All Chapters of THE BILLIONAIRE'S REGRET, CHASING AFTER ME : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

As Zelda sat on the couch, a sudden memory crashed into her mind like a wave. She recalled a time, two months ago, when James had briefly returned for a meeting. He was supposed to fly back out that same night, but Zelda had managed to convince him to at least go home and change before his flight. She remembered how she had hoped to get him to stay longer, maybe even spend the night with her. She had pleaded with him, her voice soft but insistent,"Why don’t you spend a little time with me? You’ve been gone for months."James had looked back at her, his eyes unreadable, and asked, "You’re horny, aren’t you?"The question had stung, but Zelda hadn’t responded. When he approached her, his touch had been both possessive and unyielding, a force she couldn’t resist. That night, their connection was rough, almost harsh. And when he left afterwards, he’d shown no signs of hesitation, boarding his flight, just had he had planned earlier without a second glance.But now, in the dim quiet of Ji

Zelda had been looking for a job for three days, but her search was fruitless. No one in the fashion or modelling industry would give her a chance. She had practically exhausted every contact, every opportunity. Each rejection felt like another slap in the face, another reminder that she wasn’t just fighting the industry, she was fighting James’s influence over it.Zelda had overheard James talking with his father, casually discussing ways to keep them married and out of a divorce scandal. He wanted her back on his terms, and this was his way of reminding her of his power. But if James thought this would break her, he was wrong. Zelda was determined not to be manipulated into crawling back to him.Thankfully, she had her friend Grace, who worked in the film industry. Grace had helped Zelda get a few odd jobs, assisting on sets and holding lights for camera crews. It wasn’t glamorous, but it kept her afloat, and it was a small step forward. On the third day of her part-time work, Zelda

James looked at Zelda with a wide smile, his eyes sparkling with amusement. Zelda met his gaze, her lips pressing into a tight line as she tried to act unbothered."What?" she asked, her voice sharp and filled with an air of indifference, though she could feel the heat rising in her cheeks."Nothing," James replied, his smile never fading. "Tell me, what is it?“ She persisted.“ Are you jealous?" James asked, his eyes twinkling with a hint of teasing."Jealous? Why would I be jealous?" Zelda shot back, her voice firm as she crossed her arms over her chest.She raised an eyebrow, trying to maintain the control she so desperately wanted.James leaned in slightly, his voice lowering, a subtle challenge in his tone."Well, why were you shouting at her right now? If you're not jealous, if you don't think she’s going to steal me from you? But she can’t. I’m all yours. I am your husband, and we’re never getting divorced."Zelda’s eyes flickered with annoyance, and she raised her hand in a di

I stood there, staring down at the check, its cold, crisp edges almost mocking me. Five million. Enough to free myself from James, to escape the grip he had on my life. Enough to ease my brother’s medical expenses, to build my career, to escape the manipulation and demands of others who had claimed to care for me.But as I clutched the check, I felt something else, something heavy and hollow, a deep sense of betrayal, as if I were nothing more than a pawn to be bought and sold.I thought back to just a few days ago when Helen Ferguson, James’s own mother, had offered me money to conceive a child—a grandchild she desperately wanted, not for me or James, but for her own plans.These women, women I had once seen as mother figures, sources of comfort and strength—had reduced me to a tool for their children, for their ambitions. Was that all I was to them? Disposable, a bargaining chip in their twisted games?A surge of anger replaced the hollow ache, building inside me until I couldn’t ho

I held my breath, listening to the quiet in the room. James didn’t respond, and I wasn’t sure if he’d heard me or if he simply didn’t care. Either way, I couldn’t deal with it any longer. Tired and drained, I pulled the blanket up over him and slipped out of the bedroom.I went towards my office upstairs. When we got married, James had gave me this room as a gift to let out my frustration and have fun. He thought fashion design and music were things for fun and not real careers. I was happy to have the room but never actually stepped foot in it before.But tonight, I went inside and found it still fresh and pristine, like someone had been taking care of it. Half an hour later, I’d found a few gift boxes with meaningful trinkets inside my wedding ring, a pair of earrings, a beautiful diamond watch, and a small camera.I opened the camera, and to my shock, it played a birthday greeting from the reclusive music legend I’d idolized my entire life. He was someone who hadn’t appeared in pub