Filed to story: The Regretful Billionaire: An Unpredicted Reunion >>
“Is it prepared?” Eustace asked.
“Yes, sir,” the butler replied. He gestured for them to follow him.
“I bought this place a few years back,” Eustace explained to Danika. “It’s a little far away from the company, which is why I don’t come to stay often.
“Oh.” Danika nodded. She knew this wasn’t a restaurant. But why would Eustace bring her here if he didn’t come here often? Before she could ask the question, the butler had already brought them to the dining room. It was then that Danika realized she had severely underestimated the sheer size of the manor.
The dining room was as large as a hotel restaurant. On the long table a distance away were wine, steak, candles, and fresh flowers. It all seemed strange to Danika, and she looked at Eustace, who seemed unperturbed. Was she overthinking things?
“Sit, Danika.” Eustace smiled at her, helping her to sit opposite him.
Once she was seated, he let the butler leave before saying, “Danika, I brought you here today because…I have something to say to you.”
Danika felt as if a thousand needles were pricking her. She could guess what Eustace was going to say, and her palms grew sweaty.
“Eustace…”
“Hear me out, Danika.” Eustace cut her off, and Danika pursed her lips, not saying anything else. “To be frank, I sometimes wonder if destiny is at play with us. But I’ve never figured out the answer.” He smiled like he was laughing at himself. “And then I thought, is that really important?” He shook his head. “I don’t think it is. Because right now, I like you. A lot. I’m sure that you’re the one I’ve been. looking for. I appeared by your side even if you hated me in the beginning because I knew that if I lost you again, I’d never find someone else that I liked so much.”
Eustace was stili talking, but Danika no longer had the heart to listen. She knew what would happen next but hadn’t thought of her answer. Could she and Eustace truly start over? Could she really believe this man, who had once neglected her and caused their marriage to fail?
She couldn’t come up with an answer just yet. She wished that Eustace would stop and keep his words to himself, so she would have more time to think.
Eustace didn’t stop. He thought the time had come. “Danika, please give me a chance. Let me start by being your boyfriend.” He didn’t propose immediately because he knew that it was too sudden. Danika would never be able to accept it. He also wanted to take things slowly. They could start off by being boyfriend and girlfriend.
Danika looked at Eustace; he was staring hopefully into her eyes. She couldn’t help breaking out into a sweat. “Do I need to give you an answer right now?”
“Don’t overthink, Danika. Could we just go with the flow?” Eustace was extremely nervous. He was afraid that Danika would reject him. If he were to be rejected now, he didn’t know if he would be able to muster up the courage to ask her out again.
Danika bit her lip and looked around her, discovering the lights had turned dim. Roses surrounded them, showing that early preparations had been made. She pointed at the roses that filled the dining room, smiling as she asked, “How long have you been preparing these?”
“Since the car crash,” Eustace answered. He was a little embarrassed. “It was Vincent’s idea. I have no experience in this department.”
Danika wanted to laugh. Who would think that this was the formidable Mr. Quincey? He was now as nervous as a child.
“Did he tell you how to confess, too?” Danika was about to laugh.
Eustace hurriedly explained, “I honestly didn’t know what to do, so I made him come up with a few Ideas, and I chose the best one.” He chose this because he thought it was quiet and would suit Danika’s personality. “You can tell me if anything is lacking. I’ll make it up to you.” He was in a panic; if Danika thought he was insincere, he would stop breathing.
Danika could tell how antsy he was and laughed.
Eustace was stunned, but he turned serious once more. “Miss Danika, I’m in the middle of a confession. Could you take this a little more seriously?”
“Alright.” Danika did her best to hold in her laughter.
“Really?” Eustace was exasperated. “So, will you fulfill my wishes?” He was so nervous he could throw
Danika stroked her chin and looked at Eustace with interest. “What would you do if I refused?”
Eustace froze, and his face turned pale. “To be honest, I haven’t really thought about that.”
“So, you were sure that I would agree?” Danika raised an eyebrow. She wanted to know where he got his confidence.
“It’s just how I feel. I don’t think you hate me all that much. I think you like me.” Eustace replied honestly. He couldn’t lie now.
Danika didn’t oppose anything he said. She hated to admit it, but what Eustace said was the truth. She had begun disliking him less, even managing to catch a few feelings for him.
“I wouldn’t give up even if you honestly don’t like me. I would still love you,” Eustace replied after giving it some thought. He was not one to give up, even if Danika rejected him.
Danika had to admit that his words moved her. She didn’t think he would be so determined.
“Are you really not planning on giving me a chance?” Eustace asked. His heart felt like it was about to burst.
Danika sighed a little helplessly. “It’s not that. I’m afraid that if we break up, it’ll be even worse than the divorce.”
“I don’t care about that,” Eustace said. “I don’t care about what the future holds. I’m focusing only on the present.” Besides, he didn’t think he would leave Danika, ever.
“Are you sure?” she asked, staring at him.
Eustace met her gaze and nodded seriously.
Danika smiled. “Well, hello there, boyfriend of mine.”
It was all too sudden. For a moment, Eustace forgot how to react. He froze in his spot, dissociating slightly. It was the applause and the fireworks outside the building that jerked him back to reality.
Danika was stunned. Stephanie, Jade, Max, Zack, and even Paul Wagner walked in, and she was surprised and pleased.
“Why…why did you call them over?” Danika was a little embarrassed. At the thought of them hearing what they had said to each other, she wished a hole would open in the ground for her to crawl into.
Eustace smiled. “Happiness should be shared. Don’t you think so?”
Danika said nothing, but she had to admit that she was radiating joy.
“As your best friend, I’d never pass up the opportunity to see you happy, Danika,” Stephanie said, walking up to her with a bright smile on her face.
Jade went up to her, too, and patted her on the shoulder. “Just as I expected. You’d end up with Eustace.”
“Well, looks like I’m totally out of the picture now.” Max walked over and pretended to be disappointed.
Danika glared at him. Jade was here. Wasn’t he afraid that she would misunderstand? But Max merely shrugged nonchalantly.
Eustace smiled and went to Danika’s side. He gave her the present that he had prepared.
Danika took the present, surprised. It was the pair of earrings that Eustace and Gilbert had fought over at the auction. Eustace had won the auction and given the earrings to her, but Danika refused him in front of everyone.
“You’re not going to refuse it now, are you?” Eustace smiled. He had kept this pair of earrings. carefully, feeling that they would belong to her sooner or later.
Danika rolled her eyes. She suspected that he was holding a grudge against her.
Danika put the earrings on, and Eustace heaved a long sigh. “Well, hello there, girlfriend of mine.”
Danika smiled as an unspoken happiness welled up in her chest.
The crowd surrounding them couldn’t help teasing them. “Stop it, you two. We’re all single.”
“That’s right. Let’s eat,” Stephanie chimed in. A bright smile hung off her lips. One could tell that she truly was happy for Danika.
Eustace and Danika looked at each other, smiling.
Soon, the staff served them their food. They sat around the table, talking merrily. The dining hall was a harmonious place that night. But of course, there was just that one person who wasn’t as happy as the rest.
Paul Wagner looked at Stephane, who was sitting next to Danika. She hadn’t said a single word to him or even looked at him. An indescribable fire was burning in his stomach. He had no appetite, even with the delicious food laid out before him.
After dinner, they went out to the garden to enjoy the fireworks display. Eustace had prepared a long itinerary for the night.
“If it were me, I’d think all this is cheesy.” Max offered his opinion.
Jade merely glanced at him. “Eustace might be cheesy, but at least he’s considerate. Max, on the other hand…with so many women around him, he hadn’t been sincere to even one,” she thought, keeping her opinion to herself. She could never say it out loud because she couldn’t afford to offend Max. Besides, it didn’t matter if Max was considerate of her.
Danika stood at the front. She didn’t think the fireworks were cheesy at all. She knew that the fireworks were only meant for her to see.