Semua Bab Come Back To Me: Billionaire’s Regret: Bab 21 - Bab 30

Shirley POV:Josh and I entered the waiting area and took our queue number.The suffocating tension in the room sent a visible tremor through my hands.Josh gave my hand a light squeeze and smiled."Look at you, shaking like a leaf. Your fingers are ice-cold."He took my hands in his, rubbing them gently to bring back the warmth."It’s my first time at a high-stakes review like this," I whispered. "Of course I’m nervous.""You’ve been amazing. You’re the reason we survived the first round. There will be plenty more opportunities... if... if Kolvo can just keep its head above water."My heart skipped a beat. He was right; Kolvo was on the brink of collapse.My eyes burned with unshed tears."Josh, if it weren't for me, you could be working at any of those top-tier firms. With your talent, you’d be a Creative Director—or higher. But you stayed..."Josh ruffled my hair, a fond look in his eyes."Don't be silly. Kolvo is my dream too. I just didn't realize that keeping a dream alive would

Shirley POV:His kiss was cold—a fleeting touch that vanished as soon as it landed.Yet, the back of my neck felt like it had turned to stone.I didn't remember to breathe until he had retreated a step away."Your proposal has some merit," he said, his voice still an unreadable void. "I'll take it under advisement."I turned and practically bolted out of his office.The moment the door clicked shut behind me, I realized a single tear was trembling at the corner of my eye.I scrubbed it away, schooling my features into a mask of professional calm as I approached the assistant's desk."I'm here for my flowers. Thank you."I had just picked up the bouquet when the sharp, rhythmic clack-clack-clack of high heels echoed behind me."Anna, let him know I'm here."That voice sent a violent shudder through my core, turning my blood to ice."Of course, Miss Laurence."I knew it was her!I used the bouquet to shield half my face, forcing myself to step toward Anna."God, everyone knows I'm his fi

Shirley POV:I barely slept a wink; spent the entire night tossing and turning.My mind a chaotic loop of Kolvo, Josh, and Connor.Yet I couldn't find a single place for my thoughts to land.It felt like a mental blockade; the harder I tried to think, the more stuck I became.I only managed to drift off just as the sky began to gray.When my phone alarm blared, I struggled to tell the difference between reality and a dream.I sat up and looked in the mirror, only to be met by how haggard I looked.My eyes were shadowed with dark circles, my gaze hollow.I caked on an extra layer of foundation and did my makeup, desperate to bury the exhaustion under a veneer of normalcy.Downstairs, the scent of toasted bread and bacon cut through the air, giving the house a deceptive warmth.Connor was already at the table.He glanced up as I entered, his eyes lingering on my face for a beat too long."Didn't sleep well?"I stiffened, pulling out my chair and keeping my head down to avoid his gaze."A

Shirley POV:My face was pressed against his chest.He was warm, enveloped in that faint, woody scent of his cologne.I didn't struggle; I simply let myself fall.All the terror from the road, previously suppressed, now surged from the depths of my heart, breaking through my defenses.Tears spilled over.I bit my lower lip, but my shoulders still shook with heavy sobs.I promised Mom I'd live a good life.Back there, trapped in that car, the fear of failing her had been paralyzing.Connor didn't say a word. He simply let me lean on him.His arms were locked around my back with just the right amount of pressure—no soothing pats, no gentle stroking—yet his stillness gave me a sense of grounding I hadn't felt in years.Under the soft glow of the master suite, the only sound was the jagged rhythm of my breathing.After a long while, I wiped away the last of my tears and stepped out of his embrace."All done," I said, offering a small, apologetic smile. "Thank you."Connor took half a step

Shirley POV:When I made my way down to the dining room the next morning, the maid informed me that Connor had already left for the office.Fine by me.Honestly, I had no idea how to even look him in the eye after last night.My mood had hit rock bottom.I kept replaying those moments, trying to decipher what he actually wanted.He demanded I sign a contract to be his mistress, yet when he was clearly on the brink of losing control, he'd forced himself to stop.He was no longer the man who would come home, wrap his arms around me, and spill every joy and worry of his day.My car rushed upon my mind.Had Connor sent it to the scrapyard?I reached for my phone to call him, but hesitated, ultimately tucking it back into my bag.Instead, I asked the butler to arrange a driver to drop me off at the main road, where I hailed a cab to the office.Everything was business as usual at the office.Josh and I were both buried in our own tasks when the phone rang.He picked up, exchanged a few brie