บททั้งหมดของ RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE EX-HUSBAND CHASED ME BACK: บทที่ 21 - บทที่ 30

The plane ride was silent. Not the comfortable kind of silence we used to share, but the heavy, awkward kind that made my chest tighten. Chelsea kept her eyes on her laptop, her fingers furiously typing away, while I kept sneaking glances at her, wondering if there was any way to break the ice."Do you want some coffee?" I finally asked, gesturing to the flight attendant. It was a small attempt, but an attempt nonetheless."No, thanks," she said curtly, not even looking up.Strike one.When we landed in Seattle, we took a cab straight to the hotel. We were booked in separate rooms, but we still had to spend the majority of our time together prepping for the meeting."We should go over the presentation one more time," I suggested after we checked in."I already did," she replied, flipping through her notes. "You should make sure you're ready."Strike two.By the time we reached the client’s office, the tension between us was palpable. I tried to focus on work, but it was hard not to no

The air between Chelsea and me was lighter after our talk in the elevator, but that didn’t mean everything instantly went back to normal. If anything, it felt like walking on newly mended glass—fragile, uncertain, and requiring careful steps. I knew Chelsea wanted to believe me, but years of hurt feelings don’t just disappear overnight. And if I wanted things to truly go back to how they used to be, I had to prove to her that our friendship was still worth fighting for.The morning after the elevator incident, we had a business conference to attend, one that required both of us to work together seamlessly. The problem? We weren’t quite there yet. Chelsea was professional, efficient, and sharp as always, but there was a hesitation in the way she spoke to me. Like she was holding back. Like we were just colleagues, not best friends. And that stung.During the coffee break, I made an effort to bridge the gap.“You did great back there,” I said, offering her a small smile. “You carried th

The moment my phone rang, I knew something was wrong.Chelsea and I had just started to find our rhythm again, working together like we used to. It had taken effort, but we were finally in sync. For the first time in a long time, I felt like I could breathe. But that breath caught in my throat when I saw the caller ID.Brent.“Excuse me for a second,” I told Chelsea, stepping away from our impromptu strategy meeting. We had just wrapped up the ordeal with Mr. Landon, and we were planning our next steps when my phone vibrated.Brent never called me during business trips unless it was urgent.“Brent?” I answered, pressing the phone to my ear. “What’s wrong?”His voice was strained. “Demi… it’s your father. He was rushed to the hospital.”I felt my body go numb.“What?” My voice was barely above a whisper, my mind already spiraling. “What happened?”“They don’t know yet,” Brent said, his words rushed. “But it’s serious. You need to come back now.”My entire world stopped.I turned back t

The storm hit harder than I ever expected.I had been fighting battle after battle, proving my worth as the new chairwoman of Perez Group, but nothing could have prepared me for this.Because this time, the mistake was mine.A hundred billion dollars.Gone.Just like that.I sat frozen in my office, staring at the numbers flashing on my screen. My hands felt cold, my heartbeat was erratic, and my mind refused to process what had just happened.I clicked through the files again, reading every detail of the deal I had approved just weeks ago—the one that was supposed to be a game-changer for Perez Group.Instead, it was turning into a disaster.It had all seemed so promising. A massive investment in a new tech startup, one that had been projected to dominate the market in the next few years. I had been convinced that it was the right move—an aggressive expansion, a statement that Perez Group was evolving.I had pushed for it.I had signed off on it.And now?The startup collapsed overni

I met Lorenzo at an exclusive lounge in one of his high-end hotels.The moment I walked in, he was already waiting for me, his signature smirk in place, a glass of whiskey in his hand."You're late," he said, his tone laced with amusement.I ignored him and sat down across from him."Let's get to the point," I said coolly. "I need investors. You have connections."Lorenzo leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "And what do I get in return?"I swallowed, already knowing what was coming."Partnership," I said reluctantly. "A seat at the table. Limited control."His dark eyes gleamed with interest. "Limited?""I’m not handing over the company, Lorenzo," I said firmly.He chuckled. "Oh, Demi. That’s what I love about you." He swirled his drink before taking a sip. "You walk into the lion’s den, but you still think you can tame the beast.""I can," I shot back, refusing to let him see my hesitation.Lorenzo leaned back, studying me. "Alright. I'll consider it."It wasn’t a yes, b