Semua Bab Billionaire's Remorse: My CEO Ex-husband Wants Me Back : Bab 21 - Bab 30

CARRIE Laughter bubbled from my lips as I spun again, my dress flaring around my knees, my curls sticking to my damp skin under the club lights. The music was electric; it brought back nostalgic memories of my college days. It pulsed through the floor, into my heels, and up my spine, until my body was nothing but rhythm. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt this free. And I was so happy. The salsa club on the resort's edge wasn’t even in my original plans. I’d passed by it when I went for dinner. Heard the horns and drums beckoning from within, and on my way back I couldn't say no to pull to go in. And I was glad I did, just the first few steps had peeled a layer of stress off my back. A tall man with a wide smile twirled me again. I laughed breathlessly and let him. My hips moved easily, naturally, like they remembered a version of myself that I hadn’t spoken to in years. The version of Carrie that lived before Blackwood Marketing Inc., before executive titles and impossibl

CARRIE The fourth day of my vacation began with a warm breeze whispering through the open curtains of my chalet. The morning sun painted golden streaks across the tiled floor, and for once, I didn’t have a single reason to rush out of bed. But I had signed up for a mountain-climbing adventure the day before, and the shuttle was due to leave at ten.I took my bath and called room service for my breakfast. Then after eating, I got dressed in simple athletic wear and packed a light day bag with essentials; water, sunscreen, my sunglasses, and my phone, along with some granola chips. My sneakers felt light as I made my way out of the chalet, a sense of anticipation building in my chest.As I stepped into the resort’s common room, I spotted the small group of other holidaymakers waiting for the guide. They all looked as relaxed as I felt and eager as well. Some were chatting excitedly about the climb, while others were snapping selfies against the resort’s luxurious backdrop. I gave a pol

CARRIE The early morning breeze carried the salty scent of the ocean, and I felt... light. I had walked a good distance along the beach, just me and the whispering waves, the sun slowly rising like a golden promise on the horizon. Until I turned the corner toward my chalet.My steps slowed when I saw the figure sitting at the front.Shane.He was sitting on the wooden bench outside my door like he belonged there. The peace that just washed over me a few minutes ago shattered in an instant.I stopped dead in my tracks, frozen mid-stride, my heart pounding. An overwhelming surge of disbelief and irritation came over me.What the hell was he doing here?His suit jacket was slung over the armrest. His white shirt was slightly rumpled, like he’d been sitting there a while. I saw the way his eyes lit up when he spotted me, and for a second…just a split second; I thought I saw relief cross his face.“Carrie,” he said, standing.I didn’t respond. I didn’t trust myself to. I walked past him l

CARRIE By the time the elevator doors slid open onto Shane’s floor four hours later, my body still felt heavy from the trip. And the roller coaster of emotions Shane's visit had welled up in me. Flying straight into a high-stakes meeting was never ideal, but I had done it before and I could do it again.We had only enough time to rush home to freshen up and change into appropriate attire for the meeting, then we were driven to the office by Shane's driver.Shane walked beside me, looking steady and alert, just like me. And we went straight to his office to wait. Shane had already called Kenjiro before we boarded our flight that I would be around for the meeting and they had both agreed on 5PM. “Five o’clock,” Shane said, when his secretary came in to inform us that Kenjiro had arrived. Glancing at his watch. “He’s on time, please let him in.” And the door opened again a minute later, and in walked Kenjiro Nakamura, impeccably dressed, a quiet kind of authority in his movements. Hi

CARRIE When I finally rolled out of bed the following day, I felt better than I had the day before. My body felt lighter, my mind less weighed down. Three extra hours of sleep had been exactly what I needed.By the time I reached the office, the morning rush was already in full swing. Phones ringing, footsteps echoing in the hallway, the faint hum of printers, it was the familiar rhythm of work. I greeted everyone who crossed my path with a cheerful “Good morning,” and returned their smiles with one of my own. It was a small thing, but it made me feel more connected to the people around me.Even so, Shane’s voice from yesterday kept sneaking back into my thoughts. I should have done it sooner.That single sentence had lodged itself in my mind like a splinter. I’d asked myself a dozen times since then if it meant anything, if maybe, just maybe, he was ready to give our marriage a real chance. But I’d learned to guard my heart. It was too dangerous to read meaning into a few words, esp