All Chapters of After I Died, He Truly Panicked: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Regina’s POVI turned around slowly, already knowing who I’d find.Frederick Harper stood behind me, his curly brown hair slightly disheveled from the breeze. His hazel eyes had that same look I’d seen a thousand times before, like he was trying to figure out if I was falling apart again.He was still wearing his work clothes—dark slacks and a button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. There was a slight crease between his eyebrows, the one that appeared whenever he was worried about my health.“Yes, Mr. Doctor,” I replied lightly, letting a small smile play on my lips.Frederick’s expression relaxed immediately, the worry lines smoothing out. “Good. You know I can always tell when you’re not taking care of yourself.”“Uncle Frederick!” Mia shrieked, releasing my hand and launching herself at him.Frederick caught her easily, scooping her up and spinning her around once before settling her against his hip. Mia giggled, wrapping her small arms around his neck like she

Maxwell’s POVThe bedroom door slammed behind me. Another eighteen-hour day fighting to keep the company from drowning. The Veyron Group had stolen another project this morning—their third this month.My shoulders ached, my head pounded, and all I wanted was to collapse into bed and forget the world existed.Someone sat on my bed.My heart stopped beating.White silk nightgown. The one I’d bought Regina for our first anniversary, the fabric so fine it was almost transparent.Dark hair fell over bare shoulders, hiding the face from view. The silk clung to every curve, outlining the shape of breasts, the dip of a waist, the line of hips that I’d traced in the darkness of this very room, leading to long and slender legs.For one impossible moment, time collapsed. Five years disappeared.She was here, waiting for me like she used to, wearing that nightgown that made her look like some kind of goddess. The scent of her perfume seemed to fill the air, the dark rose and patchouli that used t

Regina’s POVMy phone lit up with Frederick’s name. I picked it up while adjusting the burgundy gown in front of my bedroom mirror.“Good morning,” his voice came through warm and familiar. “Big day today.”“Very big.” I smoothed the silk fabric over my hips. The deep red color made my skin look porcelain white, and the cut hugged every curve without being too obvious about it. “Are you nervous for me?”“Terrified,” he admitted. “But not because I don’t believe in you. I’m terrified because I know exactly what you’re capable of when someone crosses you.”I laughed despite the knots in my stomach. “That’s oddly comforting.”“Just remember—you’re not that broken girl anymore. You’re Regina Veyron, and you own half the city.”“I’ll remember.”After we hung up, I pinned my black hair into soft waves that fell over one shoulder. The style was elegant but not too formal. Professional but still feminine. I wanted to look like money—old money that didn’t need to try too hard.A knock on my do

Regina’s POVPeople clustered around tables for the cocktail afterparty, talking loudly over glasses of wine and champagne. Everyone wanted to talk to me, shake my hand, exchange business cards. I smiled and made polite conversation, but Maxwell’s stare followed me wherever I went, making my shoulder blades itch.Every time I turned around, he was there. Watching. Waiting.The overseas partner we’d come here to meet had vanished as soon as the cocktail hour started. I’d seen him briefly during my presentation—an older man with silver hair and half-moon glasses—but now he was nowhere to be found.“Alexander,” I said, catching my brother’s attention. “I’m going to look for our target. Can you keep an eye on the room?”He nodded, understanding immediately. “Be careful.”I made my way through the crowd, past clusters of real estate moguls and international investors. The Grand Meridian was enormous, with multiple conference rooms and private meeting spaces. If someone wanted to have a qui

Regina’s POVI ran through the hotel corridor, my heels clacking desperately against the marble floor. My hair had come loose from its styling, and I knew my lipstick was smeared, but I didn’t care.I thought I was ready for this. I thought I was strong enough to face Maxwell without falling apart.But the moment he’d seen that scar—the moment his eyes had filled with recognition and something that might have been guilt—every wall I’d constructed around my heart had crumbled.I couldn’t let him see me vulnerable. Not again.What made it worse was his shamelessness. The way he stood there playing the victim, pretending to be the wounded party in this whole mess.Like he hadn’t been the one to throw me away.My phone droned in my purse. A message from Alexander asking where I’d gone.Right. The party. I’d been gone for twenty minutes, and my brother would be worried. The last thing I needed was for him to come looking for me and find Maxwell in that bathroom.I stopped in an empty hallw