The Ex-Wife's Billion Dollar Comeback - Chapter 13: Chapter 13
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~ Soraya ~
“No. Mmm.” It was as if Angela was half asleep. No matter how many times Soraya had tried to put her down to bed, the little girl’s arms clung to her tightly.
She’d groan, she’d cry, or even call out to Soraya, “Mommy.”
While waiting and hoping for the rain to calm down, Jacob requested Soraya to take Angela to her bedroom. She did, but it looked like she was staying there for a while.
“Do you mind?” Jacob asked, leaning on the doorframe of Angela’s room.
“Not really, but do you mind? I’m not exactly your favorite person,” Soraya responded, her eyes narrowing at Jacob while still holding Angela on the side of the bed.
Jacob took a deep breath. In that room, Soraya had a clear view of him.
This man was extremely intimidating, both in looks and presence. He had slightly grown his facial hair, which added to his imposing stance.
Jacob was frowning, evidently thinking. Soon, he said, “I checked your background. I confirmed you are on the spectrum, but you lied about being just an average aspie.”
“You said you were simple, but the truth is, your mind is a machine for patterns, numbers, and systems,” Jacob pointed out, his voice deep. “You call it an obsession. Some call it… being a genius.”
“I wouldn’t go out and call myself a genius, Mr. Steel. I simply do what I love to do,” Soraya plainly answered.
“Mmmm,” Jacob said, averting her gaze.
They were wildly off-topic at that point.
Silence stretched between them, but eventually, Jacob said, “I don’t mind. The truth is, I am thankful.”
“My daughter rarely speaks, but with you—” Jacob sighed. “I don’t know. I don’t know why. Maybe it was because you saved her.”
“Maybe,” he added, clearly doubting his own response.
Soraya frowned. She really wanted to hear more about Angela, but the man didn’t really explain things.
Just then, Soraya felt Angela’s hold on her loosen. She turned to the little girl and studied her closely.
Angela truly had an adorable face, long lashes, and a long and pointed nose. Still, she didn’t look anything like Jacob.
“I think she is asleep,” Soraya said, slowly putting Angela down on the bed. Yet, despite this, the little girl still managed to hold her hand.
“Mommy,” Angela said in her sleep.
Soraya directed her gaze to Jacob. She asked, “Are you never going to tell me about her mother?”
He didn’t say anything. Jacob merely stared at her, his eyes thinning.
“I guess not,” Soraya said. “But—”
She raised her hand, asking, “I just want to be sure. I don’t want to be another version of Rose.”
Soraya bit her lip, clarifying, “Are you married?”
“No,” Jacob responded quickly. “I have never been.”
‘What? That’s it?’ Her curiosity flared, demanding answers.
Why does he have a child?
Where is Angela’s mother?
How did he become a father?
Sadly, she thought she couldn’t voice her questions, not when Jacob Steel’s features hardened.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked,” Soraya said, avoiding his gaze.
She frowned as she gazed out the window, watching the furious rain pound against the glass. She hesitated, but she really had no business being there. “I think I should go.”
A scoff left Jacob’s lips. “You have a bright mind, right? How long do you think you’ll last out there in this rain?”
The truth was, Soraya knew heavy rain was forecasted in Belridge that night. But she hadn’t planned to linger at the park longer, and she certainly hadn’t expected to end up at Jacob Steel’s mansion!
The detour ruined her perfectly calculated itinerary for the day, and now she was stuck there.
“Sir, the soup is ready,” a maid said, walking up to the door.
Jacob only nodded. He turned to Soraya, saying, “Let’s eat. You only had a sandwich, and Angela ate half of it.”
“I’m not really hungry.” While Soraya said that, her body betrayed her. Her stomach growled as if having heard the word “soup.”
Jacob simply studied her, his hazel eyes seeming to pierce through her frame. Then, he slowly walked away, and Soraya followed after him.
The dish on the table was a simple beef broth with vegetables, but it was the best dish one could ever wish for, considering the weather outside. Soraya took a sip and savored the flavorful broth. She ended up smiling. “It’s delicious.”
“Mmmm.” Jacob nodded in agreement, sipping on his soup.
Again, there was an awkward silence between them. The thundering rain was more deafening.
“So, you… checked my background,” Soraya cautiously asked.
“Yes.” Jacob’s only reaction.
Clearly, he was like Calum — a man of few words.
“I’m sorry to hear about your parents,” Jacob said, making Soraya’s skin crawl.
‘Her parents? He knows about my parents?’ Instead of enjoying her meal, Soraya’s jaw tightened. Then, she shut her eyes, leaned back in her seat, and counted numbers.
After a while, she opened her eyes and took a deep breath. She scoffed and said, “Well, at least you did a background check on me. Not like someone I know who… didn’t even care to know the truth.”
Jacob paused, his previously stern face looking a bit softer now. “I still don’t know what happened between you and Calum, but you are right. I might have been too judgmental.”
“I’m sorry. Maybe I was wrong about you—maybe we all were,” Jacob added before resuming his meal.
Soraya did not answer. She did not see the need to defend herself, at least not to Jacob.
They both finished their soup, but the rain continued to fall outside. Thus, Soraya eventually asked, “How old is Angela, exactly?”
“She is four, about to turn five in a few months,” Jacob responded candidly. “And about your help earlier, I’d like to offer you some money—”
“Please,” Soraya outright refused. “It’s a simple act of humanity. You don’t have to pay me. I would do it for any other child like Angela.”
“There must be something that I can offer you,” Jacob insisted. “Do you need a job? I heard you quit working for Calum—”
“I already have a job,” Soraya responded.
“Do you need a house? A car? Anything?” Jacob continued.
“I really don’t need anything,” Soraya maintained.
“I was hoping you would because—” Jacob paused, slowly focusing on Soraya. “Because I am going to need a favor from you.”
“A favor?” Soraya echoed. “What favor?”
Jacob opened his mouth, but before he could speak, Soraya’s phone rang loudly in the quiet dining hall, prompting her to silence it.
The call was coming from Calum’s father, Cedric Montclair.
Why?
“No. Mmm.” It was as if Angela was half asleep. No matter how many times Soraya had tried to put her down to bed, the little girl’s arms clung to her tightly.
She’d groan, she’d cry, or even call out to Soraya, “Mommy.”
While waiting and hoping for the rain to calm down, Jacob requested Soraya to take Angela to her bedroom. She did, but it looked like she was staying there for a while.
“Do you mind?” Jacob asked, leaning on the doorframe of Angela’s room.
“Not really, but do you mind? I’m not exactly your favorite person,” Soraya responded, her eyes narrowing at Jacob while still holding Angela on the side of the bed.
Jacob took a deep breath. In that room, Soraya had a clear view of him.
This man was extremely intimidating, both in looks and presence. He had slightly grown his facial hair, which added to his imposing stance.
Jacob was frowning, evidently thinking. Soon, he said, “I checked your background. I confirmed you are on the spectrum, but you lied about being just an average aspie.”
“You said you were simple, but the truth is, your mind is a machine for patterns, numbers, and systems,” Jacob pointed out, his voice deep. “You call it an obsession. Some call it… being a genius.”
“I wouldn’t go out and call myself a genius, Mr. Steel. I simply do what I love to do,” Soraya plainly answered.
“Mmmm,” Jacob said, averting her gaze.
They were wildly off-topic at that point.
Silence stretched between them, but eventually, Jacob said, “I don’t mind. The truth is, I am thankful.”
“My daughter rarely speaks, but with you—” Jacob sighed. “I don’t know. I don’t know why. Maybe it was because you saved her.”
“Maybe,” he added, clearly doubting his own response.
Soraya frowned. She really wanted to hear more about Angela, but the man didn’t really explain things.
Just then, Soraya felt Angela’s hold on her loosen. She turned to the little girl and studied her closely.
Angela truly had an adorable face, long lashes, and a long and pointed nose. Still, she didn’t look anything like Jacob.
“I think she is asleep,” Soraya said, slowly putting Angela down on the bed. Yet, despite this, the little girl still managed to hold her hand.
“Mommy,” Angela said in her sleep.
Soraya directed her gaze to Jacob. She asked, “Are you never going to tell me about her mother?”
He didn’t say anything. Jacob merely stared at her, his eyes thinning.
“I guess not,” Soraya said. “But—”
She raised her hand, asking, “I just want to be sure. I don’t want to be another version of Rose.”
Soraya bit her lip, clarifying, “Are you married?”
“No,” Jacob responded quickly. “I have never been.”
‘What? That’s it?’ Her curiosity flared, demanding answers.
Why does he have a child?
Where is Angela’s mother?
How did he become a father?
Sadly, she thought she couldn’t voice her questions, not when Jacob Steel’s features hardened.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked,” Soraya said, avoiding his gaze.
She frowned as she gazed out the window, watching the furious rain pound against the glass. She hesitated, but she really had no business being there. “I think I should go.”
A scoff left Jacob’s lips. “You have a bright mind, right? How long do you think you’ll last out there in this rain?”
The truth was, Soraya knew heavy rain was forecasted in Belridge that night. But she hadn’t planned to linger at the park longer, and she certainly hadn’t expected to end up at Jacob Steel’s mansion!
The detour ruined her perfectly calculated itinerary for the day, and now she was stuck there.
“Sir, the soup is ready,” a maid said, walking up to the door.
Jacob only nodded. He turned to Soraya, saying, “Let’s eat. You only had a sandwich, and Angela ate half of it.”
“I’m not really hungry.” While Soraya said that, her body betrayed her. Her stomach growled as if having heard the word “soup.”
Jacob simply studied her, his hazel eyes seeming to pierce through her frame. Then, he slowly walked away, and Soraya followed after him.
The dish on the table was a simple beef broth with vegetables, but it was the best dish one could ever wish for, considering the weather outside. Soraya took a sip and savored the flavorful broth. She ended up smiling. “It’s delicious.”
“Mmmm.” Jacob nodded in agreement, sipping on his soup.
Again, there was an awkward silence between them. The thundering rain was more deafening.
“So, you… checked my background,” Soraya cautiously asked.
“Yes.” Jacob’s only reaction.
Clearly, he was like Calum — a man of few words.
“I’m sorry to hear about your parents,” Jacob said, making Soraya’s skin crawl.
‘Her parents? He knows about my parents?’ Instead of enjoying her meal, Soraya’s jaw tightened. Then, she shut her eyes, leaned back in her seat, and counted numbers.
After a while, she opened her eyes and took a deep breath. She scoffed and said, “Well, at least you did a background check on me. Not like someone I know who… didn’t even care to know the truth.”
Jacob paused, his previously stern face looking a bit softer now. “I still don’t know what happened between you and Calum, but you are right. I might have been too judgmental.”
“I’m sorry. Maybe I was wrong about you—maybe we all were,” Jacob added before resuming his meal.
Soraya did not answer. She did not see the need to defend herself, at least not to Jacob.
They both finished their soup, but the rain continued to fall outside. Thus, Soraya eventually asked, “How old is Angela, exactly?”
“She is four, about to turn five in a few months,” Jacob responded candidly. “And about your help earlier, I’d like to offer you some money—”
“Please,” Soraya outright refused. “It’s a simple act of humanity. You don’t have to pay me. I would do it for any other child like Angela.”
“There must be something that I can offer you,” Jacob insisted. “Do you need a job? I heard you quit working for Calum—”
“I already have a job,” Soraya responded.
“Do you need a house? A car? Anything?” Jacob continued.
“I really don’t need anything,” Soraya maintained.
“I was hoping you would because—” Jacob paused, slowly focusing on Soraya. “Because I am going to need a favor from you.”
“A favor?” Soraya echoed. “What favor?”
Jacob opened his mouth, but before he could speak, Soraya’s phone rang loudly in the quiet dining hall, prompting her to silence it.
The call was coming from Calum’s father, Cedric Montclair.
Why?
End of The Ex-Wife's Billion Dollar Comeback Chapter 13. Continue reading Chapter 14 or return to The Ex-Wife's Billion Dollar Comeback book page.