Regretful CEO Ex-Wife Don't Leave Me novel Chapter 6

6.Chapter 6 His Indifference

Phoebe slammed the car door behind her, turning and walking away without a second glance. The black Maybach sat there for a moment, the engine still running, before it finally drove off in the opposite direction.

Inside the car, Declan glanced in the rearview mirror, watching Phoebe’s figure get smaller and smaller. A wave of irritation washed over him.

He couldn’t understand why Phoebe, who was usually so gentle and agreeable, was so stubborn this time. He thought, ‘I’ve already humbled myself and come to her, and she still wants a divorce.

‘But right now, I need to check on Jennifer first. I’ll find a time later to talk things through with Phoebe.’

Phoebe had walked about 100 yards when her phone rang. It was Mason calling. “Phoebe, where are you right now?” he asked, his voice tinged with urgency.

Hearing the concern in his tone, Phoebe felt a warmth in her chest. “I’m halfway up the mountain, on my way back.”

“And Mr. Richardson?” Mason asked, a hint of suspicion in his voice.

Phoebe’s expression remained neutral as she replied calmly, “He left.”

“What? He just left you here, alone on the hillside in the middle of the night?” Mason’s voice raised with disbelief. “I’m coming to get you. Wait for me. I’ll be there in five minutes.”

Before Phoebe could protest, Mason hung up. She tucked her phone away and stood still, waiting for Mason at the side of the road. By the time he arrived, Phoebe was casually kicking stones along the roadside, looking rather bored.

Hearing the sound of an engine, she looked up and saw Mason’s car pulling up in front of her. He quickly stepped out of the car, his expression easing once he saw Phoebe was unharmed. He rushed over to her and opened the passenger door. “Phoebe, get in.”

Phoebe couldn’t help but smile at his thoughtfulness. She teased, “No wonder so many girls want to be your girlfriend. You’re such a gentleman.”

A smirk tugged at the corner of Mason’s lips. “Well, what about you? Do you think I’d make a good boyfriend?”

Seeing his nonchalant expression, Phoebe knew he was just joking, so she played along and nodded. “Yeah, you’d make a perfect boyfriend. A ten out of ten.”

A shadow of disappointment flickered in Mason’s eyes, but he still smiled and said, “Too bad the one I love doesn’t love me back.”

Phoebe gently patted his shoulder in an attempt to comfort him. “Funny, the one I love doesn’t love me either,” she said.

Mason couldn’t help but laugh and shake his head. “That’s a pretty terrible consolation. Now I feel even worse.”

“Alright, enough of that. Let’s head back. I’ve got work starting tomorrow,” Phoebe said.

Mason raised an eyebrow. “Back to being my agent?”

She chuckled, “Not really. Besides, you already have an agent. Even if I came back to help, I’m not going to be managing you.”

Mason just smiled and didn’t respond further.

By the time they got back to the villa, the coffee was already cold, and Phoebe had lost all interest in drinking it. She simply wished Mason a good night before heading to her room.

*****

The next morning, Phoebe got up, washed up, and headed downstairs. She found Cora already waiting for her in the living room on the first floor. She hurried down and said, “Ms. Wood, how about I take another day off?”

Cora let out a cold laugh, her expression like that of a hungry predator, and threw a stack of files into Phoebe’s arms. “Three years of rest, and you still want more? Look through these on your way to the office. We’ve got a tough day ahead.”

Phoebe stared at the files in her arms, feeling a bit speechless. “Why does the workload have to be so heavy on my first day back?”

Cora sighed, clearly frustrated, “Don’t even get me started. You were gone for three years, and during that time, those old-timers almost ran Miracle Youth into the ground.

“They’ve stuffed the company with their relatives—just a bunch of freeloaders who show up for the paycheck but never do any actual work. If you don’t come back, the company will be done for.”

Phoebe was at a loss for words.

On the way to the office, Cora couldn’t resist the gossip bubbling up inside her. “By the way, when I went to your place this morning, I saw the new award-winning actor, Mason Walton.

“You just got out of your marriage with Declan, and now you’re already keeping a movie star on the side?”

Phoebe shifted her gaze from the files to Cora’s face, her expression serious. “First, Mason and I are just friends. Second, I haven’t even officially divorced Declan yet, so he’s still not my ex.”

Cora’s eyes widened in shock. “So, you’re not even divorced from Declan yet, and you’ve already moved on to keeping a movie star? That’s bold.”

Phoebe sneered, “Did you even pass basic comprehension? Or did they hand out straight A’s for breathing at your school?”

Cora tilted her chin up proudly. “Excuse your face. I’ll have you know I was top of my class.”

*****

In the CEO’s office of Richardson Group, Declan was still trying to contact Phoebe, but his calls kept going straight to voicemail. His patience was wearing thin.

Patrick walked into the office and immediately felt the chill in the air, as though he’d stepped into a frozen wasteland.

He found himself walking more carefully, almost on tiptoe, as he spoke cautiously, “Mr. Richardson, our plans to acquire Miracle Youth might have to be put on hold. I heard that the founder of Miracle Youth returned today.”

Declan furrowed his brows, his focus drifting as he replied absently, “Proceed with the acquisition plan. Add another 30 million dollars to the offer.”

Patrick hesitated and then continued, “Back then, the founder of Miracle Youth made a sudden rise in the business world before abruptly stepping back. Now that she’s returned, it’s probably to save the company. If we’re going for an acquisition, Miracle Youth may not be the best choice.”

Declan’s expression remained cold and indifferent as he ordered, his tone icy, “Continue with the acquisition. If they want more money, then give them more. I don’t want to say this a third time.

“Also, send someone to Mason’s villa to stand guard. Let me know as soon as Phoebe shows up.”

“Understood, Mr. Richardson.” Patrick nodded.

He could see Declan’s growing frustration, and it made him feel uneasy. Patrick thought to himself, ‘He clearly loves Jennifer. So why won’t he just divorce Phoebe and marry the one he truly loves?’

But that was Declan’s personal matter. Patrick knew better than to get involved and simply followed Declan’s orders.

Patrick then asked, “By the way, Mr. Richardson, the Angel’s Tear necklace you bought at Settlea has arrived. Are you planning to personally give it to Ms. Greene?”

Angel’s Tear was a necklace with a teardrop-shaped blue gem as its centerpiece, surrounded by thousands of diamonds. It sparkled so brightly and beautifully under the lights that it was impossible to look away.

When Declan first laid eyes on it, he’d instantly thought it would be the perfect gift for Phoebe. He’d bought it on the spot, intending to give it to her for their third wedding anniversary. But after their argument, he’d completely pushed the idea to the back of his mind.

Declan pressed his lips together, his expression calm as he said, “Give it to me. I’ll give it to her myself.”

After Patrick delivered Angel’s Tear to Declan’s office, he left. Declan picked up a file, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t focus. All he could think about was Phoebe’s cold, determined expression as she walked away from him last night.

Frustrated, he slammed the file shut, the sense of losing control leaving him feeling disoriented. Just as he was about to stand up and take a breath, his phone suddenly rang.