Ex-Husband’s Regret by Evelyn M.M

Chapter 0509 Harper. www “T'honestly don’t know why you wanted us to come here,” I grumble as I rub my hands together to generate some warmth.

“Is it wrong that I want to take awalk = with my wife through the park?” Gabriel asks, amusement coloring his features.

My grumpiness doesn’t do anything to ' diminish the shine in his eyes. In fact, it looks like he finds it cute.

“During work hours?” I ask skeptically, my eyes surveying the park we were in.

Given the cold weather, we were among the few who were here.

“I'am the boss, Harper, and you are my wife. We can do whatever the fuck we want,” he says, grabbing my hand and holding it tightly in his. “If anyone has a problem with it, then they can go fuck themselves.”

, Despite the chill in the air and the fact that I don’t want to be here, I smile.

Using my hair to hide it. { Gabriel has surprised me over and over again with his care, love, and attentiveness. If I am being honest, I never thought that I'd ever be this happy with him. He has surprised me at every ‘ turn.

“It’s still not a good habit,” I tell him, looking up at his six-feet-two frame.

His smiling face greets me. Gone is the Gabriel I knew. He was no longer cold and detached. His smiles and laughs now come easily, and they warm my heart.

Sure, at work he still maintains his aloof persona, but when Lilly and I are around, it quickly disappears.

“I’ve been working for Wood's Corporation since I was sixteen. It got worse after Ashley broke my heart. I lived and breathed the company. Our family’s legacy.” He pauses, his thumb drawing

traces on my palm. “Now, I have you and Lilly, and you take precedence over everything, including the company. If I ¢ want to take you out for a stroll, then that’s what I'll do. I deserve to enjoy quality time with my wife after all the years of hard work I've put into the company.” What am I supposed to say to that? How am I even supposed to respond to that heartwarming little speech? Instead, I squeeze his hand to let him know that I do understand. That I get what he is saying. After hearing his words, all my inhibitions fall away, and I put work aside. Focusing on the current moment. Using my free hand, I pull my coat together before stepping closer to him.

Even though Gabriel had handed over Unity Ventures, I still continued to work with him. I felt that there is more I could learn from him before I am confident

enough to venture on my own.

Besides, I was still in my planning stages. | I couldn’t just jump head first. I needed to y plan. I needed to organize my ideas, my goals, and steps for how to achieve all the goals I had for the company.

| Aside from that, before I can even launch the ideas I had, I needed to do interviews and hire new staff. Like I said before, Unity Ventures was solely focused on buying and selling properties. With the introduction of architectural, construction, and interior designing services, it will need not only new staff but also new departments.

It'll be a while before I can officially launch it with a brand-new face, so before that happens, I am totally okay learning and working under Gabriel for the time being.

A few hours ago, I'd been busy going through some files Gabriel gave me when he walked into my office with a boyish

grin and excitement on his face. He had then proceeded to tell me that he wanted us to go for a walk in the park. R I didn’t like the idea that much. I mean, the weather wasn’t that good. I hated the cold. In fact, I prefer scorching heat to | cold weather. I don’t understand how some people prefer winter, honestly.

Despite my reservation about going out in the terrible weather, he somehow managed to convince me... so here we were. Walking hand in hand in this chilly weather, yet he didn’t seem to mind at all.

“We should bring Lilly here one of these days,” he tells me, breaking through my thoughts.

I have to admit that it’s peaceful here.

The quietness, the atmosphere, and most especially the tall green trees were relaxing. I feel myself melt into his arms as I relax. There is just something about being in nature. It leaves you rejuvenated.

“It’s on the other side of the penthouse,” I point out while smiling at a cute Chihuahua dressed in a pink skirt. ¢ We had not yet moved to our new home.

For reasons unknown to me (or maybe I did know I just didn’t want to admit it), I kept postponing the movement. I know it frustrated both Gabriel and Lilly. : “It doesn’t matter; I had already planned to bring her to the office when she’s on school break. She’s been begging me to let her tag along one day,” he says with such a bright smile on his face that it shows his happiness. His pride in our daughter radiates off him in waves.

I'm mesmerized, and I can’t help but stare at him in wonder. It’s like he has hypnotized me. All I can see at the moment is his face and smile.

The continuous clicking of a camera breaks the spell that had me hypnotized by Gabriel’s grey eyes. We both look at where the sound comes from to find a

man taking pictures of us.

When he realized that we noticed him, his eyes widen a fraction before he dashes out of the bushes. He falls on his front, almost breaking his camera in his hurry.

He quickly picks himself up and gives us one last look before running away.

I shake my head before muttering, “Paparazzi.” I’m not used to them, but I think I am slowly getting there. To be honest, Tam not sure that I'll ever fully get used to them. Yes, we were well off, but not at the level where gossip magazines were interested in our lives. For as long as I can remember, Wood’s family has always been in the limelight, given they were the richest family in the city. For Gabriel, none of this was new.

“Don’t worry,” Gabriel bumps my shoulder playfully. “They are just curious about the woman that managed to catch my heart and put a ring on it.”

- At this, I laugh. “Please, I did nothing of that sort. If I remember correctly, you are . the one who insisted on putting a ring on my finger.” Jat His lips spread, and he was about to say something. A come back that would probably be naughty and witty given his wicked grin, but he get’s interrupted by’ { someone calling his name. | “Gabe?”