Billionaire ex-husband craves me back のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 51 - チャプター 60

Sophia's POV After my remark, I saw Donald tense a little bit. But then, he quickly covered it up with a smile.“Very well then,” Lucas remarked. “I thought he's giving you trouble.”Donald scoffed. "Trouble? Just catching up with her buddy,” he said, glancing at Lucas. “Nothing for you to worry about," He then turned to me. "Unless, of course, you need someone to rescue you?""Actually," Lucas cut in, holding my hand, a silent reassurance. "I think Sophia and I were just about to head over to talk to some key people here. She's got a lot on her plate tonight, and frankly, so do I. We should probably get going."Donald laughed, a harsh, unpleasant sound. "Key people? Right. What key people would you possibly be talking to?" He looked at Lucas as if he were an idiot. "We were just talking and I'd appreciate it if you step aside.""Talking?" Lucas's voice was dangerous now. "It sounds more like you are forcing the conversation. And I don't appreciate that. Since she didn't want to talk

Sophia's POV The days following the event Lucas and I had attended were a strange mix of exhilaration and apprehension. The coincidence of meeting Donald at the venue had gone incredibly well, thanks to Lucas’s invaluable help. The connection we'd made at the event seemed to carry over into the office. We weren't working directly together since we have different tasks, but our paths crossed more frequently. A shared coffee break, a quick chat in the hallway, a brief moment by the water cooler – each interaction felt easy, natural. He had this way of making me laugh, of asking questions that showed he was really listening. It was subtle, but I could feel myself getting closer to him, a comfortable warmth growing between us.I remembered that event, when he had asked me if I was seeing anyone, my heart had raced heart at first, as I thought he's about to pop the big question. I had told him the truth—I’m not seeing anyone. But, he had received a call which seemed to change his mood, a

Sophia's POV The news about Donald’s company hit me like a cold wave, even though I was just outside doing some cleaning. I heard it through hushed conversations at work, then confirmed it with a quick glance at the business news feed on my phone. Major investors pulling out. Projects stalled. The company is in deep trouble. It was hard not to feel a pang of something akin to pity for Donald. I knew how much he had poured into that business, how much he had always talked about its success, its legacy. Even though he hadn't treated me well, especially in the final, ugly days of our marriage, seeing someone lose so much after working so hard… It was just sad. It was a reminder of how fragile everything could be, how quickly fortunes could turn.Later that evening, when my father came over to the living room, the conversation naturally turned to the industry news. He was a businessman himself, after all, and always kept a close eye on the market."Terrible news about Briggs Enterprises,

Donald's POV I still can't wrap my head concerning the situation around me. One moment, I feel all this is over and I'm up for a new start, another moment I'm being dragged into this abyss; the universe seems to be working against me.I down another glass of the cognac, the hotness burning down my throat but nothing compared to the pain in my heart. Even as I take another gulp of the cognac, I can't help but feel it's the universe punishing me for all my wrongdoing.I replayed the memories of the earlier days again, and I feel my heart clutched tightly. When John had first talked about the sudden disappearance of the money, I was less shocked and thought it might probably be just a wild joke. But later, when I found out the situation was real, I knew I would never get over that.Investigations reveal that there was no Elena Mayor. Everything seems to have been planned carefully from scratch. Even the authorities couldn't find anything about Elena Mayor or her associates on the web. I

Sophia's POV The congratulatory buzz from the board meeting had barely started to die down when my phone buzzed with a message from Lucas. I’d been half-expecting it, and a small, involuntary smile touched my lips as I saw his name pop up. He was one of the few people I felt genuinely comfortable with right now, someone who hadn't bombarded me with the stunned disbelief or forced congratulations that had been flooding my way all day.‘Heard the news. Huge congratulations, Sophia. This is amazing! Would love to celebrate with you, even if it’s just a friendly date. Let me know if you’re free.’A friendly date. That phrase resonated with me. It feels kind of safe. After the anxiety of everything that had happened today, the idea of a low-pressure outing, just enjoying someone's company without the immediate expectation of anything more, was incredibly appealing. I replied almost immediately, agreeing to meet him for dinner that evening.We decided on a quiet little Italian place downto