The Ex-Wife's Billion Dollar Comeback - Chapter 42: Chapter 42

~ Rose ~
Rose wasn’t originally part of Calum’s meeting with Edward Wright, but she made sure to include herself.
She wanted Soraya to see just how far she’d come—how far her relationship with Calum had progressed. It was Rose’s idea to move the meeting to the prestigious Majestic Restaurant, and she insisted on bringing Axel Davis, her textile supplier. She preferred to have allies at the table, especially since Edward Wright already admired Soraya.
When Sage called to ask if she could join, Rose hesitated. But the little girl’s sweet voice softened her heart. After all, Sage had always been Calum’s well-kept secret. Though he loved his daughter, he rarely brought her out in public, afraid of the inevitable questions about her real mother.
But now that Rose was by Calum’s side, none of that mattered. She could be mistaken for Sage’s mother—and she wouldn’t mind. She even made sure Sage understood the new arrangement.
The meeting began without Soraya, who, for once, was late.
Axel had requested they stay in the smoking section, and Rose had happily agreed to please him. Calum gave in with mild reluctance.
Everything was perfect. Edward and Axel both commented on how Rose, Sage, and Calum looked like the perfect family. Sage even called her “Mommy” in front of them, which made Rose’s heart swell.
Only Jacob seemed unsettled by the term, though he said nothing. Rose brushed it off.
Then Soraya arrived, and things began to unravel.
First, Edward Wright’s reaction was almost laughably transparent. His eyes lit up the moment he saw Soraya, and for a while, it was as though no one else at the table existed.
That, Rose could handle.
What truly caught her off guard was Axel.
She had met Axel while scouting for a textile supplier in another state. He’d been immediately drawn to her. Rose could tell. She’d used his infatuation to her advantage, landing a generous discount for her orders.
But now? Axel was gawking at Soraya like she was the showstopper. His regard was obvious—too obvious.
And Rose? She didn’t like it.
“I’d also like to meet this beautiful lady,” Axel had cut in, interrupting Soraya and Edward’s conversation.
Rose introduced Soraya, of course, but not without making sure to mention Calum’s involvement in her expansion project. It was a subtle reminder of who stood beside her now.
She thought she’d regained the upper hand.
But then Soraya and Edward began exchanging ideas—high-level, tech-heavy terms Rose couldn’t even pretend to follow.
Melvin, seated beside Soraya, looked taken aback. He listened with quiet interest. He didn’t express his admiration, but it was evident in the way he asked, “I never knew this side of you, Soraya.”
It wasn’t just his words; it was his tone. He was rarely warm toward Soraya, but that day, he seemed genuinely intrigued.
Worse, when Rose glanced at Calum, he too was listening intently.
And Jacob? He didn’t speak, but he nodded occasionally, as if he actually understood and agreed with Soraya.
‘Were they all impressed by Soraya?’ Rose scowled inwardly. ‘No. That couldn’t be.’
Besides, whatever Soraya had accomplished with Aegis Core Systems was probably due to Silas Ward’s help.
But it didn’t matter. She told herself it didn’t.
Soraya could dazzle them with her technical knowledge all she wanted. Rose was still ahead in other ways—more successful, more accepted, and above all, the one who had Calum’s heart now.
And Sage?
Even the little girl now called her “Mommy.”
Rose smiled as she attended to Sage. She still felt triumphant.
But later, something happened—a single mistake that would cast doubt on her relationship with Sage.
~ Soraya ~
Cough.
Cough.
Soraya heard Sage’s faint cough. She turned her head, but instead of finding her daughter, her eyes locked on Axel.
Axel was smoking!
And although he tried to blow the smoke away from the table, the man was only one seat away from Sage.
‘What were Rose and Calum thinking?’ Soraya’s anger surged. She snapped at Calum, “Mr. Montclair, wasn’t your daughter previously diagnosed with asthma?”
Axel turned to Soraya in surprise, and the same look flickered across Edward and Peter’s faces. It was clear they hadn’t expected Soraya to know something personal about Calum’s child.
“It’s just a simple cough, Soraya,” Rose said, offering water to Sage. “Here, baby. Let Mommy give you water.”
‘Wow,’ Soraya thought. ‘So Rose has now upgraded from ‘Aunt’ to ‘Mommy.’’
“Let’s play it safe,” Axel said, stubbing out his cigarette in the ashtray. But not before a final curl of smoke drifted toward Sage.
“We shouldn’t have stayed in this room,” Soraya remarked. “Especially when there’s a child around.”
Soraya already knew the drill. She couldn’t reveal herself as Sage’s real mother, especially since Calum had never acknowledged their marriage.
Calum tried to soothe Sage, but the little girl kept coughing.
“Why don’t we move to the other side of the restaurant? We’re done eating anyway,” Jacob suggested.
Calum nodded. “Let’s do that.”
The restaurant manager arranged a new table in the non-smoking area. They all had tea or coffee, but Sage’s condition hadn’t improved. She kept coughing, and while it wasn’t persistent, her respiratory rate had increased. Soraya couldn’t help but panic.
“Does she have an inhaler?” she asked.
“Inhaler?” Rose echoed, confused.
Calum searched in Sage’s bag and saw the inhaler. He gave it to Sage, and the latter inhaled her medication.
After a while, Sage’s breathing seemed to have returned to normal. Rose let out a relieved sigh, saying, “Oh, thank goodness. You scared us for a moment, Sage.”
Rose pulled Sage closer and kissed her forehead.
“Rose, your daughter is very sensitive. Didn’t you know this about her?” Axel remarked. “Had I known, I wouldn’t have insisted on staying in the smoking area.”
“It doesn’t have to take a mother to know what’s best for a child,” Soraya remarked. “I could say the same thing for you, Mr. Davis. You knew there was a child, yet you smoked in front of her.”
“I gotta say, Miss Azar, you sound more like the mother of this child,” Axel pointed out. “But, please, stay in your lane. You have no right to scold me.”
“Don’t I, Mr. Montclair? I’m just concerned for the child,” Soraya snapped.
“You are overreacting, Soraya,” Rose shot back. “Sage is doing fine. Right, Sweetheart?”
Soraya studied Sage. Her daughter looked conflicted. Then, Sage glanced at Rose, nodding her head. “I’m fine.”
Soraya stared at Sage for more than a second. She would have stared longer if not for Calum reminding her, “Sage is fine, Soraya. You overreacted.”
Unfortunately for everyone, it took less than ten minutes before Sage began coughing again—this time, violently. Her small nose flared with each breath, and her chest rose rapidly, signaling her breathing had become shallow and strained.
Sage stretched her arms, calling, “Mommy. Mommy!”
Soraya stood up, but Rose grabbed Sage’s hands, saying, “I’m here. I’m here.”
Calum immediately reached for Sage’s inhaler, administering her medication, but it was no use. She couldn’t inhale it properly; each puff seemed to escape her lips, the mist dispersing uselessly into the air.
“The medication is not going into her lungs! We need to take her to the hospital, now!” Soraya said angrily.
“I’ll drive you!” Melvin offered.
And as they rushed, Sage kept staring at Soraya, asking, “Mommy! Mommy!”
A tear fell down her face, but Rose was there. She cupped Sage’s face and said, “I’m here! Sage, I’m here! I’ll take care of you!”
Soraya caught the turmoil in her daughter’s eyes, but she gave a silent nod to Rose, allowing them to leave in a rush.
“We should go after them—make sure Mr. Montclair’s child is okay,” Edward suggested. “You can come with me, Soraya.”
They all nodded and rushed to follow Rose and Calum.
At the hospital, everyone lingered outside the Emergency Room.
Edward was there, and his friend Peter was there.
Jacob walked back and forth, waiting for the news, and Axel was mumbling in his seat, half-blaming Rose for the incident.
It took about an hour of waiting.
Finally, Rose walked out of the emergency room. She said, “Sage is okay now. She got a few strong medications to control the attack. You all can return to your homes. We are sorry to drag you into this.”
“I’d like to see her,” Soraya said, her heart was in a mess, worried for Sage.
Rose frowned. She said, “You don't need to, Soraya. Sage has me.”
Soraya could only grit her teeth. She sucked in a deep breath and said, “Fine.”
She turned on her heel and walked away.
“Soraya?” Edward called.
“I have things to do, Eddie. I’ll see you another day,” she said before finally leaving the Emergency Room waiting area.
But instead of leaving the hospital, Soraya found the nearest restroom. She stared at the mirror and muttered, “Why? Why?”
Just as she was holding back her tears, the door to the female restroom swung open.
Soraya turned to find Jacob standing there. He grabbed her arms and pulled her into his embrace.
She couldn’t help it. Soraya cried in Jacob’s chest.