Filed to story: The Regretful Billionaire: An Unpredicted Reunion >>
“Why did you come to Bardoff City with him? Was it to meet his parents?” Eustace had a dark expression as he fumed over the fact that Danika had met Christopher’s parents but not his.
Danika knew there was a misunderstanding and explained, “I wasn’t here to meet his parents. I wanted to meet his grandpa.”
“Isn’t that the same?” he wondered, speechless.
1 have something to discuss with his grandpa,” she attempted to explain again, but he scoffed in disbelief She was unbothered, seeing no reason to explain further, given that there was no relationship between them.
“What are you going to do with them?” Eustace stared at the men on the floor. If it were up to him, he would turn them in to the police and have the mastermind jailed.
Danika clearly had different ideas. A moment later, she said, “Let’s get someone to send them to Christopher. I believe that he’ll take care of this problem.”
Judging from Christopher’s attitude toward his parents, he might give them more trouble if he heard about their wicked plan. That would be better than dirtying her hands to teach Ben and Evelyn a lesson. However, Eustace was upset at her decision and snickered, “What if he decides to protect his parents? Would you want to be taken advantage of?”
“He’s not that kind of person,” she explained.
“And do you know him well?” He stared squarely at her, livid.
Danika could tell from Eustace’s tone that he was green with envy. But why? He shouldn’t care about her if he was into Quinn Blue. She glanced at him and, considering that he had helped her, said, “I only know that he’s not on good terms with his parents.”
He wanted to say something but held his tongue when he saw the look in her eyes.
The night ended with the group of men sent to Christopher’s office without any further explanation; the plan was to have him figure it out himself.
However, Christopher quickly called Danika and was instantly up to speed. “Don’t worry. I’ll answer to you, and I promise I won’t let this slip.” He clutched his phone with one hand while holding a pen in another, almost bending the pen put of anger. Not only did Ben and Evelyn hinder him, but they also added to his troubles. Life must have been too easy for them.
Danika trusted him and didn’t bring up the matter after the call. Still, she could not shake off the thought of that female attacker. She believed that Christopher’s parents had sent the men to attack her, but they were unrelated to the first attack. Who’d be the mastermind behind that one?
During her short visit to Bardoff City, she had only acquainted herself with the Spades. There was no reason for others to target her.
Suddenly, she had an idea in her head and turned to Eustace. “Could Paul Wagner have sent her to attack me as a warning?”
Danika wondered if her plan to find a place for the Zelliots’ office in Bardoff City had accidentally been exposed by Stephanie. Was Paul resentful of her and sent someone to give her a warning? However, the female attacker didn’t say anything that’d reveal the motive behind the attack.
“Paul? Why him?” Eustace thought that her guess was weird and unprompted.
She pursed her lips and kept her thoughts to herself. “It’s just a guess. Tell me if that’s a possibility.
“It’s impossible,” he said firmly, and she trusted him. After all, Eustace was close to Paul, and he’d know if Paul had hired a talented martial artist. Still, Danika couldn’t exclude the possibility of Paul keeping secrets from Eustace.
“You can’t stay in this room anymore. Take my room.” He handed her his room card, but she refused to take it.
She stood and grabbed her suitcase. “It’s not only about the room. I can’t stay in this hotel anymore.”
She wanted to change hotels as she wouldn’t want to be ambushed again. Seeing that, he hesitated and suggested, “I have a place in Bardoff City. Do you want to stay there? Anyone can get hold of your records if you check in to another hotel.”
Since the hotels required guests to register with their real names, Eustace believed that changing hotels wouldn’t help.
“No!” she rejected his offer, keeping in mind their current relationship.
“Danika, don’t be stubborn. Your safety is the top priority.” Helpless, he knew that she was still angry at him. She ignored him and dragged her suitcase out of the room to cancel her room reservation in the lobby. He followed her and said, “Danika, I know I made a mistake hiding stuff about my dad from you. I shouldn’t have kept you in the dark.”
She didn’t answer him and continued walking.
“Quinn Blue…” he muttered, stopping her in her tracks. He added, “If you agree to stay at my place tonight, I will tell you about her.”
They arrived at Centenary Hall. Danika followed behind Eustace, and he pulled his keys out to unlock the doors.
“Come in,” he said, turning back to look at her as he turned the lights on.
Danika hesitated for a while before finally stepping in. She pulled her suitcase with her and sat on the sofa, staring at Eustace. She was evidently waiting for him to explain his relationship with Quinn. Eustace sighed. He knew what she was thinking. He helped her place her suitcase in her room and took out a first-aid kit. “Don’t move. I’m going to treat your wounds.”
Danika pursed her lips. Eustace knew what she was waiting for, yet he refused to tell her. How despicable.
The wound was treated quickly. Just when Danika wondered what he was going to do next, Eustace sat next to her.
“Quinn and I were classmates in college,” Eustace said, reminiscing his past.
Danika felt upset seeing him like this but let him go on.
“She and I were close. We spent a lot of time together, too, so the feelings developed naturally.” Eustace didn’t deny that he once had a crush on Quinn. “But because she had to leave the country, we didn’t end up together.”
Truth be told, with an unfulfilled romance like that, Eustace had forgotten it all as years went past.
Seeing that he was done with his explanation so soon, Danika felt upset. “So, you got me to replace her because you couldn’t have her?”
Eustace’s face darkened immediately. He looked at her grimly. “I’ve told you before that you’re not a replacement for anyone. If it weren’t for you pointing it out, I wouldn’t have noticed any similarities between you two.”
Only when Danika pointed it out that he vaguely notice how similar they were.
Danika obviously didn’t believe him. Anyone would see the resemblance between her and Quinn when they saw her picture. How could he be so oblivious?
“Danika, didn’t we promise to trust each other?” Eustace looked at her, his emotions at rock bottom.
Danika didn’t meet his gaze. She still didn’t believe him even though he had given his explanation. Perhaps all of his lies had caused the truth to submerge into a haze.
“So why didn’t you tell me when your father returned?” she asked. She felt that Eustace should have. given her a heads up about such a huge thing.
Eustace wasn’t sure if Danika had already moved past Quinn. When she mentioned Mortimer, he replied honestly, “I wasn’t planning on deceiving you. I just wanted to tell you after everything was settled.”
Danika said nothing, but her eyes told him everything that she wanted to say.
Eustace had no choice but to keep explaining, “Although he left many years ago, he is still the head director of Quincey Group. He holds a lot of power in his hands. I was worried that he would do something to you, which was why I agreed to break up with you.”
“Does that mean you agreed to be with Natalia so your father would lower his guard?” Danika asked.
Eustace nodded. “That’s what happened. We had an alliance. Her parents forced her into this, too. And I needed someone to help me distract Mortimer’s attention.”
Danika could no longer differentiate his lies from the truth. “Alright. I get it.” It didn’t matter if what he said was the truth, anyway. There was nothing she could do about anything.
“So…does that mean that we’ve made up?” Eustace asked weakly.
Danika looked at him and said, “You might have an explanation for everything you’ve done, but breakups are not something to be taken lightly. That is why we’re not together.”
If Eustace had talked to her about it beforehand, she might have agreed to play along and pretend to break up with him. But he had made his decisions and kept her in the dark, not caring if she’d be hurt. She wouldn’t forgive him for this.
Eustace was disappointed. “Alright. I was wrong. It’s a given that you’d punish me.”
“It’s late. I need to get some rest.” Danika got up and went to her room. She didn’t want to talk to Eustace anymore. She’d already learned what there was to learn. It didn’t matter if it was the truth. It was all that Eustace could tell her.
Eustace sat on the sofa, watching Danika close the door. He sighed helplessly after a while, then went to bed.