The Billionaire's Desperate Love

The frigid Chicago air pricked Richard Wellington's face as he got off the plane, his boots echoing on the tarmac. Despite the fact that he had spent so many years establishing an empire there, the city felt alien. He looked at the skyline as though he was looking for something that would make him think of her or home.

He had become more reticent and more menacing as a result of the years. He was the epitome of authority and control as the CEO of Wellington Enterprises, but he was also carrying a great burden on the inside. He had never completely recovered from the scar left by his divorce from Lily Parker.

His worst failure had been his marriage. He was back in the city today, though, and not for work. He has travelled to Chicago for more than a few boardroom talks and meetings. He had come because, in spite of everything, there remained one thing between him and Lily that had never been resolved.

He tightened his hold on his suitcase's handle and made his way to the waiting car. With neon signs flickering in the twilight and honking cars, the streets outside O'Hare were packed with the typical mayhem.

Richard's thoughts kept returning to Lily. Everything had broken apart the last time they had met, and things had never been the same. Even though he had been driving through downtown for years, the streets seemed strange, and the drive was slow.

Like the life he had built for himself, buildings grew on each side, gleaming steel and glass temples to ambition and money.

Nevertheless, it all seemed pointless. For the first time, Richard felt little in the middle of the grandeur of the city he had previously known so well. He noticed something, a well-known interior design project, as they passed a massive billboard.

The name "Lily Parker Designs" was prominently emblazoned on the billboard, nearly shining in the city lights. A beat skipped through his chest. Lily.

Even though he hadn't seen her in years, her laugh and grin seemed to be resonating in the back of his mind at that brief instant. He had never really moved on from her, and the reminder of what he had lost struck him more strongly than he had anticipated here in the busy city of Chicago.

Under him, his hand held onto the leather seat. He was meant to be business-oriented. But his determination faltered the more he considered her. Could he really abandon everything they had in common? It was hard to separate the love, passion, and betrayal because they were all a part of him.

The vehicle arrived at the opulent hotel where the gala was taking place. Richard inhaled deeply as he considered the consequences of his choice to go back.

The text that was buzzing on his phone, however, was even more urgent. "Tonight's event will be attended by Lily Parker." The message caused him to pause, but he wasn't sure if it was irony or fate.

Even though he hadn't intended to see her, she was once more about to enter the same room as him. After everything had fallen apart, Lily Parker stood in the spacious office with glass walls, gazing out at the metropolis that had become her home.

The skyline appeared to go on forever in front of her, representing the new life she had brought about. The modest flat she had shared with Richard was a great cry from the sophisticated office on the top floor of a high-rise building.

Her work, her projects, and her own goals had filled the emptiness he left behind, but there were still nights when the loneliness gnawed at her. She approached the desk carefully, where her most recent design drafts were arranged in front of her. Since she and Richard had shared a home and planned an unrealised future, she had gone a long way.

She had an eye for design that few others could match, and her firm was flourishing. But the memory of their marriage was the one thing she couldn't get rid of, regardless of how many honours or recognitions she received. She believed it had been ideal for some time. Lily's thoughts drifted back to that period as she ran her fingertips over a set of blueprints. Her memories were whirling like a storm, and the flashbacks came without warning.

She recalled their early dating days, the thrill, the giggles, and the delight of creating something together. Richard had been attentive, friendly, and totally committed. She had assumed he was, however. But when Richard's career started to take precedence above everything else, it was the tipping point. He had missed her birthday the first time she became aware of it. He had cancelled last-minute due to a business meeting, but he had promised to take her out to supper.

A little thing, she reminded herself, until she realised that those "little things" added up to a mountain that was insurmountable. The hard hours, the holidays that were missed, and the emotional detachment. While Richard concentrated on building his empire, she had been left to pick up the pieces of their broken home. He was constantly on the phone, in meetings, and out of reach.

That night, she had waited alone in their apartment, waiting for him to come home, and when he came, he was distant, distracted. She could still hear the words that came out of his mouth, "Lily, I don't have time for this. This is what I'm doing for us. It wasn't for them, though. It was for his desire, for his career. It dawned on her that she had been a victim of his success.

Her thoughts were a jumbled mass as her fingers grabbed the desk's edge. She told herself that it had been years since she had given him any thought. Yet, here she was, on the eve of a gala when their paths might meet again. She had agreed to go for professional reasons, but the fact was she had been preparing for this moment since the day he departed.

The gala was approaching, and the invitation had been sent. The prospect of seeing Richard again, the guy who had once been everything to her, made her heart race. What would she think if he entered the room? Would that spark still be there for her? Would she be able to look at him and not feel the acute sting of betrayal?

Her thoughts were distracted by the sound of her phone vibrating. She gazed at the screen. Her assistant had left a message. "Remember, Two hours from now, the gala will begin. Wear appropriate clothing. After a time of staring at the TV, she closed her eyes. She was no longer able to run from the past. She needed to confront him and what they had lost. Could she forgive him, though? Or would she always be plagued by the hurt of his betrayal?

The event was extravagant and packed with influential people from all around the city, just as Richard had anticipated. The sound of clinking glasses and laughter filled the air as he entered the ballroom, but to him it all seemed far away. His pulse was still pounding from the text he had gotten an hour earlier, and his thoughts were elsewhere.

The thought that Lily Parker was here made his heart race. There was no going back now that he had her within arm's reach, even if he had intended to avoid this meeting. He looked around the room, trying to find her among all the faces.

Then he caught sight of her. The warm lighting highlighted her form as she stood near a column. She wore a simple but gorgeous gown, and her auburn hair fell down her back.

She appeared just as stunning as he had remembered, possibly even more so. Her gaze was fixed on the throng, but her face shifted when she caught sight of him.

There was the tiniest glimmer of recognition between them, but Lily swiftly gathered herself, as if she were expecting a blow. Richard's chest grew constricted. He had envisioned this moment a thousand times, but nothing prepared him for how it felt to see her again.

His mind raced with words, but none of them seemed right. He approached her warily, apprehensive of the reception he might get. Lily's expression stayed expressionless as he approached, her eyes unblinking. She didn't turn away, but she also didn't smile.

After years of suffering and silence, the two souls who had once been so entwined finally met eyes. "Lily," he whispered gently, his voice reflecting his nerves. She nodded slightly. "Richard."

A protracted, awkward quiet that was heavy with unspoken history lingered between them. Richard said, "I see your work is doing well," in a steady voice that was tinged with something deeper. "Lily Parker Designs is widely available." Though it wasn't a smile, her lips curled slightly. "I've worked hard," she said in a courteous but aloof tone. The dialogue sounded stiff, as if two strangers were attempting to establish a common ground yet were unable to lower their defences.

Each word was a strategic choice. Although each sentence had substance, none of them seemed to be sufficient to close the distance between them. Richard couldn't get rid of the sensation that Lily was still both close and far away as they conversed.

He wasn't sure he could tear down the barriers that had been put up around her over the years. Lily gave him a slight, almost courteous grin when the conversation finally stalled. "It was good to see you, Richard." However, I believe I'll go locate my seat. Richard's heart twisted in his chest as she turned to leave.

He couldn't let her go like this again. He didn't know what he was looking for, but he couldn't bear to watch her leave without attempting to mend the damage they had caused. With the burden of their past crushing down on him more than ever, Richard gave her one more, lingering look before she vanished into the crowd.