The Ex-Wife's Billion Dollar Comeback - Chapter 37: Chapter 37

~ Soraya ~
Calum: [Edward Wright would like to meet with you tomorrow. Remember, you are a shareholder of the company.]
Soraya read Calum’s text during breakfast. She rolled her eyes and replied: [I can do lunch, strictly for one hour.]
She resumed checking on Angela’s plate, and seeing that the little girl forced down her broccoli with a frown, Soraya chuckled. “Good girl.”
Soraya pinched Angela’s cheek and said, “If you keep eating like that, I will enjoy spending more breakfasts with you.”
Angela smiled. She pointed to the bowl of vegetables and asked for more.
“Wow.” From the other side of the table, Jacob hissed. “Why don’t you do that for Daddy, Angela?”
Angela just shrugged. She did not answer but ate the additional vegetables Soraya placed on her plate.
“You don’t have work today?” Soraya asked Jacob. She was surprised to see him joining them for breakfast.
“I’m working from home today,” Jacob said before finishing up his omelet.
“Mommy, let’s swim,” Angela said.
“Swim?” Soraya asked back. “I don’t have a swimsuit.”
Angela put her hands together, begging.
“There’s a sports shop two blocks away from the neighborhood.” Jacob took out his card and said, “You can charge it on my card.”
“No, it’s okay. I can buy it myself,” Soraya said, making a small waving motion with her hand to politely decline.
“Swim?” Angela beamed.
“Call me Aunt,” Soraya suggested, but Angela shook her head.
“Look, Soraya. It’s like I said. It doesn’t bother me,” Jacob cut in, assuring her. “What matters most is that Angela is responding to you.”
Soraya said nothing, but silently gave in.
Angela had therapy that day. Soraya drove Angela to the therapy center with the nanny, and upon their return, they stopped by the sports apparel shop.
To Soraya’s utmost shock, though, the only swimwear they had available was a blue bikini. It wasn’t entirely revealing, but it showed more skin than she usually would.
Soraya was a conservative woman. In fact, she had never worn a bikini in her entire life! But because Angela was so excited for them to swim, she had no choice but to buy it.
After lunch, Soraya and Angela swam in the mansion’s pool.
Angela showed typical ASD behaviors by often jumping, splashing, and tracing the patterns around the pool. It was Angela’s way of processing stimulation.
For some time, Soraya just watched her, recalling herself when she was young. A smile formed on her face before offering a new experience, “You really like patterns, huh? Do you want to try backfloat swimming?”
Angela’s eyes lit up. She nodded vigorously before jumping into the pool.
The little girl was wearing a floater, so she had no fears.
As Soraya taught Angela to float on her back, they laughed and played with the water. The moment was so full of joy that it made Soraya forget all her worries and heartaches. There was just something about Angela’s smile—pure, sincere, and full of warmth—that brought peace to Soraya’s heart.
Soraya thought that moment would simply be just between the two of them, but unexpectedly, Jacob emerged from the house, walking out in his swimwear!
When Soraya saw him, she froze.
She had seen a man with a great body before. Calum was, but dang… she had to admit that Jacob was on another level.
Muscles rippled across his body—broad chest and shoulders, narrow waist with abs, biceps that looked like they could lift her without breaking a sweat. His legs, too, were solid, every step showing off the power in his thighs and calves.
Soraya tried to look away, but… she couldn’t.
“Liking the pool?” Jacob asked.
Soraya nodded, her eyes fluttering. “Y-yeah. It’s great.”
“Do you mind if I join you?” he asked.
Soraya laughed. She said, “Of course, I don’t mind. This is your pool and your house!”
He walked over to the other side of the pool and dove in with grace. His laps were smoother than those of a professional swimmer.
Soraya thought he would just swim across the pool. She maintained her hold on Angela and was about to play with the little girl again, but suddenly, Jacob emerged out of the water to surprise his daughter.
“Wahh!” Jacob surfaced inches from them, surprising both Soraya and Angela.
“Ahhh!” Angela splashed Jacob with water and continued to scream.
Soraya laughed.
Jacob also laughed.
That scene pretty much went on for almost an hour. Jacob kept diving under the water and chasing after Angela while the little girl clung to Soraya’s arms.
“Ahhh! Daddy! Haha!”
“Stop!”
Soraya felt the thrill radiating off Angela as they swam together, giggling and darting through the water like a mischievous fish. The little girl squealed each time Jacob swam closer, pretending to chase them like a sea monster. Soraya couldn’t help but laugh too, caught up in the rush of it all.
When Jacob changed direction and began paddling toward them, Angela shrieked playfully, “He’s coming! Mommy!”
Soraya instinctively kicked off in the opposite direction, her heart racing not from fear, but from the excitement of being caught in the game.
Just as she twisted to look behind her, a strong arm wrapped around her waist.
Jacob caught her!
Startled, Soraya gasped. Her back met Jacob’s chest as he slowed them both in the water. His touch was firm but not forceful. There was no hesitation, no awkwardness on his end, just a low chuckle as he said, “Got you. Or, well… not who I meant to catch.”
Soraya stilled for a second, unsure of how to react. The contact sent a rush of awareness through her.
His hand still lightly rested at her side, her skin warm against his. But Jacob simply released her gently, still grinning, then swam ahead to scoop up his daughter, who had turned around to see them.
He tossed Angela up with ease, making her squeal again. “Haha! Daddy!”
It was nothing.
It was just a game.
And yet… Soraya wasn’t sure what unsettled her more — how close they’d been, or how naturally it had happened.
Heartbeats later, Soraya was drying her body with a towel.
Jacob was drying Angela across from her. As he did, he was smiling, asking, “Did you have a good time?”
Angela nodded and hugged Jacob.
The sight made Soraya smile. She said, “I know I had said this before, but let me say it again. You are a great father to Angela, Jacob.”
Jacob smiled at Soraya. He was about to speak when an older woman suddenly appeared and took photos of them.
Soraya, “...”
This woman didn’t just take pictures. She boldly approached and snapped a close-up of Soraya! On top of that, the woman took a selfie with her!
Angela giggled at the older woman’s arrival.
Soraya was so confused!
“Mother?” Jacob called, his voice low and firm, carrying a quiet warning.
“What?” the woman said, taking one last selfie with Soraya. “I was just… taking a picture of my future daughter-in-law!”
Soraya, “...”