Filed to story: The Regretful Billionaire: An Unpredicted Reunion >>
Eustace struck Yvonne as unfamiliar. Two years away from home, and she felt like she had left for a decade. She could barely recognize the man in front of her.
“I’ll have him apologize to you in person and promise you that he wouldn’t do it again,” she offered out of desperation when she realized Eustace would not let this slip. Still, he refused to accept the suggestion and said, “He shouldn’t be apologizing to me.”
Her expression froze in disbelief. “You’re telling him to apologize to that woman?”
“Shouldn’t it be so?” he questioned with a cold expression and frosty tone. Yvonne thought Danika was undeserving of such treatment and almost blurted out her thoughts, but she caught herself on time. Whatever was in Eustace’s mind, he clearly cared about the woman at this moment, and she couldn’t get on his bad side.
A short silence later, she nodded. “He should. I’ll get him to come over for an apology. But what about her…”
“I’ll relay it to her. It’s up to her whether or not to accept the apology.”
***********
Eustace stopped looking out the window, but he didn’t answer immediately.
“Yvonne, what do you think love is?” he suddenly asked. It had nothing to do with her question.
Shocked, she stared at him in disbelief. “Do you love her?”
“I don’t know,” Eustace answered, shaking his head. He truly didn’t know. “I was just curious about her at first. But later… I don’t even know what is going on right now.”
Holding a cup of coffee in his hand, he spoke slowly to her. However, each word landed heavily on Yvonne’s heart, piercing it like knives.
It took a long time for Yvonne to respond. Suppressing her fear, she finally replied, “You told me before that you don’t believe in love and that love is fake.”
“Yes, I did,” Eustace admitted. He believed his still heart wouldn’t be pounding this hard if it weren’t for Danika. “Eustace, perhaps you’re confused.” As Eustace watched her, she explained, “You think you’re in love with her, but maybe you’re just curious about her.”
“That makes sense.” He nodded, acknowledging the possibility she suggested.
Yvonne breathed a sigh of relief in response, glad she still stood a chance. However, she couldn’t allow things to go on. If she did, Eustace would fall for Danika sooner or later, and she would stand no chance.
Half an hour later, Steven finally arrived at the restaurant. When he saw Eustace, he instinctively hid behind Yvonne, a little afraid of him. Eustace shot gave him a cold look but said nothing.
Yvonne made him sit beside her before telling him, “When she comes later, you must apologize to her. Understand?”
“Yes, I understand.” Steven gave her a perfunctory nod.
Five minutes later, Danika arrived.
“Hello.” Yvonne stood up and extended her hand to Danika. “I’m Steven’s sister, Yvonne.”
Danika nodded at her, saying. “Hello, Miss Dickson. I’m Danika.”
She didn’t accept Yvonne’s extended arm, completely ignoring the embarrassment that flashed across her face. After all, she wasn’t there to make friends.
“Miss Zellweger, Steven was wrong for what he did. I have given him a serious scolding, and I promise there will be no next time.” Having said that, she nudged Steven, who was standing beside her. However, Steven’s eyes had been fixated on Danika since she arrived. After a few days of not seeing her, he found her more beautiful and figured she must taste pretty good too.
His eyes betrayed his thoughts. Even Eustace, who was standing in a corner, could tell what he was thinking. let alone Danika.
Suddenly, Steven cried aloud when hot coffee splashed on his face.
Eustace growled, “I can take care of your eyes if you don’t want them.”
“Eustace, I’m sorry! He…” Yvonne was exasperated, wondering how her brother could be so brazen before Eustace. Wiping the coffee off Steven, she glared at him fiercely, saying through gritted teeth, “Apologize to Miss Zellweger now!”
“I’m sorry,” Steven muttered, lowering his head. However, his eyes boiled with hatred.
“Louder!” Yvonne yelled at him, wondering how she ended up with a brother like him.
Taken aback, Steven was afraid to go against Yvonne. Raising his voice, he shouted, “I’m sorry, Miss Zellweger, I won’t do it again in the future. Please forgive me.”
Danika remained quiet throughout his apology, watching them like they were part of a play. When the three of them turned to look at her, Danika smiled softly, saying, “Since you’re so sincere, I have no choice but to accept your apology, Mr. Dickman.”
“If you’re not happy with it, you don’t have to accept it,” Eustace said.
Danika shook her head. “I’m happy. After all, it’s not easy for Mr. Dickman to apologize.”
She heard Steven let out a soft snort, and she assumed that he must be agreeing with her. Suddenly, Danika looked at the siblings before her with renewed interest.
“I’m going to the restroom,” Steven announced, looking at the coffee stains all over his shirt resentfully. Yvonne nodded and told him to hurry back. Finally, she turned to Danika, saying, “You’re lucky that Eustace stood up for you, Miss Zellweger. Not everyone gets to enjoy a privilege like that.”
Despite the hint of sarcasm in her words, Danika’s expression didn’t change. Eustace, however, was a little agitated.
“Yvonne, shut up.”
Yvonne? Danika studied Eustace and Yvonne. Given that they were on a first-name basis, they had to be familiar with each other.
Sensing her thoughts, Yvonne said, “Our families are close, so Eustace and I grew up to be good friends, so it’s only natural for us to speak casually. I hope you don’t mind, Miss Zellweger.”
“Ah, so she was his childhood sweetheart,” Danika thought. The moment Faye was out of the picture, a childhood sweetheart suddenly appeared beside him. She finally understood why Faye always felt so insecure.
Danika’s stare felt like a thorn boring into his skin, and Eustace feared that she had misunderstood the situation. Therefore, he explained, “She’s just a good friend.”
“Why are you telling me that? It has nothing to do with me,” Danika replied, glancing at him nonchalantly.
At the sight of the awful expression on Eustace’s face, Yvonne grinned gleefully. Eustace and Danika didn’t appear to have a particularly good relationship.
“Excuse me. I need to use the restroom. You two talk to each other,” Danika said before she headed toward the restroom.
In the men’s room, Steven was cursing Danika and Eustace as he cleaned up the coffee stains on his shirt. “Just wait until you fall into my hands, bitch. You’ll find out how I’ll torment you. And Quincey, don’t think your family is all great and powerful. The day you go bankrupt, I’ll trample all over you.”
Outside the restroom, Danika listened to him curse them out. Snorting, she put on a mask and a hat before walking in. Steven was too caught up in his anger that he didn’t notice someone had come in.
It wasn’t until he was plunged into darkness when a black plastic covered his head that he cried out in horror, “Who is it? What are you doing?”
Without a word, Danika swung her fist at him.
“Ah! Who the hell are you? I’m going to kill you!”
Alas, he had no power to fight back despite his loud threats. After punching and kicking him till he was rolling on the ground, Danika dusted her hands in satisfaction and left the restroom. Taking a deep breath, she immediately felt much better.
Did he think an apology would suffice? Ridiculous! He had to be beaten up if he wanted to appease her anger.
When Eustace and Yvonne rushed to the restroom upon hearing his cries of pain, Danika exited the women’s restroom and asked in confusion, “What’s wrong?”
“Are you okay?” Eustace looked worried.
“Yeah.” Danika nodded and added, “I heard shouts from next door. Something must have happened.”
She pointed to the men’s room. Instantly, Yvonne’s expression changed, and she barged into the room.
“Steven!” Yvonne cried in the men’s room.
Danika turned to Eustace and asked, “I think something happened to Mr. Dickman. Aren’t you going to take a look?”
When she raised her head, she realized that Eustace was looking at her, his eyes unreadable.