My Coldhearted Husband'S Regret novel Chapter 95

95 A Rival’s Specter and a Family Mandate

95 A Rival’s Specter and a Family Mandate

“Yes, darling. The whole family,” Eleanor emphasized, giving me a pointed look.

What could possibly go wrong?

to back

Julian’s expression softened. “Look, I don’t want to alarm you, but if she has the skills

her credentials… Zachary doesn’t care about personal drama. He cares about advancing the field.”

up

“I wish I were. Eleanor’s orchestrated a family getaway, and somehow convinced Damien to agree.”

Julian’s eyes narrowed. “Are you going to ask him about the dinner with Zachary?”

I sighed, setting my bag down. “I don’t know what his game is. But I do know we’re all going to be trapped together at a hot spring resort this weekend, thanks to Eleanor.”

Eleanor sighed as the front door closed. “That boy works too hard. Just like his grandfather.” She turned to me. “This weekend will be good for all of us.”

The die was cast. In two days, I’d be sharing a luxury suite with the husband who was actively undermining me and the grandmother–in–law who refused to see the truth of our broken marriage.

I continued to my bedroom, my mind racing with questions that would remain

unanswered.

I sighed, feeling the weight of my complicated home life pressing down on me again.

“Good morning,” I said, kissing the top of Cora’s head.

“Zachary is principled, but he’s also intrigued by genuine talent,” Julian said, leaning back in his chair, his fingers drumming nervously against the conference table.

Julian looked unconvinced. “Call me if you need an excuse to leave early.”

My heart sank. “And?”

I hesitated in the hallway, torn between confronting him about Zachary and

pretending I knew nothing. In the end, exhaustion won out. I climbed the stairs

quietly, not wanting to initiate a conversation that would only lead to more frustration.

12:19

1/6

95 A Rival’s Specter and a Family Mandate

“It is! Or it was, before Arthur sold it.” Eleanor sighed dramatically. “But speaking of getaways, I was thinking we should all go to the hot springs this weekend.”

The Arthur card. That explained Damien’s capitulation. For all his independence and authority in the business world, mention of his late grandfather still held power over

him.

“Just Eleanor. Apparently Damien’s gracing us with his presence tonight.”

“Did he now?” I asked, skepticism clear in my voice.

“When do we leave?” I asked, resigning myself to the inevitable.

After breakfast, I drove Cora to school before heading to the office. Julian was waiting

for me with news.

“Elara? You still with me?” Julian’s voice pulled me from my thoughts.

“Great.” Damien’s tone was clipped. “I need to head out. I have meetings all morning.”

“You’re home late,” he said, his voice neutral.

The problem was, those “old times” had never been as idyllic as Eleanor imagined. And now, with all the unspoken tensions between Damien and me, trapped together in a romantic mountain setting….

Relief flooded through me. “That’s fantastic!”

“Just did,” Eleanor replied cheerfully. “She’s looking forward to it, aren’t you, dear?”

My stomach twisted at the implication. “You think he might take Vivienne as an apprentice?

Damien entered the kitchen then, dressed impeccably in a charcoal suit. He nodded a greeting to me before accepting a cup of coffee from Eleanor.

I shuddered involuntarily. This weekend was going to be a disaster.

But when Eleanor called that evening to confirm details, her voice so full of hope and excitement, I found myself softly saying, “Okay.”

I thought of Cora’s excited face, of Eleanor’s hopeful planning. “I don’t think I have much choice.”

12.19

2/8

96 A Rivals Specter and a Family Mandato

“It is! Or it was, before Arthur sold it.” Eleanor sighed dramatically. “But speaking of getaways, I was thinking we should all go to the hot springs this weekend.”

The Arthur card. That explained Damien’s capitulation. For all his independence and authority in the business world, mention of his late grandfather still held power over him.

“Just Eleanor. Apparently Damien’s gracing us with his presence tonight.”

“Did he now?” I asked, skepticism clear in my voice.

“When do we leave?” I asked, resigning myself to the inevitable.

After breakfast, I drove Cora to school before heading to the office. Julian was waiting for me with news.

“Elara? You still with me?” Julian’s voice pulled me from my thoughts.

“Great.” Damien’s tone was clipped. “I need to head out. I have meetings all morning.”

“You’re home late,” he said, his voice neutral.

The problem was, those “old times” had never been as idyllic as Eleanor imagined. And now, with all the unspoken tensions between Damien and me, trapped together in a

romantic mountain setting…

Relief flooded through me. “That’s fantastic!”

“Just did,” Eleanor replied cheerfully. “She’s looking forward to it, aren’t you, dear?”

My stomach twisted at the implication. “You think he might take Vivienne as an apprentice?”

Damien entered the kitchen then, dressed impeccably in a charcoal suit. He nodded a greeting to me before accepting a cup of coffee from Eleanor.

I shuddered involuntarily. This weekend was going to be a disaster.

But when Eleanor called that evening to confirm details, her voice so full of hope and excitement, I found myself softly saying, “Okay.”

I thought of Cora’s excited face, of Eleanor’s hopeful planning. “I don’t think I have

much choice.”

12:20

2/6

95 A Rival’s Specter and a Family Mandate

Damien’s eyes met mine, challenging me to contradict his grandmother.

As we dove into work, I tried to push thoughts of the upcoming weekend from my mind. But Eleanor’s words kept echoing: “It’ll be just like old times.”

The memory of our last family trip flashed through my mind – Damien working the entire time, Cora disappointed, and me feeling like an unwelcome third wheel in my own marriage.

“There’s more,” Julian hesitated. “He also mentioned that he found Vivienne Dubois ‘intellectually stimulating” but ultimately unconvincing in her approach. Said her ideas were derivative.”

“Sorry.” I shook my head. “I need to focus on our work, not on whatever games Damien and Vivienne are playing.”

“Are you going to go?”

We worked late into the evening, refining the framework and tightening our

implementation timeline. By the time I left the office, darkness had fallen over the city.

“Work,” I replied simply.

The idea of spending an entire weekend with Damien, pretending to be a happy family for Eleanor’s sake, made my chest tighten. But looking at Cora’s excited face, I couldn’t bring myself to refuse.

“Dad’s taking us to the hot springs?” Cora asked, perking up.

Before Damien stopped pretending to care about our marriage, she meant.

A small, petty part of me celebrated this news, but I kept my expression neutral. “Did he say anything else about their dinner?”

I raised an eyebrow, surprised that Eleanor had confronted him. She usually treated

Damien with kid gloves.

“Good night, Damien.”

“Everything okay?” Julian asked, noticing my expression.

“Damien already agreed,” Eleanor cut in, her tone triumphant. “I caught him coming in late last night and gave him quite the lecture about family responsibilities.”

12:20

3/6

95 A Rivars Specter and a Family Mandato

Elara’s POV

“What would be the point? He’ll either deny any ulterior motives or simply ignore the question.” I rubbed my temples. “Let’s finish the revisions, I want to send this to Newman before I head home.”

“I’m not sure if-”

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