Filed to story: The Regretful Billionaire: An Unpredicted Reunion >>
The two found a table at the joint and sat down. Eustace showed his dislike of the surroundings clearly on his face, causing Danika to laugh.
“You don’t seem to like this environment, so why did you choose to live at Perry Residence?” she asked. If you lived at the Quincey Mansion, you wouldn’t have to put up with this kind of place within ten miles.”
Eustace didn’t answer. The Quincey Mansion was a private property with few people in its compounds, which was perfect for a picky person like Eustace. He used to live at the Quincey Mansion before he got married, but after the marriage, he didn’t want to live there because Danika was there, so he found a place near his company. However, after getting divorced, he was going to move back, but he hadn’t expected to see Danika again. Now, he wasn’t sure if he still wanted to move.
Danika looked at Eustace for a few seconds, then said sarcastically, “It’s not easy for you. You couldn’t go back home after getting married.”
She didn’t bother hiding her sarcasm, but Eustace didn’t mind. Smiling lightly, he replied, “If you suddenly had a wife, you would have done the same.”
“Don’t compare me to you,” Danika said, disgusted. “I know how to face things directly instead of avoiding them.”
If she had been in his shoes, she would have met herself at least once to explain the situation. She wouldn’t be like Eustace, who disappeared without a word. Recalling her marriage, she cursed him in her heart.
Eustace couldn’t refute her. He knew his actions before were wrong. At the time, he felt angry and resentful toward Danika, who came into his life unexpectedly as his new wife. Who knew that life would lead to their eventual reunion?
“I was wrong,” he said, not even trying to defend himself. “I’m sorry.”
Danika was caught off guard by his apology, but she quickly came to her senses. “It’s too late to say sorry now.”
They had already divorced.
“I know.” Eustace nodded, feeling helpless.
Danika didn’t want to talk about the past anymore, so she asked, “What do you want to talk to me about? If you just want to apologize, there’s no need. It’s all over.”
“That day…downstairs…” Eustace paused. “I shouldn’t have said that.”
He had said that Danika was interested in him, but it was just out of anger toward Max.
Soon, the joint owner arrived with their food and asked what they wanted to drink. Danika ordered a bottle of beer while Eustace asked for a non-alcoholic drink. When the drinks arrived, Danika poured herself some beer and asked Eustace if he drank.
“Alcohol is not good for the stomach,” he replied.
With that, he took the beer from Danika’s hand and switched it with his non-alcoholic drink. Finding Eustace’s behavior interesting, Danika didn’t refuse his drink. She took slow sips of the drink and lost herself in her thoughts. Meanwhile, Eustace was worried because he had apologized, but Danika hadn’t forgiven him.
“I don’t understand why you need to apologize to me. You are Eustace Quincey, after all,” she said after a long wait
Eustace looked at her and said, “I just don’t want there to be too many misunderstandings between us.”
“Why?” Danika asked, failing to understand.
Sitting across the table, Eustace continued to drink, leaving Danika’s question unanswered for a while.
A thought crossed her mind as she looked at him. “Don’t tell me you like me?” she asked.
Despite her expectations for a righteous denial, Eustace remained silent.
Feeling nervous, Danika swore at him. “You’re crazy!”
Eustace put down his glass and replied, “I’m crazy if I like you? What kind of logic is that!”
Danika countered, “It’s fine if others like me, but not you.”
“What sort of psycho only fell in love after his divorce?” Danika wondered to herself.
Eustace sighed, “You know, sometimes I think… if I had met you once during our marriage, we’d still be together.”
Danika asked in disbelief, “You’re telling me you fell in love with me at first sight?”
She found it absolutely ridiculous. Eustace didn’t confirm nor deny it.
At that moment, Danika was feeling conflicted. She regretted her decision to agree to Eustace’s request to talk, She proceeded to munch on her skewer as she contemplated her choices.
Eustace, not giving up, asked, “Can you give me a chance?”
Danika’s lips trembled. Suddenly, the barbeque skewers didn’t taste that good anymore.
“Danika…”
“Nope, don’t call me that,” Danika firmly said. “We’re not that close.”
She wondered how Eustace managed to be so shameless.
“Why can Max call you that, but I can’t?”
It upset him as he was determined to make his relationship with her better than her relationship with Max. Danika, however, didn’t share the same goal.
“I have no past or present grudges against him. You, on the other hand, are different.”
“How so?” he asked.
“You’re my ex-husband,” she said lightly. “There’s no way ex-husbands and ex-wives can get along well.”
Keeping his anger in check, Eustace countered, “Who made the rule that ex-husbands and ex-wives can’t get along?”
“Have you ever seen an ex-husband and ex-wife get along well?” Danika retorted. The divorces in the dramas she watched always ended in a mess.
Suddenly, Eustace said seriously, “I don’t know how other divorcees end up, nor do I want to know. In any case, I don’t want to be like that with you.”
Before Danika could say anything, he added, “Also, if you don’t want me to call you Danika, I can call you Danie.”
“Are you okay?” Danika asked in shock, wondering if he was right in the head.
“I’m fine. I’m perfectly okay.” Eustace replied, relieved after speaking his feelings.
Unfortunately, Danika remained convinced that he was out of his mind. She remained quiet for a while.” I’m not interested in you, nor will I ever be,” she said after taking a deep breath.
Her rejection was quick and resolute, leaving no chance or time for Eustace to react. Instantly, Eustace’s face fell. He didn’t expect that he would encounter such a firm rejection the first time he confessed his feelings.
Unwilling to give up, Eustace asked, “What is your type?”
Danika answered, “Not you, for sure.”
In her opinion, Eustace was too aloof and distant for her taste. She believed that fate was predetermined, and their divorce clearly indicated their relationship was not meant to be. Rather than resisting fate, she would accept its verdict and move on.
Eustace was silent for a long time. Just as Danika thought he was about to get angry again, he said, “I’ll pick you up for the birthday party tomorrow.”
“You don’t have to do that.” When Danika’s rejection was met with Eustace’s murderous gaze, she explained, Max invited me to the party first.”