All Chapters of CEO's Regret - Losing Valentina: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

Two years ago – Friday 20 March 2024NashMason's voice echoed in my head. "How did you not know any of this?"I had sputtered trying to find an excuse but there wasn't any. The Truth was I hid behind the contract and treated her like a sex object not a person.I heard his exasperated sigh and wanted to hang my head in shame.The next section outlined her education. Finally something positive. Something remarkable. Even Mason looked impressed. "All elite schools. All on bursary or scholarship. Looks like she and her mother moved to wherever it was offered. She finished high school at fifteen?"I nodded slowly. Apparently despite changing schools repeatedly. Despite being orphaned at eleven. Despite shitty foster care. Despite bullying. Despite poverty. Despite everything. Valentina Rossi had graduated early.Then another entry caught my eye.*Accepted on full scholarship to Crawford Institute of the Arts.*Mason whistled. "No shit. Full scholarship, this girl must be talented."I blink

Present Day 6th February 2026 Bennett ResidenceValentinaBy the time we pulled into the Bennett driveway, Rhys was awake. Very awake.The second Ethan parked the car, my son began bouncing excitedly in his seat. "Gamma! Gapa!"I laughed. "How do you even know we're here?"Apparently, he did. Because the moment we stepped through the front door, all hell broke loose. "She's here!" Maddie's voice carried from somewhere deeper in the house.A second later both Mark and Maddie Bennett appeared. I barely had time to put my bag down. Maddie enveloped me in a tight hug. "Oh sweetheart."I melted into it. For just a second. Then Mark pulled me into one of his trademark bear hugs. "Welcome home, kiddo."The lump in my throat appeared instantly. Home. God. I'd missed them. I'd missed this. “Hey guys. I missed you.”When they didn’t respond, then only did I noticed what had distracted them. Neither of them were really looking at me anymore. Their eyes had shifted. Directly to the squirming todd

Saturday – 7th February 2026 ValentinaWe had just finished a late dinner, having waited until Livvy got home.Rhys had finally surrendered to sleep after regaling the family with his toddler gibberish and trying to make every sound of the animals he had seen at the petting zoo. *Libbie* had enthusiastically assisted with sound effects much to his delight but to the detriment of all our eardrums. After a few drowsy blinks, he had sprawled across Ethan's chest when he'd fallen asleep, one chubby fist tangled in Ethan's shirt, the other still clutching a half eaten cookie. Now he was upstairs in my old room, tucked into bed after receiving enough kisses from Maddie and Mark to last a lifetime.We were all gathered in the lounge. Coffee. Dessert. Comfortable conversation. Home.That was the only word for it. Home.My phone vibrated. Rita. I excused myself and stepped into the hallway to answer. The conversation lasted nearly twenty minutes. By the time I ended the call, my pulse was ra

Saturday – 7th February 2026 Valentina Ethan shook his head. Then looked directly at me. The humour slowly fading from his expression. Replacing it with something sincere. Something emotional. "I've spent most of my career helping other people build their dreams." His voice was quiet. "I never imagined someone would hand me an opportunity like this." The room softened. I simply smiled. "Then stop imagining it." His eyes held mine. Then he nodded. Slowly. Decisively. "A new challenge is exactly what I've been looking for." A grin spread across his face. "So yes." My heart lifted. "I accept." I squealed. Actually squealed. Which immediately had everyone laughing again. "Excellent." I pointed at him. "No backing out." "Too late now." He raised his coffee. "I'm committed." I beamed. "Perfect."Then I looked around. "Okay." I clapped my hands. "Two down. Two to go."The room froze. Ethan groaned. "Oh God. Someone gag her. She will tell us she owns Trump Towers next.”Mark immediat

Chapter – Fairway Greens and Marriage Proposals Part 1Nash1 year ago - January 2025It was a Saturday. I should have been sleeping in or doing whatever the fuck I felt like.Instead, Gordon Blackthorpe was dictating even how I spent my day off. I pulled up outside Mason's townhouse and gave the horn a quick tap.A few seconds later he appeared, golf bag slung over one shoulder and sunglasses perched on his head. He opened the passenger door and climbed in. "So..." he said as he buckled himself in. "What do you think the Great One is plotting now?"I snorted. "No clue. But Dad has been sniffing around alternate media channels for months. So if Edward Lawson is involved...it's business not just social.""It always is." Mason nodded knowingly. "Nothing with Gordon Blackthorpe is ever just social."I pulled away from the curb. "Oh, and one thing." Mason looked sideways at me. "For God's sake...Don't bring your A-game today."His grin spread immediately. "We letting the old men win?""I