The Ex-Wife’s Billion Dollar Comeback Novel

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Chapter 198: Just Talk

~ Melvin ~

While Calum and Rose decided to skip lunch at Jacob's villa,

Luke and Melvin feasted on the food before them. In between,

they asked Soraya and Jacob how they ended up together.

“| guess Soraya had always been good with children,’ Melvin

remarked. “So, it's no surprise how Angela chose her.”

Melvin turned to Soraya, looking apologetic. Earlier, when

Jacob berated Calum, it reminded him of how he used to look

down on Soraya. He said, “I'm really sorry about the past,

Soraya. | did acknowledge how you were a good mom to Sage,

but | misunderstood you for so many years.”

“We've already talked about that, Melvin. It’s all in the past, but

that doesn’t mean we'll become best of friends,” Soraya said

frankly. “I still hold a little grudge. Hence, my services will

never come for free. Your birthday was the only instance.”

“Ha. Ha. Ha.” Melvin let out a nervous laugh. He thought

Soraya had truly changed. She was no longer the quiet Soraya

who never talked back. Now, she carried herself with

authority. He turned to Jacob and asked, “How come Jacob

got forgiven?”

“He has Angela to thank for that,” Soraya said, glancing at

Jacob.

“For my own mistakes, | vow to make it up to her for the rest

of my life. Thankfully, my good looks also made it easy for my

wife to forgive me,” Jacob revealed, smiling while turning to

Soraya. "Isn't that right, hon?"

Laughter echoed around the table, including Soraya’s. Luke,

on the other hand, said, “And here | am, thinking I'd get a

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chance to woo Soraya.”

Melvin quickly snapped his head to Jacob, ready to see how

his powerful friend would react.

Jacob's expression turned dark. His mood quickly changed.

“Let's make something clear,” he said, pointing at Luke. “Only |

get to woo my wife. There's no line, no queue, no audition.

This role’s taken, copyrighted, and off-limits.”

Yet again, laughter erupted in the room. It was Melvin who.

said, “Well, now that we know she's married to you, we won't

dare cross the line.”

“It's just—" Melvin scratched his head, revealing, “It's just

unfortunate for Calum.”

Melvin turned to Soraya, saying, “He's been regretful, Soraya. |

swear. He may not say it all the time, but | see it in his eyes

every time your name is brought up.”

“Regret is a start,” Soraya said calmly. “But it's not enough. If

he truly regrets what he did, he'll help me win Sage back and

never question the man who finally treated me right.”

Soraya focused her gaze on Melvin and said, “Tell Calum that.

| hope he listens to you.”

Angela arrived some time later with Jacob's mother, but

Melvin and Luke didn’t have the time to connect with them.

They were both exhausted from the trip. Instead, they

returned to the Nexa Hotel around four in the afternoon.

But before getting a good rest, Melvin knocked on Calum's

room. What he saw broke his heart.

Calum was a prideful man. He came from an affluent family,

graduated from the best university, and had great influence in

Cedar Heights.

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This man used to be the CEO of a multi-billion dollar company,

but the man before Melvin looked broken.

“Tell me, Melvin. Do you think I'm being unreasonable?”

Calum asked dryly.

“l understand how you feel, but you never really treated

Soraya well. You need to remember that—we never treated

her well,” Melvin said. “She has a message for you.”

Melvin relayed Soraya’s words and said, “I can’t force you to

accept things, but at least, talk to them.”

Barely a whisper, Calum said, “I'll think about it.”

toe

~ Calum ~

Calum barely slept overnight. At six a.m., he was already up,

and instead of waiting for breakfast at the hotel, he walked

outside Nexa Power, just taking in the fresh air. He didn't know

how long he wandered around, just thinking. However, he

ended up finding himself in front of Jacob's villa.

Jacob's villa wasn’t surrounded by a fence. He didn't need to

because the entire plant was well guarded. From a distance,

he saw Angela running out to the car.

“Baby, you forgot your lunch bag!” Soraya called, rushing out

with a bag of food for Angela.

Angela hugged Soraya tightly and said, “Thank you, Mommy. |

love you so much!”

“l love you too,” Soraya said, kissing Angela back. She leveled

with the little girl and said, “Be good in school. Remember to

eat your apple, because—”

“An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” Angela said with a

smile.

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“Listen to your teacher because?” Soraya asked.

“Learning begins with listening,” Angela said.

Whenever Angela mispronounced a word, Soraya would

correct her.

Just watching that scene made Calum’s chest tighten.

Soraya was now taking care of another man’s child, instead of

theirs. But that wasn't the only painful scene.

Veronica stepped out of the house, ready to take Angela to

school. Jacob also came out, looking like he had somewhere

to be, wearing his suit.

“Honey? How long will your meeting be?” Soraya asked.

“Just two hours. The engineers are going to discuss the

installation of new batteries at the plant. I'll be back by ten,”

Jacob said, leaning in to kiss Soraya. When they pulled apart,

they shared a smile.

It wasn’t the kiss that hurt; it was the way Soraya and Jacob

looked at each other.

Their gaze held contentment, happiness, love, and passion,

each emotion shining unmistakably in their eyes.

Soraya even fixed Jacob's necktie, a simple gesture, yet

intimate.

“Bye,” Jacob said again. Then, he leaned down and kissed

Soraya's belly. “Bye, babies.”

Seeing both cars drive away from the villa, Calum hid behind a

tree, but as he did, he felt incredibly jealous.

Jacob seemed to have it all. He would have had it all too, if he

had only opened his eyes sooner.

Knowing Jacob was away, Calum let his emotions settle first.

He took his breakfast at the hotel with Rose and the others.

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The entire time, he remained silent. He didn’t even pay

attention to his wife. But around ten in the morning, he

walked back to Jacob's villa.

Jacob's car pulled up in front of his house just in time. When

he stepped out, Calum said, “Let's talk.”

“And all we're going to do is talk, right, Calum?” Jacob asked. “

I'd hate to use my fists today. | practiced my punches last

night just in case.”

Calum had no interest in picking a fight. He felt the life inside

him draining out. He said, “Just... talk.”

As soon as they sat down in the study, Jacob said calmly, “

Claire didn’t bring Rose into your life by chance. She did it to

control you.”