The Ex-Wife's Billion Dollar Comeback - Chapter 36: Chapter 36

~ Soraya ~
“Are you okay, Miss Azar?” Dante asked as they drove out of the Aegis Core System’s driveway.
Soraya leaned into the glass window and yawned. “I’m just tired.”
It was three in the afternoon. Soraya no longer had the energy to stay in the office, and thus, she requested Dante to pick her up early.
That day marked the first day Soraya would be staying in Jacob’s estate for one whole week. Sadly, Monday did not turn out to be very fruitful.
When Soraya arrived at Jacob’s mansion, she chatted with Angela for a bit. She tried her best to stay awake. She drank coffee and ate snacks with Angela, but no matter what she did, she fell asleep helplessly in the living room.
The next time she opened her eyes, she was stunned to find herself in Jacob’s arms. Instantly, she gasped, “Jacob!”
~ Jacob ~
“Daddy!” Angela said the second she met Jacob at the driveway. She kept pointing inside the house, but she did not explain why.
Jacob did not know why his daughter seemed alarmed, but when he entered the house, he understood.
He found Soraya sleeping like a rock on the sofa, her head resting on a throw pillow.
“She’s been asleep for two hours, Mr. Steel. We tried to wake her, but it looks like Miss Azar is exhausted,” the maid said.
“Hmmm.” Jacob nodded while taking off his coat.
The maid took his coat, and Jacob approached Soraya. He stood there and studied her.
Soraya looked so tired—completely out.
Clearly, she had pushed herself too hard.
Her breathing was slow and steady, her body relaxed in a way Jacob had never seen before. One arm hung off the side of the couch, her fingers slightly curled. Her legs were folded up, and her shoes were still on, like she hadn’t meant to sleep but couldn’t help it. Some hair stuck to her cheek; the rest was messy on the pillow.
And yet… something about her made it impossible to look away.
Even in deep sleep, with no effort to impress anyone, she had this quiet glow. The tired lines on her face didn’t take away from her angelic features; they only made her look more human, more real.
Jacob couldn’t help but stare, just for a moment longer. He thought, 'Calum, did you really not see Soraya as a viable partner in life?'
So far, he had seen Soraya’s good side. She was nothing like the woman Calum, Melvin, Roger, or Claire had described. He could still be wrong, but his instincts were now telling him otherwise.
He regretted all those times that he believed in their words.
“Daddy, I want - care - Mommy,” Angela said, tugging on his sleeve.
Angela then felt Soraya’s face, and he understood his daughter thought Soraya was sick.
“Angela, Soraya is just tired,” Jacob said. “I’ll take her to your room. Would you like that?”
A smile formed on his daughter’s face. She said, “Yes, Daddy.”
Soraya was always slender, but Jacob noticed she had lost even more weight over the past few months. Then, he remembered Calum, Rose, and Sage. He drew in a slow breath, realizing just how deeply everything must have affected her.
Slowly but surely, Jacob carried Soraya’s weight. The second he walked toward the staircase, Soraya flinched and curled into his chest. She was still asleep, but Jacob realized she must have felt the movement.
When they reached Angela’s room, Jacob instructed his daughter, “Remove Soraya’s shoes.”
Angela did so carefully.
Jacob was about to put Soraya in Angela’s bed when she suddenly jolted awake. “Jacob?!”
She stilled.
He stilled... and frowned. How could he explain this now?
“I tried to wake you up. You wouldn’t. Even the maids tried. So, I carried you to Angela’s room,” Jacob belatedly said.
“Mommy, I want - care for you,” Angela said, stumbling in her words. She held Soraya's hand, silently betting.
Jacob watched as Soraya gulped. She softly replied, “Okay. You—um. You can put me down now.”
Instead of resting Soraya on the bed, Jacob gently lowered her legs. When Soraya stood on her feet, she said, “I’m sorry to bother you. I was very exhausted. I must have fallen asleep—”
“It wasn’t a bother,” Jacob said calmly.
“Thank you,” Soraya said, her face turning a little red.
Jacob assumed she was only ashamed about the situation, and that did not bother him. He simply said, “You are welcome.”
“Mommy, let me care for you,” Angela spoke louder and clearer, this time hugging Soraya’s waist.
“I think she wants you to stay with her. She thinks you are sick,” Jacob explained.
Soraya chuckled upon hearing Jacob’s explanation. She turned to Angela and patted her head, “I’m not sick, Angela. I was just really tired.”
Angela shook her head. She frowned and said, “I want - care for you.”
There was no helping it. Angela was determined to sleep next to Soraya, so the latter agreed. “Alright. Let me wash up first.”
“Did you eat?” Jacob asked.
When Soraya said nothing, he said, “You should eat.”
“I’m too tired to eat,” Soraya replied, her eyes helplessly falling.
“At least get something in your stomach. I’ll ask the cook to bring you a bowl of soup,” Jacob insisted, and Soraya nodded.
Jacob was about to walk away, but paused and turned back. “You’re chasing success like it’s a finish line, Soraya,” he said softly. “But what’s the point of winning the race if you collapse before the victory lap? Take a break—just one day. Don’t go to work tomorrow.”
~ Soraya ~
"Don’t go to work tomorrow."
Jacob’s advice rang in her head over and over again. It wasn’t just the words, but the tone in his voice. 'Why did it sound like Jacob cared?'
Still, she couldn’t deny that his advice made sense. So, just this once, she gave in and agreed to rest—one day off, no work, no stress.
What she didn’t realize was that one small decision would lead to an entire day spent with… Jacob Steel.
And nothing about it would feel ordinary.