Mission: From Divorcee to Millionaire

His chin rested gently on her shoulder. "Yeah, I'm taking advantage of the situation, but at least I'm being upfront about it."

Just look at him.

He was shameless and wore it like a badge of honor.

Selena closed her eyes, letting the silence stretch before she softly said, "I need to think it over."

Everett wished she would just say yes right then and there, but he knew better than to push. Especially with Selena, who had a fiery streak when backed into a

corner.

Their recent time together had given him fresh insight into her feisty nature.

Oddly enough, this whole crisis seemed to have turned into a bit of a win for him.

A smirk tugged at his lips, and his mood brightened.

"How about grabbing breakfast before you head off?"

"No, I can't."

Selena nudged Everett aside, smoothing her messy hair with a quick hand. "I need to get back to the kids."

Every time she stayed out, Mateo and Haley would fret, and she was eager to get home and soothe their worries.

Mention the kids, and Everett had to give in.

"Alright, let me drive you back."

He ducked into the dressing room, changed into fresh clothes, grabbed his car keys and phone, and led Selena downstairs.

On the drive, Everett took three wrong turns, turning what should have been a thirty-minute trip into a two-hour detour before they finally rolled into Moon Bay.

Selena had given up on commenting. She unbuckled her seatbelt, ready to step out.noveldrama

But his hand caught her wrist again, and she shot him a frosty look. "What's up now? Mr. Everett, since when do you have this much free time? Is Bennett Corporation about to crash again?"

Everett wasn't fazed. Instead, he felt a weird sense of nostalgia. "You used to say that, remember?"

Used to...

Selena paused, caught off guard.

Yeah, she'd said it before. Back

when their marriage was on the

rock bickering and

aver

squabbling filled their days.

But through it all, whether they were laughing or fighting, there was feeling in it.

Not like now, where the man in front of her remembered everything except how to love her.

How could she ever come to terms with that?

Selena didn't want to go down that road. "If there's nothing else, let go. The kids are waiting for me."

Everett reached into the back seat and pulled out a velvet box, handing it to Selena.

She recognized it as the necklace he'd bid on yesterday. Wasn't it for Joy?

Reading her mind, Everett chuckled softly. "This necklace is for my precious..." Selena's heart skipped a beat.

"...daughter. Don't even think about keeping it for yourself."

Selena: "..."

Alright then.

Better it ended up with Haley than Joy.

Selena took it. "I'll make sure Haley gets it. Don't worry, I won't swipe my daughter's things."

She got out of the car, hesitated with her hand on the door, then softly said, "Everett, I'll think about it."

With that, she closed the door and headed inside.

Everett rolled down the window, his dark eyes following Selena's slender, graceful figure as she walked away. His fingers tapped a soft rhythm on the steering wheel, and a slow smile spread across his face.

Inside, Mateo and Haley rushed into Selena's arms, each clinging to a leg, tears

streaming down their faces.

Selena's heart melted as she wrapped them in a tight hug.

"Don't cry, don't cry. Mommy's here. I won't disappear again." Once the kids were finally calmed down, Holt showed up.

He lookeddike he'd been worried sick red-rimmed eyes.

allwild, he handed her bek

envelope.