Page 106 of Billion Dollar Revenge

Not much, but I don’t need her asking questions.

“Okay, come and sit down.” She touches my arm, guiding me toward the chair. She speaks as if I’ve been traveling all day, even though it was just a short flight.

“I might put my bags down and walk through the garden, if you don’t mind.”

Her eyes roam my face. “Of course not. Do you want some company?”

I put on a fake smile. “Maybe next time.”

“Okay, enjoy.” Mom winks.

I take my bag from the trunk, but my dad's already there, taking it from me.

“No daughter of mine is carrying her bag.”

“Thanks, Dad,” I say, giving him a big hug.

He brings it inside, so I turn on my heel and walk toward the garden. It’s a slow wander, and I take in the sounds of the birds, wind, and trees. The air is warmer here. My dad must have cut the grass today; it’s got that fresh-cut smell.

I take a big inhale through my nose. My childhood memories coming back. My sister and I would swing in a tire from that big oak tree. It’s still there because my dad refuses to remove it. He says one day the grandchildren will play with it like me and Anna did.

The memory makes me shudder. Children. I feel like that’s getting further out of reach every day.

Of course, when I finally find a guy worth sharing my life with, he doesn’t want it.

Just my luck.

And it’s as if the tree is mocking me by being his favorite. I remember that time at his gram’s and being in her garden.

I keep wandering along the path when I come to the open area. I remember practicing Pilates out here when I was eighteen. My passion started at such a young age. My parents always encouraged me to pursue it, and it helped me dream big. In a way, they are so similar to Evan. He allowed me to follow my goals and supported what I was passionate about. Never once did he look down on me. He was always encouraging. Am I ready to throw that all away?

I need to clear my thoughts, so I take my old spot on the grass and do some stretches. Moving my body feels incredible. I end up doing a mixture of yoga and Pilates until my sister comes out to tell me it’s dinnertime.

It’s only been half a day, and although I’m getting what I came here for, I miss Evan. It will take a lot of self-talk to stop me from messaging him tonight. I owe myself a few days of no contact to do what I said I was coming here to do. Think.

So I message Nova and Summer to tell them I arrived, with a picture of the garden and a message to let them know I’ll speak to them in a few days. Then I do the hardest yet the most important thing, turn my phone off and put it in my bag. I promise myself this time to take the space I need to think without distractions.

Chapter 29

Evan

It’s Thursday night. Pokernight. My brothers and friends are gathered at my place. I offered to host due to the need to fill my house so I’m not alone to think about Chelsea with each passing hour. I’ve thought about texting and calling her, but I don’t want to hurt her; the pain in her voice in our call mirrored my own. I couldn’t speak because I knew what she wanted to hear, and I couldn’t say it.

I should be happy, right? I didn’t trust women. Didn’t want to fall in love and get married again. I got what I wanted. But instead of feeling relief, I feel lost. Completely lost without her. No one to talk to. No one to share my days with. No one to kiss. Fuck. I’m so fucking lonely without her.

“Have you heard from her?” Jeremy asks, sitting opposite me at my green round poker table for six. The room is painted green with a TV on one wall, a bar cart to the side, and windows lining the opposite wall. It’s dark outside, and so the single chandelier hanging above the table is lighting up the room.

My head lifts, my gaze moving from my cards to his face. “No.”

“Nova said she’s back with her parents for a while,” he says, leaning back in the dark green leather chair.

I nod.

“You were better with her,” Harvey mumbles, then throws down a bet as he gives me a pointed look.

“Less fucking grumpy.” Oliver leans over and shoves my shoulder.

I bite the inside of my cheek to prevent myself from snapping back. I know I’ve gone back into my shell, but I’m trying to find that slimy fucker, Bobby. He’s disappeared off the face of the earth. The investigators I hired are doing everything they can to track him down. I wish they would hurry. He shouldn’t be roaming the streets. He stalked Chelsea and then put an intimate photo of her in my newspaper, behind my back.

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