Too Late for Sorry, Mr. Billionaire (Chasing my Wife Back) novel Chapter 119

MARCUS'S apartment had not seen this much laughter in a long time.

The three men sat around the center table in the living room, bottles and glasses scattered around as music played softly in the background. The earlier tension that had once defined their gatherings had completely disappeared.

An old football match was playing on the 24 inches screen but they weren't looking at it. They were more engrossed in something else.

Tonight felt different.

Charles leaned back comfortably on the couch, a wide grin plastered across his face as he raised his glass.

“For survival!” he declared.

Marcus and Julian chuckled before clinking their glasses with his.

“For survival,” Marcus repeated.

Julian shook his head, amused.

“You look like someone who just escaped prison.”

Charles laughed loudly.

“Because that is exactly what it felt like,” he replied. “Man, you guys have no idea how relieved I am.”

Marcus leaned forward slightly.

“Oh, we have an idea.”

Charles took another sip of his drink and shook his head, still smiling.

“When I thought everything was finally falling apart,” he said, “boom! Everything turned around.”

Julian nodded.

“Yeah, that Shantel stunt was insane.”

Charles scoffed loudly.

“Insane?” he repeated. “That woman tried the most dangerous trick I have ever seen.”

Marcus chuckled.

“Pinning a daughter on you.”

Charles shook his head in disbelief.

“A daughter that had long died in my heart,” he said slowly, his voice carrying slight irritation. “A daughter I had already buried years ago.”

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.

“And she thought she could use that to break Amelia and I apart.”

Julian whistled softly.

“Cold.”

“But the funniest part,” Charles continued, a grin returning to his face, “is that Amelia picked it up immediately.”

Marcus nodded.

“That woman doesn’t joke with strategy.”

Charles laughed proudly.

“She hopped on it like a professional.”

Julian lifted his drink again.

“To Amelia,” he said.

“To Amelia,” Marcus echoed.

Charles raised his glass with them.

“To victory.”

They drank again.

Charles leaned back comfortably.

“I know Amelia,” he continued confidently. “Whatever she plans to do, she will win.”

Marcus nodded slowly.

“True.”

“So honestly,” Charles said, spreading his arms dramatically, “I’m already celebrating.”

Julian chuckled.

“You are celebrating too early, my guy.”

Charles shrugged.

“Call it faith.”

The room filled with light laughter again.

Then after a brief moment of silence, Julian suddenly spoke.

“But on a serious note…”

Charles looked at him.

Julian took a sip of his drink before asking,

“After this whole saga ends… would you be able to father Sunshine?”

For a moment, Charles stared at him. Then he scoffed. The scoff turned into a chuckle. The chuckle turned into loud laughter.

He leaned forward, laughing so hard that he almost spilled his drink.

“Who said anything about wanting to father a child?” he finally asked between laughs.

Marcus immediately groaned.

“Oh man!”

Julian frowned.

“Are you serious?”

Charles wiped the corner of his eye dramatically.

“What do I have to father a child?” he asked casually. “I don’t have the capacity for that.”

He leaned back again.

“And honestly? I don’t want to saddle myself with such responsibilities.”

He burst into another round of laughter.

“I’m still too young for that, you know.”

But Marcus and Julian didn’t laugh.

Marcus slowly placed his glass down.

“Hold on,” he said slowly. “I don’t get it.”

Charles looked at him.

“All these hustles and bustles you have been through,” Marcus continued, “are for who then?”

Charles shrugged.

Marcus continued.

“If you can’t use it to give your daughter a good life that she deserves… then who needs it?”

Charles raised his finger dramatically.

“Womennnn!”

The two men froze.

“What?” Julian gasped.

Charles grinned.

“Of course.”

He leaned forward conspiratorially.

“Look, Sunshine is already getting the life she deserves at that mansion.”

Marcus frowned.

Charles continued casually.

“I heard Adrian has been the one sponsoring her school needs,” he said. “Despite paying that old butler.”

He shrugged.

“And honestly? I thank God for her.”

Julian stared at him in disbelief.

“And you?” Marcus asked slowly.

Charles smiled proudly.

“Me? I gather money.”

He spread his arms proudly.

“And once I hit the spot I want…”

He winked.

“I go on a spending spree.”

Marcus already looked tired.

“I get as many women as I want.”

Julian shook his head slowly.

Marcus sighed heavily.

“Yes, we know,” he said. “That has always been your plan.”

Charles grinned.

“But man,” Marcus continued seriously, “there is a child in the picture now.”

Charles rolled his eyes.

“Your child,” Marcus insisted. “Your blood. Your first fruit.”

He leaned forward.

“Why not let her be the reason you change your mind?”

“I don’t care.”

His voice hardened.

“Yes, I don’t.”

He began counting on his fingers.

“She is already having the life she deserves. Best education. Best food. Best clothes. Living in a mansion. Great fatherly and siblings love.”

He looked at them sharply.

“And what do I get?”

Silence.

“Crumbs.”

He shook his head.

“All my years.”

He stood up slightly and grabbed his drink.

“Please,” he said impatiently. “Don’t get me annoyed now.”

“I don’t and won’t care about her.”

He sat back down firmly.

“Let’s leave it at that.”

Marcus and Julian exchanged glances.

It was clear there was nothing they could do.

Marcus sighed.

“Sorry,” he muttered.

Julian nodded.

“Yeah… we shouldn’t have pushed.”

Charles relaxed again immediately.

“Exactly.”

He took another drink.

“As soon as this drama is over,” he continued excitedly, “I’m making a very huge financial request from Amelia.”

Marcus frowned slightly.

Charles grinned confidently.

“And I’m damn sure she will oblige this time.”

Julian raised an eyebrow.

“Oh?”

Charles nodded proudly.

“I have shown her more truthfulness recently.”

He tapped the table.

“And this time…”

His grin widened.

“I’m making sure those tech guys finally finish developing and launching my apps.”

Marcus nodded slowly.

“So you can move on in peace.”

“Exactly.”

Then suddenly—

Charles’s phone rang.

The sound interrupted the room.

He glanced at the screen.

Then his face immediately lit up.

His eyes sparkled with excitement.

“Speak of the angel,” he said happily.

Marcus leaned forward.

“Who?”

Charles raised the phone proudly.

“My Amelia.”

His smile widened as he swiped toward the answer button.

And lifted the phone to his ear.