Ex-Husband's Regret

Gabe.

It's been a week since I met Harper again after years of distance. I never thought that I would seek her out, but life has a funny way of twisting things.

When we got divorced, I thought, 'Good riddance'. I'd wanted her gone, and the moment that chance came, I didn't think twice. I was happy to get rid of her and never look back. I didn't care what happened to her or where she went or did. She hasn't even crossed my mind since the day she left my apartment. Well, that is, until the board of directors started making noise.

My hands fist as I think of the measures I had to take because of them. It's not like I needed the money or anything. Hell, I even had my own companies, but Wood Corporation is a family legacy. There's just something about working for the company that your ancestors built. The pride and joy that come with it are immeasurable.

The board knew this, so they knew where to hit. They knew there was no damn way I was going to let them kick me out, so they knew I'd comply. Which I did.

Which brings me to now. I stare at my driver as he helps Harper and Lilly load the luggage into the trunk. My eyes focused on Harper. I won't deny that she's changed. That's a clear-cut fact.

Long gone is the awkward teenager who didn't know how to dress or conduct herself. Her hair is longer than I remember and where she was skinny before, now she has curves in all the right places. Curves that could drive any man crazy, especially with how her hips swing when she's walking.

Fuck, I may hate her, but I'm a visual man, and the visuals that her body is providing me with are definitely X-rated.

She's also stunning, something my brain immediately points out. She reminded me of the ugly duck that transformed into a beautiful swan.

As if sensing my gaze, she lifts her head. Her obsidian eyes clash with mine, as she gives me a hard glare. I just smirked, not even ashamed that she fucking caught me eyeing her up.

"I'm done, sir." My driver said, making me break the stare down between me and my ex-wife, soon to be wife.

"Let's get going then... I've already missed a week's worth of work,," I announced, and waited for Lilly and Harper to get in before I did.

Once I'm in, Jared starts the car, and we are off.

"You still haven't told me who he is, mom," Lilly broke the awkward silence. "Or where we are going and for how long... Also, why does he look familiar?"

I turned to my daughter. The word still feels so foreign to me. I still can't believe that I have a daughter or that Lilly hid her from me.

I never planned on having children. Never planned on interrupting my bachelor life by getting married and having kids. Apart from Noah, Iris, and Gunner, who is almost always at Rowan's house, I never really liked kids, and I never desired to have any.

Now that Lilly is here and I know about her, I don't really know what to do with her. Sure, I'm a good uncle, but I don't think I can make a good fucking father. As heartless as it may sound, I was just using Lilly to get what I wanted... And that is her mom agreeing to sign the marriage proposal.

"He is... he's..." Harper's brows furrowed as she tried to find words to explain things.

I can see Harper struggling with forming an answer, and it makes me chuckle. Anything that makes her uncomfortable makes me damn happy. I still haven't forgiven her for trapping me into a marriage I didn't fucking want.

"I'm a friend of your mother, from when we were young," I responded after seeing Harper struggle with words to answer Lilly.

I don't know why I didn't tell her the truth. I could have easily told her that I was her father, but I didn't. Trust me, it's not out of respect for the man she considered her father, but I don't want to dig deep into why I didn't want her to know the truth yet.

"Okay, then where are we going? From the looks of how much we've packed, it looks like we will be staying wherever we are going for some time... And, my friends from school told me that you told the teache I wouldn't be going back for the rest of the semester."

There is no denying that she's clever, but what did I expect? Not that I'm being cocky or anything, but my blood flows through her veins. It's a given she'd be as sharp as a tack.

"I'll explain everything once we get to where we are going," Harper replied, trying to evade the question.Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

Lilly stared at her. Her grey eyes piercing those of her mom. I try to hide my grin because, fuck it. She was a Wood through and through, down to that intense stare. Noah used to fascinate me with how he could stare down people twice or three times his age. Now I'm seeing the same thing with my daughter, and it's fascinating, to say the least.

"Sir, we are here," Jared said, opening the door.

I didn't even realize that we had reached the airport or that the car had stopped. Clearing my throat, I got down. Lilly and Harper follow the suite, while Jared follows us to my private jet with their luggage. It was time to go home and explain how I had a daughter that no one knew existed. This is definitely going to be a long fucking week.