The Ex-Wife’s Billion Dollar Comeback Novel

---- Chapter 206: Calum Blames Himself ~ Soraya ~ "Was | being too harsh to Sage?" Soraya asked her husband. " | also wanted her to realize that she pushed me away at first. That way, she would understand the consequences of her actions." "No, honey. | think you said it just fine," Jacob said, lying next to her. He kissed her forehead and added, "She needs more time to accept the changes. She may not agree to stay with us for now, but | think she will eventually come around. As long as we continue to show her that she's welcome." They rested soon after, with Soraya sleeping in Jacob's arms.

However, in the wee hours, Jacob's phone rang. He ignored it at first, but the call kept coming. When he finally answered, Soraya overheard him say, "I see. | understand, officer. Please, I'll sort it out with the bar owner." Soraya groaned. "What happened?" A sigh left Jacob's lips. "Calum had a drink with Melvin and Luke at the local bar, but he didn't want to leave even after closing hours. He caused a scene, and the bar owner got pissed-called the cops on him." "Oh, God," Soraya gasped. She couldn't believe her ears. "Go deal with it. I'm going back to sleep.

Call me when you're back." But Jacob didn't return until late morning, as the bar owner refused to communicate until then. eee ---- ~ Calum ~ After seeing Sage cry in pain, Calum recognized the biggest mistake of his life. He hadn't really thought it through when he decided to get into a relationship with Rose-how it would affect his child. Now, the one suffering the most was Sage. Never mind the money he had lost; he was sure he'd get it back someday. But Sage would never again have both her mother and father together. And Calum could only blame himself.

What made the day worse was when his lawyer called. "Mr. Montclair," the attorney said, "the ten billion dollars you gave Miss Becket will not count as alimony since it was given before your marriage. The good thing is that you signed as a co-investor in her fashion line, so you can legally claim your investment rights, and that's separate from your marriage. But reclaiming it will be a separate civil case altogether." "About the ultrasound clinic that gave the initial report of your wife's pregnancy-they've been closed since the other day. We' re still tracking down the owner.

If Miss Becket continues to claim she was pregnant, I'm afraid we'll have to go to court. And if that happens, we might as well file for annulment." Calum already knew it was Rose's doing. It had to be. How convenient was it for the clinic to shut down right after he confronted her with the truth? A court battle was never easy, but it looked like they'd have to go that route. First things first, they needed evidence against Rose. Claire's testimony wouldn't suffice in court because of ---- her lack of credibility.

Because of how badly it was going for him, Calum went out for a drink and invited his friends along. He drowned himself in liquor and started talking to them, his words slurred and uneven. "| ruined my life," he said, shaking his head. "| lost my wife, the one who saved me seven years ago." He gave a sad, broken laugh and took another drink. "And now my daughter has lost her mother." He pointed to himself, his eyes red and glassy. "Because of mel" "Soraya will still be there for Sage. She hasn't lost her mother," Melvin pointed out.

"She just needs to understand that Soraya has another family now." "Yeah, Calum. You're still young. You can still find another wife," Luke added. "We'd better go. We're the only people left here." "No!" Calum snapped. "I need another drink. Bartender!" "Bar's closed, sir," the lady at the counter said. She motioned to Melvin. "Take your friend home. He's had too much to drink." "No, | need another drink! I'll pay, no matter how much it costs!" Calum shouted. "Sir, it's two a.m. We're not used to keeping our bar open this late here in Burnell.

You can pay us money, but you can't pay for a good rest. We need to sleep too. You can take out a bottle and drown yourself at home," the lady said. "Im not ready to go home!" Calum argued, his words thick ---- and slurred. "Sir, if you don't leave, I'm going to call the cops," the lady warned. One of the male employees hissed. "Yeah, mister. If you lost your wife because of your own mistakes, don't drag us with you. We've been waiting an hour for you! Time to go!" The man's words hit Calum's nerves. He marched toward him and grabbed his collar. "How dare you say that!

How many more of you are going to tell me how stupid | was?" "| want another drink!" he demanded. "And more for my friends!" Melvin and Luke tried to pull him out, but Calum seemed to have developed sudden strength. He ended up shoving the male employee, who crashed into several beer crates on the side. In the end, the cops arrived. Calum was detained at the police station with no bail option, because that was Burnell's rule. Negotiations had to be done with the bar owner. Jacob got him out of jail. Calum returned to Nexa Hotel the next morning, looking like he'd been dragged through a storm.

His shirt was wrinkled, his eyes bloodshot from a sleepless night. The faint smell of liquor still clung to him, and his hair was a mess. Sage saw his state, and she cried again. She ran to him, asking, "Daddy, what happened? Where did you go?" Calum broke down. He hugged Sage while kneeling. "Sage, I' mso sorry. All of this was my fault. Will you ever forgive Daddy?" ---- The father and daughter cried together, holding each other tightly in the living room of their suite. Around them, Amanda and Cedric wept as well.

It's cruel how clarity comes only after the damage is done, when apologies can no longer fix what has been broken. Still, Calum found himself asking if he could still redeem himself from regret, and whether a man like him still deserved a fragment of happiness. Later that day, Soraya knocked on their hotel suite's door. She brought a ten-inch cake for Sage, then asked to speak with Calum. That day, Calum finally heard her side of the story.