My Husband Chose His Ex I Became His Regret novel Chapter 39

Chapter 39

Chapter 39

Lila

“Tell me about Singapore,” I say, steering back to safer ground. “What should I know before we go

He’s off. Describing the Lee Corporation, their CEO, the cultural considerations, the business etiquette I’m listening, taking mental notes, but I’m also just… watching him.

The way his hands move when he talks. How he gets more animated discussing strategy. The slight uptick at the corner of his mouth when he mentions something he finds particularly clever.

He’s passionate about this. About business, yes. But also about teaching me. About watching me grow

And God, he’s beautiful.

Not conventional attractive-his features are too sharp for that, too intense. But compelling. Magnetic. The kind of face you can’t stop looking at once you start.

How did I not notice this before? How did I work beside him for three months and not realize that somewhere between the strategy sessions and the late nights and the shared meals, I’d started seeing him as more than my boss?

Started seeing him as… what?

A friend? A mentor? Something else entirely?

“Lila? You’re doing it again.”

I blink. “Doing what?”

“Staring at me like I’m speaking a foreign language.”

“Sorry. I’m just-processing. It’s a lot of information.”

“I can email you the brief if you’d rather read it.”

“No, I-‘I set down my spoon. “Can I ask you something? And you promise to be honest?”

His expression shifts. Cautious. “Okay”

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“Why me? For this trip. You could take anyone. David, Marcus, any of the senior strategists who’ve been doing this for years. Why am I the one you’re bringing to Singapore?”

He’s quiet for a moment. I watch him choose his words carefully.

“Because you see things others don’t,” he says finally. “You ask questions that challenge assumptions. You make connections that aren’t obvious. And because-” He stops. Starts again. “Because I trust you. Your instincts Your judgment. I want you in that room with me because I genuinely believe you’ll make the deal better”

10:08 Wed, May 13 N

Chapter 39

“That’s very flattering, but…”

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“It’s not flattery. It’s fact.” He meets my eyes. “You’ve earned this, Lila. Stop questioning whether you belong here. You do.”

I want to believe him. Want to accept that I’ve earned this opportunity through merit, not just because I’m convenient for his revenge plot.

But there’s a voice in my head, Mark’s voice, my father’s voice, that keeps whispering that I’m not enough. That I’m only here because Aidan needed a weapon and I was available.

“What are you thinking?” Aidan asks softly.

“That I’m terrified I’ll disappoint you.”

“Impossible.”

“You don’t know that.”

“I do.” He reaches across the table. His hand covers mine. Warm. Solid. Real. “Lila, look at me.”

I do.

“You could walk into that meeting and say nothing, and you still wouldn’t disappoint me. Because you’ve already exceeded every expectation I had. Everything else is just icing.”

“Unnecessary calories?” I joke.

He smiles. “Exactly.”

His hand is still on mine. His thumb traces a small circle on my wrist. Does he know he does that? Know that it’s become his tell, that small, unconscious gesture that happens when we’re alone, when his guard is down?

“I should get back,” I say, even though I don’t want to move. “The Henderson report is due by five.”

“Right. Work.” But he doesn’t remove his hand. “Lila?”

“Yes?”

“I’m glad you’re coming to Singapore. It wouldn’t be the same without you.”

The words are simple. Professional, even. But the way he’s looking at me, like I matter, like my presence makes a difference-makes them feel like something more.

“I’m glad too,” I whisper.

We stand. He pays, always pays, never lets me even try. We walk back to Storm Tower side by side, close enough that our arms brush occasionally.

Each touch sends electricity through me. Each moment of contact makes it harder to pretend this is just professional.

10:08 Wed, May 13 N

Chapter 39

Makes it harder to pretend I’m not falling for him.

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Because I am. Falling. Have been falling for weeks, maybe months. Every late night. Every shared meal. Every moment he looks at me like I’m someone worth seeing.

I’m falling for Aidan Storm.

And I have no idea what to do about it.

We take the elevator up. He walks me to my office door.

“Five PM meeting with the board,” he reminds me. “Don’t forget.”

“I won’t.”

“And Lila?”

I turn back. “Yes?”

“Start thinking about what you want to see in Singapore. When we’re not working. We should make time for you to actually experience the city.”

“You don’t have to…”

“I want to.” He’s already walking toward his office. “Email me a list. We’ll make it happen.”

He disappears around the corner. I stand there, staring after him.

He wants to show me Singapore. Wants to take time away from business to help me experience things I’ve never experienced.

That’s not boss behavior. That’s… something else.

My phone buzzes. Text from Aidan:

And pack light. We can buy anything you need there. Consider it a shopping opportunity.

I smile. Type back: You’re going to regret saying that.

Never.

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