Billionaire's Regrets: BEG TO MOMMY

Dinner with Important client

105°F. My heart squeezed in anxiety and terror as I dialed his number. The call rang twice, but there was no response from my husband.

My baby girl kept crying and whimpering, her small hands gripping my dress. Her burning body pressed against my chest, seeking relief while I hurried to the roadside to grab a cab.

The night was cold, but fear and sweat heightened my anxiety. Why didn’t he answer my calls? I sent frantic messages, desperate to get his attention. It didn’t matter where his priorities lay — his daughter needed him most right now. What could possibly stop him? Business advice for his friend's boyfriend?

My heart sank when my messages were left on read. The call never came. I rushed into a cab, calling the pediatrician on the way to the nearby hospital.

" She has 105°F." I informed her pediatrician.

" I am already in the hospital, Mrs Montgomery. Should I come to your house or -!"

" No! I am already on the way." My voice cracked as my wrapped Diana into my arms tightly.

Diana was usually a strong baby, rarely falling ill except for mild fevers after vaccinations. But seeing her like this, burning with fever, made my heart pound with dread.

Not having my husband by my side intensified the pain and terror.

The pediatrician checked her immediately and assured me, “It’s a seasonal flu. She will be alright.”

Relief washed over me. I exhaled sharply as he continued, " I have given her fever reducer. Please stay overnight. It will be good to have her under observation tonight!"

" Thank you, Doc!" I smiled at him with gratitude and kissed my baby girl gently. “My warrior will be alright,” I whispered, cherishing every moment with her.

That night was a blur. We stayed in the hospital for observation because of her high fever. I kept trying to reach him, but he never picked up. He didn't even care about calling me where I was or why I didn't return home.

Later, I checked the group chat.

Only to find that he had been enjoying a BBQ party at Evelyn's backyard. He never once asked if Diana was okay or apologized for not checking his phone.

" You knew that she was sick, Draven." Placing the plate with some fruits, I looked up at him, " Why didn't you come?"

Draven kept typing his phone, glued since morning, " I didn't have time. Also it's not like she didn't have anyone to take care of her. You were there!" He said as matter-of-factly and looked at me with coldness, " She had her mother. Your job to take care of her!"

" Draven!" I couldn't believe what he just said. " I feel like I am a single mother. You are neglecting our child!"

Draven clenched his jaws before throwing the phone aside, " She has a roof over her head, baby formula everywhere. I don't think I don't have to do it more than I have done!" He said, as if he was doing some charity work.

" Stop nagging me about it, Rosé! You are being so nagging and overbearing recently!"

Something had changed. After that night, I began to pay closer attention — to his behavior, his priorities, and his attachment to Evelyn.

Everything came to a head when I discovered a VIP invitation for a city hall gathering. Everyone had a plus one. But Evelyn’s boyfriend was out of town, and her name was printed on the invitation as Draven's plus one instead of mine.

The week ended with his friends jokingly "shipping" him and Evelyn. Sending pictures of their social events, Evelyn was so cozy with my husband. They all knew that I wasn't invited and I was there in that group chat.

They laughed off the idea, and Evelyn’s boyfriend, Sammy Alexander, even joked, “Wanna replace me with your billionaire friend? Honey, I’m sure nobody can love you more than I do!”

Where Sammy was light-hearted, I felt like I was falling apart. Maybe I was overthinking. Maybe I just craved attention, which made ordinary things seem more disturbing.

I was hurt, but I convinced myself everything would be fine once Evelyn settled down with her boyfriend— until I noticed a pattern.

Draven didn’t seem to like Diana. I reasoned it was his busy schedule, but his weekends were spent with Evelyn and her boyfriend. After work, he hung out with friends. His parents, who used to check on me during my pregnancy, never visited after she was born.

He hadn’t spent a single moment with Diana.

Next week,

“Draven,” I called as I entered his study one afternoon. It was a weekend and I thought at least today I would say something about Diana. But as soon as I entered, He quickly locked a drawer.

“Do you need something?” he asked, his voice blank.

“I was wondering if you could watch our daughter. I need to go to the salon.”

I hesitated, but his expression hardened. “I have a business dinner with an important client. Hire a nanny.”

He grabbed his suit without looking at me.

“But I...”

“I’m busy, Rosé,” he said, walking past me, treating me like I didn’t matter. What was I thinking? His priorities had changed.

I took Diana with me. A last-minute nanny in this upscale area wasn’t an option. I couldn’t leave my three-month-old baby with strangers, no matter how professional they were.

At the salon, the staff played with Diana while Ms. Linda, the stylist, examined my hair. “Mrs. Montgomery, you’re still so fit after childbirth. I’m jealous!” she smiled, “You have some hair loss, which is normal after pregnancy. Don’t worry; you’ll recover.”

I nodded, watching my daughter giggle.

“You know, your husband booked the entire salon for an exclusive treatment. I thought it was for you.”

My heart sank. Draven booking a women’s salon? For whom? Then the realization struck — Evelyn.

“It’s alright,” I said, trying to hide my pain. “He treats his friends well.”

But deep inside, I wanted to cry. He didn't have time to spend an hour with his wife and daughter but booked a salon for his childhood sweetheart. I laughed a bit.

I focused on my hair, but I knew Evelyn wasn’t just a friend. She held a higher place in his life than I did as his wife.

After the treatment, I prepared to leave, thinking about dinner. He said he had a business dinner, but the salon booking suggested otherwise.

Then, to my horror, I saw Draven walk in with Evelyn, her arm wrapped around his, all smiles.

Ah! How stupid I am!!!

His important client was no-one but Evelyn.

Before I could avoid them, they stopped. Draven’s face paled briefly, then hardened. He tightened his grip on Evelyn's waist, like he was confirming my worst fears.

“Oh, Rosé! What are you doing here?” Evelyn beamed innocently, no attention to the hand that was around her waist.

I forced a smile and hugged her out of courtesy.

“You look great! Draven brought me here because he loved how they did this hairstyle on you.” She touched my hair. “Draven liked this style back in college. I didn’t know you’d honor our friendship like this!”

I glanced at Draven. He showed no emotion but his eyes were avoiding me.

“I didn’t know that,” I replied. “This style reminds me of my foster mother. It’s a coincidence.”

I scoffed lightly, bitterness seeping through. Something inside me snapped.

Evelyn’s expression darkened. She turned to Draven. “You can leave with your wife. I’ll call Sammy. Seems like she doesn’t like me as much as I thought.”

Her voice was provocative yet sweet. Guilt pricked me for a moment — until Draven wrapped his arm around her again.

His voice was cold. “It’s 4 PM, Ms. Linda. Another customer shouldn’t be here now.”

Disbelief and shock filled me. He was dismissing me. In front of her, like I never mattered before her. His eyes were all on her-- His childhood sweetheart, Evelyn. That gaze, I thought he looked at me this way only. But it seemed like it wasn't the matter.

“Please clear things up. Evelyn needs a proper hair treatment. Extra people will disturb her evening.”

I swallowed my pride and grabbed Diana into my arms. The fit of rage kept banging in my heart as I walked past them,

" Dinner with important client in a salon!" I scoffed at him before walking away.

Draven tried to say something. But I was done, giving a f**k about it.