The Ex-Wife's Billion Dollar Comeback - Chapter 34: Chapter 34

~ Soraya ~
“Oops! Sorry, Mommy!” Angela said after carelessly pouring the flour into the mixing bowl. A cloud of white powder burst into the air, dusting the counter, and a stunned Soraya, in a light layer of flour.
Soraya closed her eyes and held her breath, feeling the soft dust settle on her skin. She had been holding the bowl for Angela, and judging by the weight of the flour now on her lashes and nose, her face was probably ghost-white.
“Angela!” Jacob’s voice rose, but Soraya cut in.
“It’s okay!” she said while raising her hands. Her eyes were still closed as she added, “Kids are like that. Angela is still four.”
Jacob was quick to guide Soraya as she turned around in search of the sink, his hand on the small of her back.
It became automatic, like Jacob knew what she wanted to do. He turned on the faucet, and as the water ran down, Soraya washed her face right there.
“Get Soraya a towel,” Jacob ordered one of the maids.
The kitchen sink was not meant for a facial wash, but it was the quickest way for Soraya to get the flour off her face.
When the towel arrived, Jacob quickly gave it to Soraya, but she could not get everything out.
“Here, let me help,” he offered, taking the towel back.
He dampened it with water and carefully wiped her face. Then, he used his thumb to clear difficult areas on her face, like the corners of her eyes or under her nose.
The moment stretched longer than it should have. Soraya’s body went still, surprised by the unfamiliar gentleness.
When Jacob realized the same, he gulped, took a step back, and frowned. “I’m sorry—”
“No, I mean… you were just helping me,” she said, forcing a smile. “So, thanks.”
“I’ll—” Soraya glanced at the kitchen exit. “I’ll wash up properly and change clothes.”
Last Friday, Soraya had already left a few of her clothes. So, she washed up entirely and put on a new set. When she made it back to the kitchen, it was Jacob who was cleaning the countertop.
He wiped the surface again and again until there wasn’t a single trace of flour left. He even cleaned the corners and the edges of the drawers.
“Mommy, I’m sorry,” Angela suddenly ran from one corner to hug her.
Soraya caressed Angela’s head and said, “It’s okay, but let’s remember that the bowl is our working area.”
She walked over to the bowl and explained, “This is where all the mess goes—not on the table and definitely not on my face, or yours, or your Daddy’s.”
Angela chuckled. She nodded.
“Ah-ah.” Soraya reminded. “Respond in words, Angela.”
“Yes, Mommy,” Angela said.
She paused, looking at Jacob. He still didn’t react to how Angela called her ‘Mommy.’
“Angela, what if you call me Aunt? Or your friend?” Soraya suggested, but Angela shook her head.
“I want Mommy,” Angela insisted.
Soraya sighed. “But Angela—”
“It’s okay,” Jacob said. “We’ll take it one step at a time.”
Soraya glanced at Jacob again. Seeing how this didn’t bother him at all, she shrugged and replied, “Okay."
Next, they restarted making the cakes.
They were making a one-layer chocolate cake and a dozen vanilla cupcakes. Soraya and Jacob divided and conquered, with Angela helping them pour each ingredient and stir the mixture a few times.
Soraya was already pouring the chocolate cake batter into a round pan, and seeing there was more in the bowl, she grabbed the spatula—perfectly remembering it was just right in front of her.
She didn’t look.
But instead of a spatula, she held Jacob’s hand. Apparently, he was reaching for the same one.
Just as their hands touched, Soraya felt a jolt of electricity!
Jacob must have felt it too because he stared at her, also stunned.
One second.
Two seconds.
Finally, Jacob cleared his throat. “There’s one… to your right.”
She looked and found another spatula, but strangely, her heart raced a little. “Right.”
Soraya went on to pour the rest of the batter into a cake pan. Then, she put it in the oven. Jacob did the same, and in the next few minutes, while waiting for the cakes to bake, the three of them made frosting.
In between, they washed the dishes with Angela.
Jacob was hesitant to let his daughter do the task, but Soraya gently insisted, saying, “We’re not just teaching her to be independent, Jacob. Washing dishes also helps develop her motor skills. She can start with something simple, like the spatula.”
“Wash! Wash! Wash!” Angela was more than eager to do it, because she also liked playing with water.
Jacob assisted. It surprised Soraya how fully he committed to their afternoon activity. As they finished the dishes, she asked, “Aren’t you busy?”
“I’m trying to be more involved with Angela. Today, I happen to be free,” he explained, looking at her quickly.
As he spoke, Soraya tried to stay focused on his words, but her eyes kept drifting to the sharp lines of his jaw, steady and defined.
“That’s good. That’s good,” she said... eventually. “You should give her more time. It’s in these early stages where she needs a parent the most.”
Soon, all the cakes were baked to perfection. After allowing them to cool down, Soraya frosted the cake. It was part of the activity that Jacob refused to take part in. Angela, however, eagerly decorated the cake and cupcakes with chocolate chips and sprinkles!
It wasn’t perfect—thanks to Angela overdecorating the cakes—but nothing could replace the kind of joy it brought to the little girl. Angela had the biggest smile Soraya had ever seen since they met. Repeatedly, she exclaimed:
“I made a cake!”
“I’m so happy!”
Angela hugged Soraya, saying, “Thank you, Mommy!”
Then, she hugged Jacob. “Thank you, Daddy!”
While standing between them, Angela even held Soraya’s hand and Jacob’s at the same time.
To Soraya, it was so awkward. They looked like… a family—a real one.
“I’m glad you are happy,” Soraya said, pulling her hand away.
The best part finally arrived. The three of them sat on the terrace overlooking the private pool. The maids brought tea and a glass of milk for Angela.
As they ate, compliments poured in.
“This is… unexpected,” Jacob remarked, frowning. “I rarely get to appreciate… a cake.”
“Thank you,” Soraya said to Jacob.
“Mmmm! Mommy, it’s yummy!” Angela exclaimed after biting her cupcake.
Soraya winked at Angela. “I know. I practiced this recipe many times. I wanted to make the best cake for my—”
She paused because she remembered why she learned how to bake in the first place. The last time she made a cake for Sage, her daughter had opted to celebrate her birthday with Rose.
Thankfully, Angela didn’t understand where her words were going. She simply ate her cupcake.
Later though, the sugar kicked in, and Angela became too playful! She insisted that Soraya try her vanilla cupcakes!
“Eat, Mommy!” Angela said, raising the cupcake toward her.
“But I ate the chocolate cake,” Soraya objected, but there was no refusing the little girl. So, she took a bite.
However, she never expected Angela to give the same cupcake to Jacob. “Eat, Daddy!”
Soraya’s eyes rounded. Jacob was a clean freak. She expected him to pull back, to lecture Angela about hygiene—but he didn’t.
To her absolute shock, Jacob leaned in and took a bite. From the exact spot where she had.
Soraya blinked. Her heart skipped.
Then the frosting smeared his cheek.
“Oops!” Angela laughed.
Soraya tried to hold her giggle, but the irony was too rich. Jacob Steel, who probably sanitized his keyboard twice a day, now sat there with frosting on his face like it was perfectly normal. She bit her lip, but the laugh escaped anyway.
When Jacob turned to her, she said, “I’m sorry. Let me help you.”
It was her turn to clean up his face. She didn’t notice it at first, but later she realized how Jacob stared back at her, seriously.
“I’m sorry about Sage,” Jacob muttered softly. “But just so you know, on her birthday, Sage didn’t like her cake. She said… your cake was still the best.”
Soraya didn’t know why, but after hearing that from Jacob, a tear fell down her cheek. His words were probably meant to comfort her, but... it still hurt.