The Billionaire's Ex-Wife (Her Ex-Husband's Regret) novel Chapter 36

Chapter 36 

Ethan. 

A smile spreads across my face as I hold a bouquet of flowers in my hands and make my way down the hall to Cassie’s room. 

I have been a total ass. I promised myself that I wouldn’t hurt her, and yet, I just knocked her out cold. It wasn’t intentional. but still, I find it hard to forgive myself. 

I remember the first time I saw Cassie. I was a chubby boy, wearing glasses. She was a girl, who had an undeniable grace in her every step. Cassie always had a book in hand, her fiery red hair tumbling down her back in wild waves, and a smile that could light up the darkest corners of the world. She was smart, effortlessly acing every test thrown her way, and athletic. excelling in every sport she tried her hand at, especially swimming 

Yet, despite her radiant spirit, Cassie seemed oblivious to her own beauty and uniqueness. Perhaps it was the constant barrage of criticism from her stepmother and stepsister that clouded her perception. They belittled her accomplishments, mocked her dreams, and tried to dim the light that shone so brightly within her. And what’s worse, her father just stood there and watched. Or he’s probably too busy saving his ailing business ventures, that he failed to notice how his wife and stepdaughter were squashing his biological’s daughter’s spirit. 

I was in love with her even when we were in high school. But I never got the courage to ask her out. I thought, even the most popular jocks in our school were turned down by her, what chance did I have? I was content to being her friend instead. And besides, she was already in love with someone else. 

“He’s the boy of my dreams!” she told me once. “He’s like an angel that was sent down by my mother in heaven.” 

I snorted. “Why would your mother send you angel?” 

“So I wouldn’t be alone anymore!” she smiled radiantly. 

“Hello! I’m right here!’ I wanted to tell her. But I didn’t have the courage to say that. I wish I did. 

“What a clumsy angel he was!” 

“Don’t say that!” she muttered, 

“It’s true! Why would your mother send you an angel who didn’t know how to swim and you had to risk your life to save him? Hell, I knew how to swim even before I could walk!” 

What a wimp! I was a chunky, awkward kid, but heck, I would not let Cassie to risk her life to save me! I would always be the 

one to save her. 

“So, what’s his name?” I asked. 

She fell quiet. When she didn’t speak for a long time, I turned to her. Her expression was blank. “Seriously, you don’t even 

know his name?” 

“His name is… Tenshin, okay?” she muttered. And I doubted that was a real name. 

“He’s Japanese?” 

“I don’t know! Maybe not! He has black hair and deep blue eyes. I hated the fact that she sounded dreamy when she said. 

that. 

“When was the last time you saw each other?” I asked. She frowned again and didn’t answer. I rolled my eyes. “Are you sure 

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Chapter 36 

he’s not just a figment of your imagination?” 

“Of course not! He’s real! It may have been: 

years ago, but I know he’s reall” 

Over the years, I knew that Cassie still thought of the world on this boy. And she didn’t even know his name. All she had was a stupid ring that he gave to her, that she kept wearing it as a pendant all the time. What stupid boy will give a stranger a ring, and yet, he forgot to give her his name? He must be a pretty boy that Cassie felt infatuated with him instantly. Even though, he seemed weak and dumb. 

Since I knew I didn’t stand a chance. I distanced myself from her a little. I dicted, I worked out, I learned self-defense. I wanted to show Cassie that I could be better than some boy she met just once. I wanted her to see that she was better off with me. Damn! It felt weird in the beginning. I felt like I was competing with a ghost. I didn’t even know what I was hoping to beat. So, I just worked on being the best at everything. 

Then, one day, after I came home from summer camp, I found their house locked. 

“Mom! Did Cassie’s family go on vacation?” I asked my mother nervously. 

“You mean the Carlisles? No, they didn’t go on vacation, sweetheart. They left town.” 

“Why?” 

My mother shrugged. “I don’t know. But you know Cassie’s father deals with some shady loan sharks sometimes. Maybe he didn’t want his family to be in trouble. Or maybe he found a better job in another town.” 

They just packed their bags and moved to… only God knows where! I think that was my first heartbreak! And she didn’t even break up with me! The pain of the thought I’d never see her again was too much for a teenage boy to take. And over the years, I thought I’d forgotten about her. It was just a silly puppy love, after all. But when I heard the news that their old house got burned down, and that she was in it when it happened, I dropped everything I was doing, cancelled all my meetings and immediately flew to our hometown. 

1 found her in the hospital. Alone, And pregnant. 

I also realized that I’m still in love with her. And I would do everything I could to make sure she doesn’t suffer again. She never told me who the father of her son was. I didn’t ask. But I did all I could to help her stand on her two feet. She wouldn’t accept money from me. She was too proud for that. But that didn’t mean I could not pull some strings here and there to make sure she becomes successful in her business venture. And she didn’t fail me. She was brilliant and hardworking. Pretty soon, she was able to make a name for herself. 

I was biding my time. I was always there for her and Kai. She’s known of my feelings for her, but I assured her that I won’t give her pressure. I would wait for her. 

And then she inherited her grandfather’s business. Too many things were changing, I thought I have waited too long already. I’m going to be with her all the way, but I gotta know where I stood, too. I wanted to know that we had a future together. 

Then I found out the secret she was hiding. Her secret husband. The father of her son. 

“Kayden Fucking Steele’ 

“He never cared about me,” she said. “I was just the girl he was forced to marry.” 

And yet, they had a son. Surely, Steele is not immune to her beauty. He might have denied it when they were married, but at the very least, he desired her, or he wouldn’t have touched her like a man would touch his wife. 

When I first met Steele in that boardroom, I thought I was just being unreasonably possessive and jealous when I noticed the yearning looks he gave her. He was alert when she entered and left the room. He kept watching her, stealing glances at 

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Chapter 36 

her. At first, I thought, it was only natural. She was gorgeous as hell in the first place. 

Then I discovered that Steele was her husband. He’s Kai’s father. And worse… he’s got fucking black hair and deep blue eyes. Like the boy she’d been infatuated with when she was a kid! 

Oh, God, please kill me now! 

1 guess loving her silently for a very long time is just not enough to make her mine. 

I gotta make a move. I gotta take matters in my hands now 

I will not let Kayden Steele get a second chance with her! 

“Excuse me, Mr. Sullivan?” my thoughts are interrupted by Detective Moran and his partner. “May we speak to you for a moment?” 

“Sure,” I say. 

“We have an update on your.” he trails off for a moment, not quite sure how to refer to Cassie. “On Miss Carlisle’s case.” 

“Tell me.” 

t seems that there is nothing wrong with Mr. Steele’s car. It was well-maintained, and in fact, it just came from service last week.” 

“So you’re saying it could be driver error. Steele could just be a moron or a lousy driver?” 

Detective Rodriguez snorted. “Well, seeing that you feel this way about Mr. Steele, can someone vouch on your whereabouts at the time of the accident.” 

I raise a brow at him. “So, I’m a suspect now?” 

“No,” Detective Rodriguez says, looking at me with a blank expression on his face. “I’m just asking you where you are at the time it happened.” 

“I’m still at the Lake Resort. I prepared a banquet for her. Almost all our friends and my family are there. I proposed to her. And she ” 

“She turned you down, and ran off with her ex-husband,” Detective Rodriguez says bluntly. 

“Hey!” I scowled at him. “Cassie is NOT that kind of woman! I made her upset! We weren’t even dating officially. And then I proposed to her in front of all our friends. She wasn’t ready. I took her by surprise. It was my fault that she ran off! Now, why Steele was there? I don’t know! Yesterday, I thought Steele was nothing more than a business colleague. A competition, who would do anything to take King’s Court away from Cassie.”