Ex-Husband's Regret

Harper.

"This is so cool!" Lilly screamed as we stepped into Gabriel's private jet.Nôvel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.

I don't say anything. I just looked around the spacious area. It is cool, as Lilly put it, and I did admire it, but there was no way I was going to admit that in front of Gabriel's arrogant ass.

"I can't believe we get to ride on a private jet... My friends will totally be jealous when I tell them." She continued to gush as I just stared at her.

Being here felt so surreal. Seeing the signs of wealth all around the spacious space, brought back so many memories that I'd tried forgetting.

It's been so long since I was last in a private jet. I remember the last time I ever used a private jet was a few months before my dad took over the company as CEO.

I loved my father, but he was just not meant to lead anyone. Especially a multi-million dollar company. He ran it to the ground within a year of taking charge of it. Because of the bad decisions he made and his bad leadership, Unity Ventures lost contracts worth millions and acquired a lot of debt.

We had to sell everything we had. Cars, private jets, our yacht, and properties. Eventually, we had to sell the house we lived in. Even then, it still wasn't enough to settle the debts the company had accrued. Daddy was a good man; he was ambitious, but he was terrible at doing business. So many times I heard the board talking to him and asking him to step down, but he refused. His pride wouldn't let it, and in the end, it became our downfall.

Mom had been the only child of my grandparents, hence the heiress. I believe she would have done an exceptional job at leading the company. After all, Grandpa had trained her himself since she was old enough to read and write.

The problem was that Dad loved the company, and Mom loved my dad. She did everything to make him happy, and that included handing over the family legacy to him even though she knew he wasn't capable.

Dad was also stubborn. He refused to take advice from anyone because he thought he knew better. That his plans were better. If only he had listened, maybe Andrew would still be alive right now. "Mom"

I looked down to find Lilly shaking my hand.

"What?"

"You haven't answered me... Have you ever been on a private jet before?"

Lilly doesn't know anything about my past. She doesn't know that our family was once influential. Hell she doesn't even know that this isn't where I was born or that I had a family.

She's tried asking about it a couple of times, but I always brushed it off. It's not that I hated my family; it's just too painful to talk about them. To talk about Andrew, her uncle, who I used to love more than anyone.

I also don't like talking about them because a part of me blames my parents for Andrew's death.

Feeling the familiar pain, I pull myself back from the heartbreaking memories and nod my head.

"Yes, but it was a long time ago," I replied, unable to stop the catch in my voice.

She stared at me, her intense gaze penetrating my soul. I loved her eyes, but I also hated them because when she stared at me like that, it used to remind me of Gabriel. He was also a part of the painful past didn't want to remember.

"Okay, let's get settled," Gabriel said behind me. He was so close that I could feel his warm breath on the back of my neck.

Lilly's eyes shifted between the two of us, but she didn't say anything. I know my daughter and I know she's trying to figure out who Gabriel is to me.

She finally turns towards him and asks, "Can I sit anywhere I want?"

"Sure"

After Gabriel answers, she squeals and leaves in search of the perfect seat. She finally decides on a window seat at the front. She sits down and buckles up.

I smiled at her excitement.

This isn't the first time we've been on a plane, but it's the first time she's been on a private jet, so it's obvious she'll be excited. We used to take vacations once a year, after Liam and I had saved our asses to be able to afford them. We'd always fly economy, so this was a new experience for her.

"Are you going to move, or am I going to drag you to your seat?" Gabriel's voice, dripping with arrogance, cuts through my happy bubble.

I just glared at him before taking a seat. To my annoyance, instead of taking another seat, he took the one right next to me.

After buckling up, he turns to face me, and I have to keep reminding myself of the reasons why I hate him. He is a devilishly handsome man, and he knew how to wield his looks against women.

Even back then, when he was in his twenties, he still had women falling at his feet. He was good-looking, but in a boyish kind of way. It's different now that he's in his thirties. He is now all male and oozes nothing but pure sex appeal.

"Harper?" His deep voice penetrated my fog.

"What?"

"I asked, how does it feel to be back in the lap of luxury after a long time?" he asked arrogantly. "You see, I'm doing you a favor. I bet it wasn't easy scrapping by and living like a house rat."

Yeah, the warm feelings I had seconds ago have definitely now vanished. His vanity and insult are a slap back to reality. He may have a face like the Greek gods, but his personality is rotten to the core. I must have been stupid and blinded to have fallen in love with him.

I take a calming breath, “It's sad that money has given you luxuries but has done nothing to improve your personality. The fact that you're insulting me to make yourself feel better says a lot about you. It's been said that bullies bully others because they suffer from low self-esteem and an inferiority complex. Could it be that you're trying to compensate for something?"

I smiled sweetly as I watched his jaws clench. Furry replaces the smug look he had minutes ago and damn, does it make me feel good to get under his skin. "Why you..." he goes to say, but he gets cut off by the pilot announcing that we're about to take off.

I can feel his annoyance, and it's like a sweet aroma.

Bring it on, Gabriel. You'll soon discover that I'm no longer the weak lamb that bowed to you. You push and I'll push right back