Three Years Later, He Came Back Begging novel Chapter 16

Nestor gave her a warm smile. “Bonnie, how was your blind date the other day? Daniel couldn’t stop talking about how amazing you are.”

Bonnie had meant to turn Daniel down, planning to say she wasn’t interested in someone from out of state. But in the moment, she changed her mind.

“It went well. We’re having dinner tonight.”

She figured she should keep an open mind. Daniel’s looks, degree, job, and even his family background checked all the right boxes. He was gentle, too. Maybe it was worth seeing where things might go.

Nestor seemed pleased. “That’s good to hear. But don’t feel pressured. If things don’t work out, that’s okay. Our firm knows plenty of great clients, and we set up mixers all the time. You young people have lots of options. Take your time.”

“Thank you, Nestor. I’ll keep that in mind,” Bonnie replied, polite as ever.

He asked a few more questions, small talk about how she was adjusting to work, and then about her parents and even her grandparents’ health.

For a moment, Bonnie went quiet. Something in his words pulled her mind back, and she realized she hadn’t been home in three years.

During that time, ugly rumors had spread. People said she was Lawrence’s mistress. She still remembered being blocked in a bathroom, beaten by the wife’s friends. By the end, her hair was a tangled mess and she looked wrecked—she’d felt like even the dirty mop in the corner was cleaner than she was.

Her aunt had printed out photos of the whole scene, spread them on the table in front of the whole family, and everyone sat in judgment. They asked if she’d really lowered herself like that, asked if the gossip online was true.

Bonnie had been numb with heartbreak, her left ear ringing, unable to say a word. Her silence said it all.

To her grandparents, who valued reputation above everything, what she’d done was unforgivable. Her mom, who’d always been so proud of her, saw it as a mistake that would never, ever be excused.

Her dad called her shameless. Her mom, furious and disappointed, slapped her across the face. The relatives joined in, mocking her, piling on.

Once, she’d been the good daughter, the top student, everyone’s pride. Now she was just a cautionary tale.

Bonnie had always been stubborn. She’d rather go hungry out on her own than ever crawl back home.

Lawrence’s face was like stone as he gave Daniel’s hand a quick shake.

“Hi, I’m Daniel. You’re a friend of Bonnie’s, right? I never even got to thank you for dinner the other night. You shouldn’t have, really…”

Lawrence didn’t miss a beat. “Ex-boyfriend.” He gave a barely-there smile, but there was something cold about it.

Daniel’s grin faltered. He hadn’t expected Bonnie’s ex to show up, much less to seem so… unfriendly.

Daniel dropped the fake smile and remembered something he’d heard. “Bonnie never mentioned an ex-boyfriend who was married with a kid. Sorry, I didn’t know.”

Lawrence’s expression didn’t change, but something dark flashed in his eyes. Daniel could feel the weight of it. Even though he was taller, Lawrence still somehow managed to make him feel smaller, and for a second the tension between them was almost overwhelming.

If this was just an ex, the level of hostility didn’t make any sense at all.