lifts as I glance at Nate who just shrugged. confirming what she said. "I could tell you all about how much of a handful he was back then," she teases, "but I’m running out of time. Oh, and the other reason I came over, I have this new shoot coming up. I want to step out of my usual style, try something different, and do a couple’
The Billionaire’s Regret 87:
ELARA’S POVFor some reason, my mother decided today was the perfect day for her and her two best friends to have a girls’ night.I didn’t want to go to the launch party with Nate, but now it seems like my only escape.Because I know my mom’s friends.Those two old ladies she calls her besties? They’re just like her—if not worse.And it’s already hard enough dealing with my mom alone. Sure, she’s been a little better lately, but those so-called friends of hers? They’re on a different level of blunt. No filter. No boundaries.I already know they won’t let me stay in my room and be by myself. They’ll pull me into their night, force me to sit with them, and if all three of them corner me, they’ll probably figure out my relationship with Nate is fake.And I can’t have that happening.With a huff, I pull on the dress I picked out for the event, keeping my makeup light and natural.Even though I never gave Nate a straight answer about going, he still texted me. I didn’t see it at first—only
