THE BILLIONAIRE'S REGRET
THE BILLIONAIRE’S REGRET
By Alvin Brown
Avah Morne gave Calder Ives three years of her life, loving a man who had everything except the courage to love her the way she deserved. As his wife, she endured his emotional distance, his endless priorities, and the painful truth that a part of his heart still belonged to another woman.
When Calder finally signs their divorce papers, he believes ending their marriage is the right decision.
He is wrong.
Avah refuses to remain the heartbroken woman he left behind. With determination, talent, and an unbreakable spirit, she builds Morne Studio into a rising interior design business. She begins creating a life defined by her own dreams, not by a billionaire's approval.
Then fate brings them together again.
When Avah's studio earns a place in a prestigious project owned by Calder's company, the man who once dismissed her must face the woman she has become. She is confident, successful, and no longer waiting for him to notice her worth.
For the first time, Calder wants something money cannot buy: a second chance with the woman he let go.
But regret cannot erase betrayal, and jealousy cannot rebuild trust. As old feelings collide with new possibilities, Avah must decide whether the man who broke her heart deserves another opportunity—or whether her future lies with someone who knows how to value her.
He signed the divorce papers without looking back. Now he would give anything to make her his wife again.
But this time, Avah holds the pen.
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Chapter: CHAPTER 7:
The Question He Had No Right to AskAvah knew something was wrong when Reid Calloway called her instead of sending a message.Reid was a man who respected working hours, email trails, and the sacred right of a designer to ignore her phone while wrestling with a difficult floor plan. He did not call without a reason.She answered with her pencil still between her fingers.“Please tell me you're calling to congratulate me on making structural columns fashionable.”“I was going to congratulate you on making them functional,” Reid replied. “But now I'm curious. Have you actually made them fashionable?”“I'm considering gold leaf.”“That's terrible.”“I knew you'd understand.”His quiet laugh eased the tension in her shoulders.Then his voice changed.“Avah, have you received the corrected deadline for Meridian House?”“Yes. Mira sent it to all the shortlisted studios.”“Good. My team received the wrong date first. It cost us a chunk of our preparation time, and I wanted to be certain the correction went to everyone.”“It di
Last Updated: 2026-10-28
Chapter: CHAPTER 6
:The Cost of an Unanswered QuestionAvah Morne had learned that the most expensive mistakes were rarely the ones that looked like mistakes.They were the ones somebody called a misunderstanding and expected everyone else to pay for.She stared at the engineering note on her laptop while Clove placed a mug of coffee beside her.“Tell me you're not planning to fight a billionaire before breakfast,” Clove said.Avah scrolled back to the bottom of the document. “I'm planning to ask a question.”“That's what you called it before you made a supplier cry.”“He was overcharging us.”“He cried, Avah.”“He stopped overcharging us.”Clove sighed and pulled a chair closer. “Fine. Ask your question. But please don't use that calm voice you use when you're about to destroy someone's entire argument. It's unsettling.”Avah almost smiled.The note was straightforward. The central gallery at Meridian House could not be constructed exactly as originally proposed without relocating support columns, a change that would affect the budget an
Last Updated: 2026-10-28
Chapter:
Chapter 5: The Warning Nobody Gave HerAVAHThe email on Avah Morne’s screen contained seven words that threatened to destroy her entire presentation.The structural design cannot accommodate your gallery.She read the sentence again, hoping the words might rearrange themselves into something less irritating.They did not.“Tell me you’re not about to throw that laptop through the window,” Clove said from the opposite side of the studio.Avah slowly lowered the screen.“I’m considering it.”“Good. Aim for the expensive building across the street. Maybe they’ll compensate us for emotional damage.”Despite herself, Avah laughed once before returning to the email.The message had arrived from Ives Holdings’ development team. An existing support-column restriction reportedly made the central gallery in her Meridian House proposal impractical without additional construction costs and significant delays.The problem was not merely technical.The gallery was the heart of her design.It connected the entrance to the communal space
Last Updated: 2026-10-27
Chapter: Chapter 4: The Space Between UsAVAH The first thing Avah Morne wanted to do when she entered the conference room was turn around and walk straight back out. Not because of the intimidating glass walls overlooking Aurelia City. Not because three senior executives were already examining her portfolio as if they were searching for a reason to reject it. Because Calder Ives was standing beside the presentation screen with his sleeves rolled up, looking far too comfortable in a room where she intended to win. “Ms. Morne,” he greeted her. “Mr. Ives.” His eyes flickered briefly toward the folder in her hands. “You're early.” “I'm prepared.” A faint smile touched his mouth. “I didn't say you weren't.” “And I didn't ask whether you thought I was.” The youngest executive at the table coughed into his fist. Avah pretended not to notice. Calder's expression barely changed, but something in his eyes sharpened. “Please,” he said, gesturing toward the table. “Let's begin.” Avah selected the seat opposite him. Not be
Last Updated: 2026-10-27
Chapter: CHAPTER 3: THE PRICE OF WORKING WITH HIMAvah had one rule for working with Calder Ives.He was not allowed to make her regret winning.Unfortunately, the first email from his office arrived before she had finished her morning coffee.FROM: MIRA VALE — OFFICE OF CALDER IVESSUBJECT: MERIDIAN HOUSE — MANDATORY PROJECT BRIEFINGMs. Morne,Mr. Ives requests your attendance at a private briefing to discuss the shortlisted studios' expectations, project requirements, and presentation schedule.The meeting will take place in the executive conference room at Ives Holdings. Please confirm your attendance.Avah read the message twice.Then she turned her laptop toward Clove.“Tell me what you see.”Clove leaned over the desk. “An invitation.”“Try again.”“An invitation from your ex-husband's office.”“Better.”“To a private meeting.”“Excellent. And what do we call that?”Clove considered it. “A professionally inconvenient coincidence?”Avah stared at her.“Fine,” Clove said. “A potential disaster wearing a business suit.”“Thank yo
Last Updated: 2026-10-27
Chapter: CHAPTER 2: THE MAN WHO COULDN’T LOOK AWAYCalder Ives had faced hostile investors, collapsing deals, and men who smiled while plotting to destroy his company.None of them had ever unsettled him as much as seeing his ex-wife’s name on the Meridian House shortlist.“Morne Studio,” Penn Ashford said beside him. “Interesting choice.”Calder dragged his attention from the screen. “What is?”“The studio that just made the shortlist.” Penn adjusted his cufflinks, watching him with the sharp eyes of a man who missed very little. “You know the founder, I presume?”“Avah Morne.”“I gathered that from your expression.”“My expression is fine.”“Of course. And I’m a retired ballet dancer.”Calder gave him a warning look.Penn only smiled. As senior adviser to Ives Holdings, he had earned the privilege of being irritating without losing his position.“Her portfolio is strong,” Penn continued. “The selection committee was impressed by her proposal. Particularly her approach to the public spaces.”“Who reviewed it?”“The committee. Indepen
Last Updated: 2026-10-27
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