Lahat ng Kabanata ng THE BILLIONAIRE'S REGRET, CHASING AFTER ME : Kabanata 41 - Kabanata 50

Days passed, and I stayed immersed in my work, juggling my dreams and responsibilities. My nights were consumed with designing, and crafting pieces for my portfolio, while my days were spent doing odd jobs to inch closer to my goals. The live interview with Master Zee loomed on the horizon, keeping me laser-focused. In the whirlwind of activity, I hadn’t visited Michael for a while.It was during one of these visits to the hospital that I ran into Madam T, the old housekeeper from the Wengers’ estate. She stood by the reception, a familiar, comforting presence from my past.“Madam T!” I greeted, surprised and pleased.Her face lit up. “Oh, my little girl, it’s so good to see you! How have you been?”“I’m doing fine, Madam T. How are you?”“I’m well, dear. And I’m so glad we ran into each other because I have something for you.”“For me?” I asked, puzzled.She reached into her purse and pulled out an envelope, handing it to me with a warm smile. “It’s an invitation from the Wengers.”I

ZeldaA sharp sting jolted me from the darkness. The world around me was a blur, sounds muffled, and my chest ached from the struggle. Slowly, shapes and colours came into focus. Someone was hovering over me, their voice cutting through the haze.“Wake up, Zelda! Come on! Wake up! You were on the swimming team in school—you’re better than this. Stop pretending to faint over a little pool!”I blinked, finally able to make out the face of one of James’s friends. I couldn’t remember his name, but his disdain for me was unforgettable. For years, he had treated Susan like a delicate flower, his pseudo-little sister, and me like the thorn in her side.As soon as I gasped for air and moved, he stepped back, brushing his hands as though his job was done.“She’s alive!” he announced loudly, his voice tinged with irritation rather than relief.That’s when I noticed the crowd. Guests from the

Jian's voice was sharp, cutting through the commotion. "What kind of mother are you? No, you're not a mother—not to Zelda. You've never been a mother to her, and you never will be."Her words hung heavy in the air, filled with a righteous fury that made even the nurses pause to listen."I’ve heard the stories," Jian continued, her voice laced with disbelief. "When you thought Susan Wenger was your daughter, you protected her—stood up for her against your abusive husband. But when Zelda came home, your real child, you neglected her. You didn’t feed her, didn’t care where she lived, what she wore, or how she survived."She turned to me, her eyes filled with pain and anger. "I met Zelda when she was living worse than a stray animal. She was digging through trash for food, barefoot, and starving. And now you stand here, claiming to be her mother? Pushing her around? Demanding things from her? Have you no shame?"My mother, Glady,

There stood Xavier Ferguson, his familiar smirk lighting up his sharp features. His piercing gaze bore into me, and for a brief moment, I saw a flicker of something I couldn’t quite place—amusement, curiosity….."If it isn't the long-lost son," I replied with a faint smile, masking my unease.Xavier's face lit up as he approached me, pulling me into a warm hug. When he stepped back, his eyes roamed over me with genuine curiosity."Zelda in the flesh. How long has it been? Years? What’s been going on with you?"I tried to match his energy, though my chest still burned from earlier. "Years, indeed. And you? I've seen your name in the papers—racing, adventures, all of it. How was the army?"He grinned, brushing it off with his usual charm. "The army was... an experience, to say the least. But enough about me. How are you, Zelda? You look..." He trailed off, noticing my faint cough. "Are you okay?"I waved him off, trying to suppress another cough. "Oh, it’s nothing. I must have eaten som

Xavier raised an eyebrow, a mischievous grin playing on his lips. Before I could react, his hand reached out to tousle my hair lightly. The casual gesture caught me off guard, playful yet oddly comforting, like a brief break in the tension that often followed me.“You can do it too,” he said, his tone a mix of teasing and sincerity.I shook my head with a bitter laugh, leaning back against the cushioned seat. “It’s too late for me.”“It’s never too late to chase your dreams, Zelda,” Xavier replied, swirling his wine glass thoughtfully. “Trust me.”A faint smile crept onto my lips despite myself. It felt fragile, though, like glass balanced precariously on an edge.We fell into easy conversation, his warmth and relaxed demeanour making it hard not to lower my guard. It felt strange, but for the first time in a long while, I allowed myself to just be.Yet, even as his voice wrapped around me, James Ferguson’s presence lingered in the room like a shadow. Across the dimly lit space, I cou