Filed to story: The Regretful Billionaire: An Unpredicted Reunion >>
Eustace didn’t get out of the car when he pulled up beside Max. He lowered the window and said in a sarcastic tone, “Must you wait for me every time after you drive her back?”
“Of course,” Max answered, not denying it. Raising his eyebrows at him, he added, “It brings me joy seeing you upset!”
Eustace didn’t know how to respond to that.
“You’re a little late today. Normally, you would show up within ten minutes after I sent Danika home. It’s been twenty minutes!”
Eustace was concerned that Max might have gone insane.
“And what about it?” he asked, much more composed than before. “Danika won’t like you anyway, and you doing all of this doesn’t make me angry anymore. Don’t you feel like a fool for acting like this?”
The more he got acquainted with Danika, the more Eustace was certain that Max was not her type. His words instantly wiped the gleeful expression off Max’s face, leaving an icy mask behind.
“Perhaps she doesn’t like me now, but at least she doesn’t hate me. You, on the other hand, are acting like a fool for pestering her. Am I wrong, Eustace?”
Max’s counterattack matched Eustace’s. They grew tense instantly, as if ready for a brawl.
“There’s a thin line between love and hatred. The more she hates me, the more I linger in her heart. Do you understand?” Eustace said.
Max sneered at that. “Are you sure?”
“Of course.” Eustace nodded.
Just then, a chuckle interrupted their conversation. It was Danika. She had never expected to hear such a ridiculous statement when heading out to get food.
Eustace gripped his steering wheel involuntarily. As Danika walked out of the shadows, his head began to throb.
When she approached them, she stared at Eustace frostily, asking. “You’re so full of yourself.”
“You’re lingering in my heart? Who told you that?” Danika was about to burst into laughter.
Eustace’s face darkened, but he made no reply. However, his lack of reply stoked her anger instead of pacifying it.
“Do you think that all women in the world like you, Eustace Quincey?” she asked. “Why don’t you give it a thought? If you aren’t filthy rich, would girls still clamor over you? You think too highly of yourself.”
Eustace’s expression turned uglier. Max, on the other hand, wanted to applaud Danika. It was his first time witnessing Eustace being scolded like that. Plus, Eustace was too dumbfounded to rebuff her.
“Danika, you’ve crossed the line!”
Trying to suppress his anger, he raised his eyes to meet hers. Even though he had said the wrong words, she didn’t need to be so snarky toward him. He had never been scolded or belittled in that manner his entire life.
As if she couldn’t tell that he was angry, Danika continued, “I’ve crossed the line? Well, I don’t think I’m done talking yet! I’ll have you know that not all women are interested in you. I, for one, am not! So what if I’m your ex-wife? That doesn’t mean there was anything between us, so please keep your distance from me, Mr. Quincey!”
With some liquor in hand, Max recalled how Danika had scolded Eustace at the Perry Residence. All he could think of was Danika’s last words. She was Eustace’s ex-wife?
While he knew that Eustace was a divorcee, he never imagined that he and Danika were once married. It confused Max greatly as Eustace was clearly interested in Danika. So, why did he get a divorce?
He glanced at Danika, who was sitting opposite him in the local eatery. At the sight of her upset expression, he grinned and asked, “Are you still angry?”
“Why would I be angry? I just think Eustace is crazy.”
“Did Eustace think she harbored feelings for him? He was one big narcissist,” she thought.
“I think he’s crazy too,” Max said, agreeing with her. “But there’s one thing I don’t understand. Are you really Eustace’s ex-wife?”
Danika grunted, not denying it.
“Why did he divorce you?” Max asked, failing to make sense of the situation.
“His ‘sister’ and his childhood sweetheart are always around him, so he has no room in his life for a wife? Isn’t it only expected that he would get a divorce?” Danika asked, pouting mockingly.
Max, however, disagreed. From a man’s perspective, he could tell that the other women didn’t sway Eustace. “Did he treat you badly?” he asked.
Danika shook her head. Perhaps she had downed too much liquor as she hid nothing from Max. “For the two years we were married, we never met. I can’t say if he treated me well or not.”
Max finally understood the situation. Eustace didn’t know who Danika was at first. After he fell for her, he realized she was his ex-wife.
He suppressed his laughter as he drank, reveling in the situation Eustace had brought upon himself. Recalling how angered Eustace had been and how he had left without a word amused Max greatly. Looking at Danika, he asked with a grin, “Why don’t you consider going out with me? If you do, I guarantee that Eustace will collapse in anger.”
Danika rolled her eyes at him, replying nonchalantly, “Who cares? His feelings have nothing to do with me.” “Really?” Max raised his eyebrows. “I thought you would want to see him in a sorry state.” “Wanting to see him in a sorry state and going out with you are two separate things,” she replied.
While Eustace was not a good person, Max was no better. However, Max had not offended her yet and had even helped her on several occasions, which was why he didn’t receive the same treatment as Eustace.
Hearing that, Max looked disappointed. “Ah, what a shame.”
Danika didn’t pay him any mind. She continued drinking, trying to drown her frustration.
Meanwhile, Eustace didn’t return to the Perry Residence after Danika scolded him. He went for a drive around Parrington River.
Although his anger had subsided a little, he was still irate. Before he realized it, he found himself pulling into the Quincey Mansion. It was the place Danika and him were supposed to stay, but he never visited it once during their marriage nor after their divorce.
“Mr. Quincey?” The attendants stared at him in disbelief when he suddenly appeared.
Eustace gave them a nod before entering. Although no one lived there, a few housekeeping staff were inside, and they all greeted him.
“Please carry on with your work. I’m just here to take a look.” Eustace waved them away. “Mrs. Langston, please stay back. I’d like to ask you a question.”
Eustace stared at the living room, wondering if he was imagining things or if nothing had changed for the past two years.
“Has the mansion been renovated in the past two years?” he asked Mrs. Langston.
“No,” she replied before adding, “Your grandfather told Mrs. Quin-”
Recalling that Eustace and Danika had divorced, she paused and started again, “Well, he told Miss Zellweger that she could do as she pleased with the house, but she didn’t change anything.”
Eustace’s face darkened. He knew why Danika made no changes to the house. Like him, she was reluctant to get married. Since she didn’t think it would last long, of course, she wouldn’t waste time decorating the Quincey Mansion.
“What did she do for the past two years?”
He felt a sudden urge to know more about Danika’s past. Mrs. Langston glanced at him, wondering why he was asking about Danika after their divorce. Nonetheless, she didn’t dare to ask him why, and she told him the truth, “Miss Zellweger’s daily routine here was very simple. She would tend to the flowers at home, read books and sometimes go out shopping. That’s about it.”
She had persuaded Danika to look for Eustace. After all, it would be strange if a newly wedded couple never met each other.
However, Danika had merely smiled and said, “Why should I look for him? Isn’t life good now? I have all the freedom I want.”
“Was that it?” Eustace wondered. He was a little surprised to discover that she had led such a simple life.
“Was she often at home?” he asked.
“She stayed at home every day. Well, sometimes she would go shopping until it was late, but she always returned here. In fact, she has never spent a night elsewhere,” Mrs. Langston replied. In her opinion, Danika had been a good wife.
Eustace was taken aback. He found it hard to believe. Given Danika’s personality, he had imagined that she would have been busy outside. Why would she return home every day?
Eustace stopped asking questions and pointed upstairs. “Which room did she stay in?”