Page 31 of Claiming My Grumpy Ex

I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the table. “I’m sure they heard it from the grapevine. You know how things get around in Beaver Creek.” I palmed my hair and continued. “But Elena, it wasn’t something I wanted to hang onto. I didn’t have an interest in running an oil business, so I sold it. That’s how I started The Horizon Foundation. It gave me a way to give back, to do something meaningful.”

Her gaze dropped to her coffee cup, her fingers tracing its rim. “That’s a lot, Cory. I mean, I knew you were doing well, but this…”

I couldn’t quite read her tone—was she impressed? Overwhelmed? I cleared my throat, trying to gauge her reaction. “I get that it’s a lot to process. Honestly, I don’t live like someone with that kind of money. My cabin in Cedar Cove? That’s where I feel at home. I have a mansion here in Dallas… but it’s just a house. A big, empty one.”

She looked up at me. “You have a mansion?”

I shrugged. “Yeah. It’s… something else I haven’t talked about. But it’s not who I am, Elena. Not really.”

For a moment, she just looked at me, her expression softening. “So, what’s it like? Your mansion, I mean?”

I smirked. “Why don’t I show you? If you’re up for it.”

She hesitated for a beat, then nodded. “Alright. Let’s see this mansion of yours.”

The nervous knot in my chest loosened as I reached across the table, giving her hand a quick squeeze. “You won’t regret it.”

She laughed softly, her tension easing. “I guess we’ll see won’t we?”

We left the café together, stepping into the Dallas sunlight. I couldn’t help but feel that this was a turning point—a chance to show her who I’d become, not the boy she used to know.

“Ride with me. I’ll bring you back later to pick up your car,” I said, pointing to where our vehicles were parked.

The tension in the SUV was palpable as we wound through the streets. I stole a glance at Elena, her profile illuminated by the sunlight streaming through the window. She seemed deep in thought, her gaze fixed ahead but not really seeing.

I cleared my throat, breaking the silence. “Elena, can I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

I tightened my grip on the steering wheel, bracing myself. “That guy I saw you with at the salon… what’s the story there?”

“Oh, you mean Luke?” She let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. “There’s not much of a story. He’s a nice guy, but it’s not going anywhere. Honestly, he was more of a distraction than anything else. We’ve had a couple of dates, but nothing serious.”

Relief washed over me, but I tried not to let it show. “Does he know about… us? About Jake?”

She shook her head. “Not yet. And I’ll tell him when the time is right. Right now, you and Jake are my priority.”

Her words hit me like a jolt—unexpected but welcome. “I wasn’t trying to pry,” I said carefully. “I just… I needed to know.”

“What about you, Cory? Are you seeing anyone?” Elena seemed to hold her breath, waiting for my answer.

Before I could respond, the leafy expanse of the mansion’s driveway came into view, the grand façade of the house rising in the distance. Elena’s attention shifted, her eyes widening as she took in the sight.

“Wow,” she murmured, sitting up straighter. “That’s… not what I expected.”

I chuckled, pulling into the driveway and parking near the front entrance. “Yeah, it’s a little over the top, isn’t it?”

She stepped out of the car, her gaze sweeping over the sprawling estate. “A little? Cory, this is... something else.”

I walked around to her side, watching her closely, trying to read her reaction. “It’s just a house,” I said, shrugging. “Honestly, I don’t spend much time here anymore. The cabin feels more like home.”

“It’s beautiful, Cory. But… it doesn’t really feel like you. Has anyone else ever lived here?”

Her question caught me off guard, hitting deeper than I anticipated. I paused momentarily, then opened the door, gesturing for her to follow. “No,” I said simply. “And as for yourquestion about someone else... there’s no one else, Elena. There hasn’t been for a long time.” I met her gaze, letting the truth linger between us. “Now, come on. Let me show you around. Maybe then you’ll understand why this place never really felt like home to me.”

Inside, the marble floors gleamed under the light of an enormous chandelier. The sweeping staircase, the ornate furniture, and the towering ceilings were a far cry from the simplicity of Cedar Cove. “It’s impressive,” she admitted, trailing her fingers along the edge of a polished table. “But it’s… a lot.”

“I know,” I said, watching her carefully. “That’s why I don’t spend much time here. It’s a reminder of a life I thought I wanted but never really felt right. At the time, I was drunk on what all those billions would buy. But soon…”

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