The Arrogant Billionaire's Redemption

Back story

"The weekend, finally"

I breathed in the fresh evening air as I stepped into the playground, my lungs grateful for the absence of my suffocating mask. It was Saturday, and for the first time in years, I was free to simply enjoy it. At the restaurant, I would have been stuck on a shift, balancing trays and fake smiles. But now, as a corporate worker, my weekends belonged to me. This was mine to savor, to breathe, to feel.

I had planned to meet Bella here. She had promised to bring her daughter, and Ajax had been buzzing since morning at the thought of playing in an actual playground. It would be his first time, and the thought of seeing him free and happy lifted something heavy from inside me.

I spotted Bella near the benches. My lips curved into a smile before my feet quickened of their own accord. “Bella!” I ran forward, throwing my arms around her. At the same time, Ajax darted off with an eager squeal, already rushing toward the swings where Bella’s daughter waited.

“Careful!” we both shouted in unison, our voices colliding in the air.

Bella hugged me tightly, the kind of hug that reminded me why she was my anchor in a life that sometimes felt like it had no ground. “It’s been so long. How’s work been?” she asked, drawing back only to pull me into another embrace as though to reassure herself I was really here.

“Work has been fine,” I said, smiling. “What about the restaurant? How was your morning shift?”

She groaned dramatically, waving a hand. “Busy, as always. But let’s not waste our precious free time talking about it. I want to hear about your company.” Her eyes gleamed mischievously. “And don’t you dare forget to tell me about your granite-faced ex-husband.”

I froze for a fraction of a second, blinking. “How did you even— I didn’t mention I ran into him.”

Bella arched a perfectly sculpted brow. “Don’t you watch TV? They won’t shut up about it. SM Group is circling Trove like a hawk. It’s practically front-page gossip.”

“Oh.” I laughed nervously. “Well, me and TV are sworn enemies, you know that.”

“Mm-hm,” she said knowingly.

“And besides, I can’t risk Ajax catching a glimpse of the garbage they say about me on there.”

Her playful expression softened. She reached for my hand, squeezing firmly. “It’ll all be fine. Sooner than you think.”

I nodded, though my chest felt tight. “Anyway, enough of that. We’re straying.”

“Right. Your fabulous new job,” she said, settling back, eyes sparkling.

I launched into the story of my first days at the company—from my nervous Thursday morning to the small victories that made me feel like maybe, just maybe, I belonged there. Bella laughed so hard she nearly choked when I described Miss Debra batting her lashes at Simon only to be met with an expression so cold it could’ve frozen a lake.

But when I described Simon’s icy indifference toward me, her laughter morphed into indignation. She slammed her hand against her thigh. “The bastard! Should we try setting fire to his butt to see if his icy exterior finally melts off?” she whispered conspiratorially, then giggled.

I burst out laughing, clutching my stomach. “Sometimes I want to take a hammer to his forehead, just to see if it splits into ice cubes.”

She grinned, but then her face softened into curiosity. “I have a personal question.”

“Ask away,” I said, suddenly cautious.

“If he’s that cold to you… then how did Ajax come about?” Her gaze slid toward the swings, where Ajax was pumping his little legs with all his might, his laughter ringing out like pure sunshine. He caught my eye and waved, grinning, and I felt a pang in my chest.

My voice grew quieter. “He was drunk. I was stupid. I thought… I thought maybe that night meant something, that maybe I’d finally broken through his walls. But it only made things worse.”

Bella’s face twisted with anger, but I continued before she could speak. “Do you know what he said when I confronted him?” A bitter laugh slipped past my lips. “He said he thought I was Sarah. His precious Sarah.”

“Cowardly excuse,” Bella spat, her nostrils flaring.

“The deed was done,” I said softly. “At least I got my bundle of joy from it.” My eyes drifted back to Ajax, who was now helping Bella’s daughter onto the slide, his grin stretching wide. “That’s the only part worth keeping.”

Bella stayed quiet, her expression shadowed.

“You’ll be shocked at this part,” I whispered, leaning in. “A few weeks later, he drove me to a gynecologist. When the results came out… he told me he would’ve made me get an abortion if it had been positive.”

Bella’s mouth fell open. “That—” she stopped, lowering her voice to a hiss, “—that cowardly piece of shit.”

I swatted her arm, half amused, half touched. “Language! We’re in a children’s park.”

“Forgive me,” she muttered, “if I can’t condone such cruelty.”

“I divorced him after that. It was the last straw. And of course, he retaliated. The next day, articles calling me a gold digger flooded the tabloids. No one wanted to hear my side. Not even my parents. They told me to disappear quietly. Said I’d already shamed the family enough.” My voice trembled, tears pricking my eyes.

Bella wrapped her arms around me before the tears could fall. “It’s all over now,” she whispered.

I pressed my face into her shoulder, my voice muffled. “I’m so scared. What if he finds out about Ajax? I don’t want Ajax anywhere near his terrible attitude. And every time I see him, I just— I want to scream, but I can’t. I have to protect Ajax.”

She rubbed soothing circles into my back, letting me cry until the sobs softened into shaky breaths. Finally, she pulled away just enough to wipe my cheeks with her fingers.

“I thought you came here to give me the juicy details about your new job,” she teased gently.

I giggled, watery and embarrassed. “Sorry. Guess I took us down a road better left forgotten.”

“Don’t apologize. You needed this.” She smiled. “Now. Tell me more.”

So I did. I told her about Adam, the kind neighbor who had shown me unexpected kindness. She nearly fell off the bench laughing when I described our awkward elevator encounter.

“See? You still got it. Poor man was struck dumb by your beauty alone.”

I rolled my eyes. “Don’t start. I don’t even know what to make of it. He’s just… been nice. That’s all.”

“That’s not ‘just,’” she countered. “My bet? He’s already fallen.”

“But I don’t like him that way,” I said firmly. “Besides, I don’t even know him well.”

“He lives next door,” Bella pointed out with a sly grin. “Perfect chance to change that.”

“I don’t like him that way,” I repeated.

She nudged me playfully. “Just give him a chance.”

I shook my head, but she waved me off. “Fine, fine. Enough of brown-eyed Adam. Let me tell you what I found about Simon’s beloved Sarah.”

I blinked. “You actually looked her up?”

“Of course,” she said proudly. “Turns out, they go way back. High school sweethearts. The whole star-crossed lovers routine. His mother hated the match, but he clung to her anyway.”

I scoffed. “Figures. How was I supposed to compete with a fairytale?”

Bella snorted. “Fairytale? Please. Listen—rumors say their relationship’s been rocky. Articles popped up about her seeing other men. And another one claimed Simon was desperately searching for her. No one believed it, of course. Too out of character for Ice King Simon.”

Something twisted in my chest. I didn’t want to name the feeling, didn’t want to admit that a part of me felt… smug. Almost triumphant.

Ajax and Bella’s daughter came running over then, laughing breathlessly. Bella jumped up to help her daughter, and I stood too, slipping my mask back on.

We said our goodbyes, waving as the children clung to each other before parting. On the walk home, Ajax chattered happily beside me about the swings, the slide, and the “new best friend” he’d made. His voice was a melody, lifting the heaviness from my shoulders.

Yet beneath the joy lingered a thorn of unease. Simon’s shadow still followed me. And though I tried to dismiss it, a quiet question echoed in my chest.

Why did part of me feel almost glad that his perfect fairytale was falling apart?