Regretful CEO Ex-Wife Don't Leave Me novel Chapter 3

3.Chapter 3 Perfect Strangers

Declan hesitated for a moment, silence stretching between them before he finally spoke up, “Yeah. Give her a call.”

They had only been in Settlea for a short time on business when Jennifer followed along, claiming it was for a vacation. But everyone at Richardson Group knew she was really there for Declan.

“Sure thing.” Patrick quickly booked the tickets, and after picking up Jennifer, they all headed to the airport.

After more than ten hours of flight, they finally landed smoothly at Roseberg Airport. During those long hours, Patrick had witnessed Declan’s attentive care toward Jennifer.

After they got off the plane, they walked together toward the airport exit. In crowded areas, Declan instinctively shielded Jennifer, keeping her close.

Phoebe had accompanied Declan on business trips before. But during those trips, it’d always been her looking after him, while Declan remained distant and cold toward her. In contrast, Jennifer seemed more like Declan’s wife than Phoebe ever did.

*****

Meanwhile, Phoebe emerged from a different terminal at the airport. She wore a V-neck, sleeveless maxi dress, her sunglasses perched stylishly on her nose, a gentle smile lighting up her face. She seemed to be in great spirits.

Cora had been waiting at the entrance, and as soon as she spotted Phoebe, she waved excitedly.

Seeing Cora made Phoebe’s smile widen, and she picked up her pace, rolling her suitcase toward her friend. But just as she was about to reach Cora, she noticed her friend’s expression darkening as she looked over Phoebe’s shoulder.

A flicker of surprise crossed Phoebe’s face. Turning around, she caught sight of Declan and Jennifer walking side by side toward the exit. Phoebe’s grip on the suitcase instinctively tightened, and her expression grew impassive.

Before Cora could say anything, Phoebe turned back to her and said calmly, “Let’s go.”

Seeing her composed demeanor, with no trace of emotion in her eyes, Cora couldn’t quite gauge if Phoebe had truly moved on from Declan. She quickly took the suitcase from Phoebe’s hand and remarked, “You bought quite a bit this time. It’s really heavy.”

“Just some gifts for you guys,” Phoebe replied, her voice steady.

As the two of them continued talking and walking out, they didn’t notice the sharp gaze that was directed at them—specifically, at Phoebe.

Sensing Declan’s sudden tension, Jennifer gently tugged at his sleeve. “Deck, what’s wrong?”

He flicked on the living room lights, and a layer of dust covered everything. It was clear, just as the property manager had said, Phoebe hadn’t been back.

Phoebe had always had her moods and would sometimes throw a tantrum, but never once had she been gone for a month without a word.

Declan felt a gnawing unease growing within him. That feeling intensified when he saw the divorce papers and the ring on the table in the living room. A thick layer of dust had settled on the papers from the month of neglect.

He picked up the papers and flipped to the last page. Just as he expected, Phoebe had already signed it.

A surge of unfamiliar anger boiled up from deep inside him. Declan clenched the divorce papers tightly, his face contorting into an expression of pure wrath. He thought furiously, ‘She actually dared to do it.’

As Declan seethed with rage, his phone suddenly rang. He picked it up, and Patrick’s voice came through the line. “Mr. Richardson, we’ve tracked down Ms. Greene’s whereabouts. She’s currently in the Northern District.”

Hearing Patrick’s hesitation, Declan asked, his tone turning icy, “Spit it out. Where exactly in the Northern District?”

“She’s in a villa. The owner of the villa is the recently crowned Best Actor, Mason Walton,” Patrick replied.