FALLING FOR MY EX BILLIONAIRE DAD

Chapter7

I could hear a piercing scream, a raw, shaky scary sound that I realized was coming from my own throat. My heart seemed to leap from my chest, leaving me feeling weightless and disembodied. My feet turned to stone, numb and unresponsive like they had frozen to the ground, as I clamped my eyes shut, praying fervently that this wasn't the end of my life. The swirling maelstrom of my thoughts raced through my mind in a blur of despair: all my dreams, my ambitions, my future, all of it were about to be snuffed out in an instant. Was this divine retribution for the sins of my vengeful plans? In that fleeting moment, as I prepared for the final curtain, I uttered a desperate plea to God, seeking forgiveness for any misdeeds that might have led me here. All of these thoughts and repentance happened in nanoseconds; my brain was processing this information with the speed of light, different thoughts and pictures kept flashing in my mind, and then suddenly, it was taking so long for me to get knocked down. I didn't hear any car sound approaching me. Was I in the afterlife already?

Gradually, I pried my eyes open, first my right eye, then my left. To my astonishment, the car had come to a halt, its front bumper skimming perilously close to where I stood. The adrenaline that had surged through me now ebbed away as I released a heavy sigh, a sound that seemed to expel all the tension I had been holding.

"Get out of the way, you b***h," the driver shouted angrily, breaking the tense silence.

I was at a loss for words, I just stood there in total silence, unsure of what my next move would be. The fault had been mine; I had been so lost in my troubled thoughts that I hadn’t noticed the traffic light’s signal. The light had been green for vehicles and red for pedestrians, a simple signal, it seemed like just a simple signal, but that was enough to end a life, and I had ignored it, foolish me, what my mind had been clouded with at that moment wasn't in any way worth my life. Although I was grateful that the driver had managed to stop in time, his rude expletive extinguished any inclination I had to thank him. The disrespectful comment nullified my gratitude, leaving me to wrestle with my own emotions. He called me a b***h, so we were even now; no need to thank him.

With a sense of urgency, I hurriedly crossed the street and continued on my path. I was tormented by the thought that my life had almost ended due to two people Draco and Reggie, whom I could simply sever ties with for a peaceful existence. Yet, the temptation to exact revenge was irresistible. Draco's betrayal and Reggie's part in it had ignited a fierce desire for vengeance. Piper, too, had betrayed my trust, and I couldn't let her actions slide. I had invested so much in this quest for retribution that backing out now seemed impossible.

Lost in these thoughts, I abruptly stopped, a jolt of realization hitting me, I had no idea where I was or where I was headed. Was my torment over Draco causing me to lose my sense of direction? As the darkness of evening began to envelop the streets, a wave of panic washed over me. I needed to find a way out of this unfamiliar place quickly. Scanning my surroundings, I found a spot to sit and pulled out my phone, hoping to book a ride. To my dismay, the network coverage was empty, and the app stubbornly refused to load.

"Oh my God, what have I gotten myself into?" I muttered in frustration. The thought of spending the night stranded because of a reckless revenge scheme seemed unbearable. I continued to wrestle with my phone, trying to regain a signal, but it was fruitless.

A desperate idea took root in my mind. What if I tried to find my way back to Reggie’s house? It couldn’t be that difficult, I had gone straight and then made a single turn, if I remembered correctly.

But what would that make me? Leaving his house only to return in the dead of night was a precarious decision fraught with complications. What would Reggie think of me if I retraced my steps, mired in the humiliation of my predicament? My mind was awash with turbulent thoughts, spinning in a cyclone of indecision about what my next move should be. Ultimately, the lack of network coverage forced my hand. I decided to stay put until I could connect and find a solution.

So, there I was, huddled on that bench, hours slipping by unnoticed as I succumbed to exhaustion. The cold, hard surface of the bench became my bed, and I drifted into a restless slumber. The next thing I knew, I was awakened by the sound of footsteps. My eyes flew open, gazing rapidly from side to side. Was this a nightmare? Was I still dreaming? The thought gnawed at me as I tried to reconcile what was happening.

Then the footsteps grew louder, closer. They weren’t walking anymore, they were running. My pulse quickened as a shadowy figure emerged from the darkness, charging toward me with menacing speed. Instinct took over, I grabbed my bag from the bench and, in a panic, pulled off my shoes and held them, every fiber of my being focused on escaping. The figure was relentless, closing in with alarming speed. Desperately, I threw my shoes behind me, hoping to hinder my pursuer. I heard a muffled groan, perhaps my shoes had hit him. With renewed urgency, I ran faster through the maze of streets until I reached a more populated area.

My heart pounded in my chest as I glanced back. The figure was gone, swallowed by the darkness. Gasping for breath, I leaned against a nearby poll, my chest heaving with the effort of my escape. Relief washed over me as I fished out my phone and saw the network signal flickering to life.

"Finally!" I exclaimed, a mixture of relief and apprehension in my voice. I noticed another bench nearby, but the thought of sitting down again filled me with dread, so I stood vigilantly, booking a ride with a sense of trepidation. I waited anxiously for what felt like an eternity, though it was only twenty minutes before my ride finally arrived. Slumping into the car, I began the long journey back home, my mind still reeling from the night’s harrowing events.

Arriving home, I stumbled through the door, utterly drained. The bed was a sanctuary of comfort, and I fell onto it with a heavy sigh. My eyes felt like lead, and they shut themselves slowly, pulling me into a deep, dreamless sleep.

Morning light streamed through the window, rudely awakening me with the insistent buzz of my alarm. I stretched out, my arms reaching out as far as they could, but the comfort of sleep was marred by an unpleasant reality. I grimaced as I caught a whiff of my own odor clearly, the aftermath of a tumultuous night and an impromptu nap without a shower. The stench was overpowering.

Without delay, I rushed into the bathroom and turned on the shower. The hot water cascaded over me, and I stood under its cleansing flow, hoping it would wash away not just the grime but also the stress and frustration that had accumulated. I wanted to believe that the water could cleanse more than just my skin, that it could renew my spirit and erase the pain of the previous night. But deep down, I knew that wasn’t how life worked.

As I emerged from the shower, the haunting question lingered in my mind: Who had chased me? Was it a random thug, or was there something more sinister at play? I tried to dismiss the thought, chalking it up to a mere hoodlum. I dried myself off, dressed, and sat on my bed, exhaling deeply as I pondered my next steps.

The night’s events had given me pause. Reflecting on the dangers I had faced, the reckless pursuit, and the mounting pressure, I began to reconsider the value of my quest for revenge. It had become apparent that the pursuit was not only risky but mentally draining. I had a business to manage, and without my secretary, I was even more stretched thin. Taking a break to heal might have been ideal, but the reality was that my business couldn’t afford such a luxury.

As these thoughts lingered in my mind, clarity began to emerge. It was time to reassess my priorities and determine a more measured path forward. The decision was clear, but what would it be? I resolved to focus on what truly mattered and chart a course that would provide both safety and success.