All Chapters of Her Return, His Regret : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

***~~Dahlia~~***“De— Delilah,” the word breaks through his mouth, eyes wide.He looks terrified.The shock in his face is so loud it almost consumes the room.His eyes are on me, as if the ground has vanished beneath his feet.But I don't flinch.Let him stare.Let him wonder.I put my hand down, ignoring the horror written all over his face. “You need my expertise, Mr. Lancaster. I'm here to discuss in person,”I walk toward the chair, my heels clicking sharply against the floor.Soren finally found his voice.He clears his throat awkwardly. “Uhm– yes.” he managed, but his eyes remained glued to me.Jenaya hands me the folder.I take it and place it on his table. “Shall we begin?” my voice is calm, calculated.“Right. Of course,”He flips open the file in front of him, though I can tell he's barely himself.It's clear he's struggling to stay professional.Inside is a thick stack of documents.Contracts.A full strategic breakdown.Carefully drafted.“I went through Bsg project and

***~~Ashley~~***My blood is boiling hot in anger.My head is spinning.It's — her.That bitch.She's all of the news.My brain is trying to place this.Delilah died, in a car accident, that night it was real. We all saw it.Her funeral.Everything about her ended.How come she's here?How come she's alive.How did she pull this off?I force a breath down my lungs, but it's not working.The more I try to think, the more my head hurts.How did she do it?I always knew she wasn't dumb, even in school, she aced all exams.But this?I didn't see it.The founder of Deloitte, how?I run a hand through my hair, my pulse plummetting.She's — different, not the woman who's been pinning after Soren.A knot tightens in my stomach.She's loaded… gorgeous in a way that feels wrong.And to top it all, she's in L&S.My fist balled, so hard it pricks my skin.This can't be nothing. It's definitely not nothing.That bitch faked her death, stayed a ghost for five whole years, now she's here?She's up

***~~Dahlia~~***I walk out of the board room and I don't look back.I see Cameron hovering, waiting for the perfect time to approach me.I beat him to it, exiting before everyone else.Outside, I pull my shades out and put them on as I walk to the parking lot with Jenaya in tow.But then I notice it.The slow distant steps.I turn and Jenaya isn't following.She's pressed behind a car, eyes darting across at a spot, there's a weird look in her eyes….is she— hiding?I blink and follow her gaze.Knox Blackwood.He's leaning against his black sports car, his head’s down on his phone, typing away.I tilt my head, confused.Why would Jenaya hide from him?I turn back to her, and that's when she gives me this look, eyes pleading.I don't wait. I pull my shades off, walk over to her and stretch my hand, saying. “Put this on, he won't notice,”She takes it, puts it on and we walk, fast.The car is just a few steps away, we get in and only then did Jenaya exhale in relief.I look back to se

***~~Dahlia~~***I put my phone down and Meghan's eyes are on me.I smirked. “It’s Lancaster Foundation’s Annual Gala this Friday, and the chairman is inviting me,”Meghan tilts her head. “That's okay… but the thing is you can't take Liam there,”I roll. “What? No!” I breathed out. “Never,”She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. “I'd resume work that Friday. Liam can't stay home all by himself,”“Oh, shit,” I mutter, the realization hitting me. “It skipped my mind. I guess I'll just get him a nanny. There's no way I'm taking him to a party where the entire Lancaster family is attending,”Meghan nods. “That'd work. I'll follow up the agency to see if we'll find someone suitable,”*****“I went through his portfolio, it seems a bit exaggerated but solid. I think we'd work with that. Send an email to his assistant, schedule a meeting.” I say, typing away in my laptop. “Did the agency send a feedback…?”Silence.That's when I shift my gaze.“Jenaya?”No response.“Je- na- ya?” I let

***~~Dahlia~~***I watch color drain from Soren's face.His eyes shifts to Ashley, anger flickering through it.Ashley's staring at me, eyes piercing, face tight.She knows exactly what she's doing.My eyes trail to her hand, she has a massive diamond ring on it.I all but smirk, taking her hand. “Dahlia Rhodes, his business consultant,” I say, shaking her hand.I try to pull away. She doesn't let me.She holds on to it, eyes fixed on me, her nails digging into the back of my palm.I catch the subtle hint in it. I swear this woman is a few bricks short of a load.I fight the urge to swipe her hand off me.But I don't. I smile through it. “It's nice meeting you, Dahlia.” she says with a fake sincerity while her eyes stays cold.“Likewise,” I reply, holding her gaze firmly.Finally, she lets go, taking a step back, and lining up beside Soren.Then my eyes are on the little girl, it lingers.Something sits heavily in my chest.I brush it off, shifting my eyes to Hunter, who seem to wan