Semua Bab BILLIONAIRE’S REGRET: After My Rebirth: Bab 1 - Bab 10

002.|• DELORESShock was an understatement for how I was feeling as I stared at the woman that was supposed to be my mother. She didn’t care. She didn’t care that I was going to die. All she wanted—all she ever wanted—was my money.I chuckled and looked up at the ceiling, heaving a deep breath to control the tears that threatened to spill down my cheeks.Relax, Delores.Breathe. One. Two. Breathe.“Wow.” I faced my mother, anger coursing through my veins despite my best attempts to stay calm. “You never really cared about me. All you want is my money, right?”“Oh please, don’t be such a drama queen,” she snorted, staring at her perfectly manicured nails. That action prompted me to look at mine and I couldn’t help laughing hysterically. My fingers were skinny. Coupled with that were my chapped nails, due to the constant times I had bitten them over and over again because of anxiety and depression.“I care about you, but now that you’re going to leave us in this cruel world, we have to

004•| AARONDelores was acting differently.Something about the way she looked at me—like I was a stranger—made my chest feel tight. She had always been soft-spoken, gentle, and always excited to see me. But the woman who woke up today felt… sharper. There was a kind of aura she emanated that practically screamed stay-away-from-me.What could be the issue that made her shut me out completely?I’d been worried sick since the hospital called, saying she fainted at work and had been rushed there. The moment I saw her lying pale and still on that bed, something inside me cracked. I didn’t realize how much her silence could hurt until then.I stayed up all night beside her, watching the slow rise and fall of her chest. I wanted to be the first person she saw when she opened her eyes. I wanted to tell her how sorry I was for calling her lousy. Because I’d rather she was lousy than so pale and quiet.But when she finally woke up and the nurse called me in, I was so happy I wanted to hug her

|• DELORESSign whatever I want? Did he think it was that simple? I wanted to scoff so bad.“Mr. Pierce,” I called, trying to keep my tone calm despite how badly I wanted to scream. “I do not need any cooling period. I have made my decision. I know what I want, and what I want is this divorce being finalized so I can leave for good.”“Delores—”“Aaron,” I cut in. “Don’t make this any harder than it already is. I have no idea what games you think you’re playing with me, but you have no right to just disagree after we already talked about this.”Aaron sighed in frustration and lowered his head. “Delores, please,” he said, looking up, his gaze pleading. “I have no idea what is going on or why you’re acting this way. Maybe you’re just in a bad mood and—”“No,” I interrupted him again. “I know what I’m saying.”“I promise to let you go. I promise to sign the divorce papers if you still want them after the six-month cooling period.” He gave me a small, almost pained smile. “I love you. You

|• AARON“Delores,” I called, rushing inside. “What are you doing?” I asked, panic lacing my voice.Was she trying to leave the house? Barrister Pierce asked us to stay together. What was she doing?Delores turned to loom at me, her expression bored. “What does it look like I’m doing?” she asked, folding one of her clothes and putting it in her luggage. “I’m moving out of this room.”“This room?”She nodded and zipped her luggage. “But Pierce—““Mr. Pierce said we could stay in the same house. He didn’t say we could share a room or a bed,” she countered, and I cursed under my breath. I should have thought of that and done something. “So I’m moving into the guest room.”She began pulling the luggage out, but I held it. Her disgusted gaze snapped to mine instantly, and my chest tightened. “Please don’t. I’ve already said we could settle this. I’ll fix all my wrongs, and we can go back to how we used to be, Delores.”Delores let out a sigh that signified she was getting irritated. “Look,

|• DELORES I walked out of the cemetery, feeling lighter than I’d felt in days. Not only was I able to cry all the heartbreak away, I stood there and spoke to him like he was the only anchor still holding me in place. I missed him so much. Henry Monroe was the kind of father any girl child would want. Not only did he perform his fatherly duties but he was also my number one fan. He was my confidant, my cheerleader and my coach if I do say so myself. Father supported me throughout my auditions. Loved me even when I couldn’t show up for myself. Showed up in every way my mother lacked. And just when I have fulfilled my dreams, he left me. I shouldn’t have gone to that award ceremony that day. Then a storm wouldn’t have met me there and he wouldn’t have entered to come save me only to lose his life in the process. For months I blamed myself for his death. Mum and Victor blamed me too. They never said it directly, but I saw it in their eyes. In the way Mum went quiet whenever m