Filed to story: The Regretful Billionaire: An Unpredicted Reunion >>
She went to the shelf by the study desk and quickly found the documents Eustace needed. She was about to leave when she suddenly remembered what Yvonne had told her the other day. The picture of the woman under Eustace’s desk…
Danika glanced at the desk, a thought forming in her heart.
“A peep wouldn’t hurt. It might make me feel better.” With that thought in mind, Danika went to the desk and opened the drawers. She found nothing like a photo in them. Yvonne had lied to her.
Danika sighed in relief. She was prepared to leave when she noticed a book on the desk. It was a novel.
When did Eustace have time for novels when he was so busy with work?
Danika picked it up and flipped through it. A photo fell out. On it was a woman, arm-in-arm with a man and making a peace sign at the camera. Her smile was bright and beautiful.
Danika felt a headache coming on the longer she gazed at the photo. She wanted so badly to believe Yvonne was lying to her when she said Danika looked like this woman. But…they were practically sisters. It wasn’t even skin-deep, no-the woman had a similar air to herself.
The man the woman was holding was none other than Eustace himself. Danika had a strong feeling he was just as happy as the woman was in the photo. She felt like she might hyperventilate, so she quickly tucked the photo back and put the book on the table. She then ran out of the study.
“Miss Zellweger,” Vincent greeted, noticing how pale Danika was.
The woman forced a smile. “Here, Eustace’s documents.”
“Thank you.” Vincent nodded.
As Danika watched him leave, the smile on her face fell. She stayed by Eustace’s condominium for a long time before finally leaving.
Who was the woman in the photo? Eustace’s ex-girlfriend?
Danika couldn’t exclude that possibility. She tried to console herself. People had exes, even her-it was normal. But the fear that she might just be a substitute terrified her.
Danika hated how fragile she felt. It had never been like this before she got into this relationship. She couldn’t stop imagining what Eustace was up to when he wasn’t spending time with her.
Did he still talk to that other woman?
She even considered asking Eustace who that woman was and whether she was just her substitute. She stopped herself every time, pretending nothing had happened. Every day that she worked, she pushed these doubts from her mind. But Eustace only got busier and busier with work, increasing her anxiety.
“Hey Steph, wanna grab lunch together?” Danika finally called Stephanie. She needed to find someone to vent to before she lost her mind.
Stephanie was already waiting for her at the café, and she immediately noticed the weird look on Danika’s face.
“What happened? You don’t look okay. Have you been getting enough rest?”
“Yeah.” Danika sighed.
“Talk to me.” Stephanie was worried now. She had never seen her friend like this.
Danika ordered an Americano to wake herself up. “It’s just some things that have been on my mind.”
Stephanie propped her chin on her hands and stared at Danika closely. “Is this because of Eustace?” She had witnessed the moment they admitted they were together, so she had hoped for the best for her friend’s love life. She didn’t expect problems would arise so soon.
Danika nodded.
“Has he been ignoring you? Is there some other woman?” Stephanie was getting irritated at Eustace. Danika’s silence didn’t help. “Well? Tell me what’s going on, please.”
Danika felt like laughing. “It’s nothing much, really. I just found out he has an ex.”
Stephanie gaped in surprise before finally smiling. “Is that why you got upset?”
Ah, women. Always worrying in a relationship.
“Not upset…just…uncomfortable.” Danika then explained how Eustace’s ex looked just like her.
Stephanie patted her shoulder. “You really don’t need to worry about this, Danika. She’s just an ex. It’s not gonna interfere with your relationship with Eustace. Plus, he would really be an idiot for ditching an amazing woman like you. If anything, dump him. You’ll score way bigger fish than him.”
Danika was way too into Eustace right now, but Stephanie could empathize. This was Danika’s first serious relationship, after all. The one in the past hadn’t been like this.
“He’s not terrible, you know,” Danika sighed. She knew this was Stephanie’s way of consoling her.
like “He’s not, and neither are you. You have to be confident in yourself, Danika. I’ve never seen you this,” Stephanie said solemnly.
Danika dismissed it. “It’s not about confidence.” She just wondered if Eustace liked her because she resembled the woman in the photo.
Who…was she?
Danika had too many questions but didn’t tell Stephanie any of them. It would only worry her friend.
“How have you been, by the way? Is Paul causing any trouble?” Danika swiftly changed the topic. She didn’t want to talk about her relationship anymore. It only aggravated her further.
Stephanie sighed, sipping her coffee. “I’ve been alright. Paul’s been busy, but we’ve been handling it okay.” She wouldn’t have agreed to lunch with Danika if the problems had persisted.
“Good. Remember to always let me know if you need help,” Danika said.
“Hehe, I will.”
The two continued their lunch, dropping the topic of Eustace and Paul. It allowed them a moment’s reprise from their worries.
When Danika went home that night, she saw Eustace’s closed apartment door and figured he was still at work. After some thought, she decided to call him. It was reasonable; they were dating, after all.
“Hey. What’s up?” Eustace answered once the phone call went through.
Danika’s heart clenched when she heard how tired he sounded. “Still busy with work?”
“Yeah.”
“Have you had dinner yet? I can bring you some.” Danika knew Eustace would forget to eat once he got busy.
To her surprise, Eustace refused. “It’s alright. I’ll have Vincent get them for me. Get some rest. I promise I’ll spend more time with you once work clears.”
“Okay,” Danika murmured quietly, feeling sad.
As if sensing this, Eustace’s tone softened. “This will be over soon, honey. Promise.”
“Mm…remember to go to sleep early. Your health is more important than work,” Danika responded. She wondered if she had just overreacted. Eustace had just been really occupied these few days, that’s all.
Danika went back to her apartment after hanging up. She dove into bed first thing after showering, determined to finally get some rest after days of worrying.
Back at the Quincey Mansion, Eustace sighed after hanging up from his call with Danika. The man before him didn’t wait for him to speak before saying, “What did I say about talking to her? I warned you!”
Instead of answering, Eustace gazed at his grandfather sitting at the side of the room. “Are you out of your mind?”
“Watch your tone with your grandfather, Eustace Quincey!” The man before him gritted out fiercely. Still, Eustace ignored him.
Old Mr. Quincey sighed. “He’s your father, Eustace. I…”
“I don’t have a father!” Eustace growled, face plunging darkly. “My father died years ago. You said so yourself.”
Mortimer Quincey’s expression was equally ugly. Being called dead by one’s own son was not an easy thing to go through.
He was about to argue when Old Mr. Quincey yelled, “Don’t you dare talk! If you had been here for Eustace, he wouldn’t be so upset with you!”
Mortimer winced and said gently, “Dad, things were complicated back then. I didn’t have a choice.”
“Didn’t have a choice?” Eustace sneered. “What terrible situation would’ve made you abandon your wife, I wonder!”
“I…” Mortimer tried to retort but couldn’t find anything to say.
“Where’s your whore now, hm? Abandoned her too?” Eustace hissed.
“She died.” Mortimer sighed, sadness lingering in his eyes.
Eustace couldn’t be more pissed off than he was right now. “So you come crawling back only after your mistress dies?! I should kick you out right now, you fucking-”
“Eustace Quincey, I am your father!” Mortimer roared.