The Billionaire Exs Viral Wish

Six years after we broke up, Cole and I ended up on the universitys Confessions page.

Some freshman had dug up an old wish note from the archivesa relic Cole had written years ago.

Im going to marry Renna! Travel the world with Renna!!! Grow old with Renna! Love Renna for a lifetime!!!!

The comment section was in a frenzy, everyone shipping us like it was a K-drama.

Even my college roommate, Harper, texted me:

Renna, he really loved you. Like, really loved you.

I received the message while I was on my knees in my boutique, pinning the hem of a mans trousers.

I was crouched at Coles feet.

After a moment, I plastered on a professional smile and stood up.

How does that feel? Do you think this suit works for you, Mr. Scott?

His eyes were cold, his expression dripping with mockery.

No. It doesn't work at all.

Cole had come in at nine o'clock, just as we were about to flip the sign to closed.

The glass door was shoved open with force, bringing in the chill of the autumn night.

My hand, busy organizing receipts, froze. I felt a sudden, disorienting vertigo.

I hadnt seen Cole in six years.

He glanced at me, then immediately looked away, his gaze sweeping dismissively over the racks of clothing.

Becca, my shop assistant, walked over first, her customer-service voice bright and chirpy.

Good evening, sir. Looking for anything specific? Id be happy to walk you through our collection.

Cole moved slowly, owning the space. He didnt look at her.

Get your manager.

Becca blinked, confused, and turned to look at me.

I took a breath, composed myself, and nodded at her to go tidy the counter. Then I walked over to Cole, slipping into my armorthe polite, impenetrable smile of a business owner.

How can I help you, Mr. Scott?

His long fingers trailed along a row of suit jackets before hooking one off the rack.

Ill try this one.

You have an excellent eye. This is an Italian cut, very

I was launching into my standard spiel when he cut me off, his voice sharp.

You help me change.

I stunned for a second, then let out a dry, awkward laugh, gesturing toward the fitting rooms.

The changing rooms are right over there.

Cole smirked, a dark, cynical sound.

Hah.

I didnt reply. I just watched his broad back disappear behind the curtain.

Sensing the suffocating tension, Becca mumbled an excuse and bolted, leaving the shop.

So when Cole stepped out, we were the only two people left in the building.

He stood before the tri-fold mirror, catching my reflection. His gaze was heavy, sharp enough to cut glass.

Isnt the manager going to do her job?

I swallowed the lump in my throat and walked over to adjust the fit. I smoothed the shoulders, then crouched down to check the break of the trousers.

After a moment, I plastered on a professional smile and stood up.

How does that feel? Do you think this suit works for you, Mr. Scott?

His eyes were cold, his expression dripping with mockery.

No. It doesn't work at all.

The smile on my face stiffened, threatening to crack.

A second later, I recovered, keeping my voice even.

If youre not satisfied, we have other styles available.

Cole shrugged the jacket off and tossed it into my arms.

Im done trying off-the-rack. I want custom.

He turned and went back into the fitting room.

My shop does offer bespoke tailoring. But custom work requires detailed measurements, intimate proximity, and a long production cycle. I had zero desire to prolong my contact with Cole, so I hadn't offered it.

The jacket in my arms still held his body heat.

I hung it back up and grabbed my measuring tape.

Passing the counter, my phone screen lit up, flooded with notifications. I glanced at it.

First, a message from Mrs. Higgins, the nanny.

When will you be back?

Luna is sleepy, but she says she wont go to bed until Mommy comes home.

I tapped out a quick reply:

Might be a little late tonight. Please try to get her down, Mrs. Higgins.

I was about to open the message from Harper, my college roommate, when Cole walked out.

He stood there, arms half-open, looking at me with a mix of arrogance and amusement.

Designer Renna. Come measure me.

I forced a smile, shoved my phone into my pocket, and approached him.

He was wearing a white dress shirt with a black vest. The shirt was unbuttoned to the third button. He wore sleeve garters on his upper arms, accentuating the muscular lines of his biceps.

He looked mature, expensive, and dangerous. The boyish, reckless energy of the past was gone, replaced by something harder.

Wait. When he walked in, wasn't his shirt only unbuttoned to the second button?

Forget it.

I centered myself, trying to empty my mind. Just work.

Neck. Shoulder width. Arm length. Wrist. Chest...

We were close. Too close.

I could feel his breath dusting the top of my head. I moved gingerly, trying desperately not to brush against him.

But when I circled him to measure his chest, he suddenly grabbed my wrist.

His breath was hot against my ear. His tone was playful, teasing, but laced with something darker.

What are you afraid of?

I froze, about to speak, when my ringtone shattered the atmosphere.

The grip on my wrist vanished. Cole straightened up, looking annoyed.

I bowed my head. Im sorry. I have to take this.

It was Mrs. Higgins.

As soon as I answered, Lunas voice came throughmilky, sweet, and trembling with grievance.

Why isnt Mommy home yet? You promised a story tonight.

I lowered my voice, coaxing her gently.

Mommys sorry, sweetie. Can Mrs. Higgins read to you tonight? I promise Ill read to you tomorrow.

It took a while to calm her down. Finally, reluctantly, she agreed and hung up.

I let out a breath I didnt know I was holding.

When I looked up, I met Coles gaze. It was dark, almost predatory.

He raised an eyebrow, a sneer curling his lip.

That was your four-year-old?

Crying for mommy for everything... is the dad dead or something?

I paused. I didnt expect him to be so blunt.

Then again, effectively, the father might as well be dead. I didn't know him well, and he didn't know the child existed.

So I answered, Something like that.

I went back to measuring.

Chest done. Waist next.

I bent down, my arms circling his waist.

Cole suddenly spoke.

Congratulations, then.

Before I could process that, he added, No, I meanmy condolences.

...

I didnt respond. I crouched down and handed him one end of the tape.

Please hold this, Mr. Scott. Right at the waistline.

My right hand took the tape, reaching around his inseam to press against his lower back.

From above, Coles voice came down, simmering with suppressed anger.

Renna, do you touch other men this casually when you measure them?

My hand faltered.

I replied with practiced politeness, Mr. Scott, this is my job.

The tape went slack.

Cole pulled me to my feet, dropped a final sentence, and turned to leave.

Its too late tonight. Well finish another time.

At the door, he paused, turning sideways to look at me, his eyes unreadable in the dim light.

Remember that tie you owe me? Bring it next time.

I did owe Cole a tie.

That wasn't a lie.

Back in college, I switched from Finance to Fashion Design. Once, I co-hosted the New Years Gala with Cole.

I was helping him with his tie backstage. We were face-to-face, inches apart.

Suddenly, Cole dipped his head and kissed the corner of my moutha quick, feather-light touch.

My face instantly flamed. I whispered, There are people around. Behave yourself.

He looked thoughtful. So, if no one was around, I could kiss you as much as I want?

My face got hotter. Cole!

The tie, which was nearly done, ended up being tied and untied in my fumbling hands.

Cole chuckled softly. Renna, youre strangling me. Thats a double knot.

I stubbornly retorted, Its the ties fault. Its too slippery.

He played along. Makes sense. How about you design one for me? A custom one. That wont slip.

His birthday had just passed. I quietly planned to make it for his next one.

But I never got the chance.

A month before his next birthday, we broke up.

There was no next year for us.

Suddenly, a barrage of frantic notification chimes yanked me out of my memory.

I unlocked my phone.

My personal WeChat was usually a graveyard, but now several chats were flagged with red dots.

I opened the chat with Harper first.

A screenshot of a social media post.

Followed by a string of screaming texts.

Harper: Renna, guess what I found!!!

Harper: The sticky note Cole put on the Wish Wall back in college!

Harper: omg you guys were so cute I can't.

Harper: Renna, he seriously loved you so much.

I stared at the screen, a thousand ripples spreading through my heart.

After a moment, I clicked the screenshot.

It was from the universitys unofficial "Confessions & Throwbacks" page.

Caption: Submission from a juniorfound some expired sugar from the former Art School Queen and the Basketball Captain.

The photo showed a yellow sticky note, surrounded by old Polaroids of Cole and me.

The handwriting on the note was unmistakably Coles.

Im going to marry Renna! Travel the world with Renna!!! Grow old with Renna! Love Renna for a lifetime!!!!

The comment section was blowing up.

User1: [Damn, five years later and Im choking on this sugar. They were the IT couple.]

User2: [Look at their eyes in the photos, omg. Even the exclamation marks are screaming 'forever'. HE LOVED HER.]

User3: [I know this couple! I saw them kissing backstage at the New Year's Gala. The dog food was tasty back then, but now its probably laced with arsenic.]

User4: [If they were so in love, whyd they break up?]

User5: [Handsome guy, pretty girl. Wait, the guy looks familiar...]

User6: [Thats Cole Scott, CEO of Zenith Entertainment. He was rumored to be with that actress, Felicity, recently. And the girl in the photo is married with a kid now. So stop shipping them, let them rest in peace.]

User7: [Sad ending.]

User8: [Sad ending.]

User9: [Sad ending.]

...

Behind the university cafeteria, there was a Wish Wall covered in thousands of colorful sticky notes.

Cole must have written this one during our sophomore year.

Back then, neither of us showed the other what we wrote.

I never imagined this was what he wished for.

I took a shallow breath and typed a reply to Harper.

Renna: Its all in the past.

Renna: I just saw Cole.

Renna: He seems to hate me now.

She replied instantly.

Harper: ?????????

Harper: WTF??? You met? Who found who?

Harper: DETAILS! NOW!

Harper: Wait, he hates you?

I was about to call her to explain, but Mrs. Higgins messaged at the same time.

Mrs. Higgins: Luna is still awake, waiting for you like an angel.

I replied [Coming soon] and then texted Harper.

Renna: Talk later. I have to go home and put the kid to sleep.

Again, instant reply.

Harper: Ugh, youre killing me.

Harper: Fine, go. Slave to the daughter.

Harper: Wait, does Cole know about Luna? What was his reaction?

I didnt reply immediately.

I locked up the shop and walked to the parking lot.

As soon as I got in the car, I received a friend request notification.

[Cole. To schedule the fitting.]

The reason was logical and professional.

I accepted.

A message popped up instantly.

Cole: Doesnt even add clients proactively. Is this the service standard of your shop?

Cole: Or can Designer Renna not balance work and family?

Cole: Is the father that useless?

Cole: You said he was basically dead. Are you sure?

Cole: I need to know so I can prepare a gift.

Cole: Sorry, I meant a wreath.

I was speechless.

The brutal, sudden breakup six years ago had evidently made him despise me to the core.

My fingers tapped the screen, keeping it strictly professional:

Renna: Apologies, Mr. Scott. That was an oversight on my part. Ill offer a discount on your next visit.

Renna: As for my family matters, I prefer not to discuss them.

Renna: I love my child very much. Thank you for your concern.

At the top of the chat, the [typing...] indicator bubbled for a long time.

Finally, Cole sent:

Cole: I have a child too.

Cole: Ill bring him to the fitting next time.

I blinked, confused.

Cole has a child?

He got married?

But I never heard anything from Harper. She occasionally fed me tidbits about Colemostly gossip about him and the actress Felicitybut never anything about a marriage or a kid.

And Felicity had been a child star working non-stop; she definitely didnt have time to secretly birth a child.

Was it with someone else?

My head spun.

After a long pause, I suppressed my shock and replied politely.

Renna: Of course, Mr. Scott. You are welcome to bring him. We will prepare toys and snacks. If you have any other requirements, please let me know.

Silence stretched. Then, a notification.

Cole: Renna, you are truly boring.

My fingers trembled.

I remembered what his friend had said about me back in college.

Cole, your girlfriend is as plain as water. Always in t-shirts and jeans, so quiet. Isn't she boring?

Back then, Cole had played with a cigarette in his hand and laughed.

You dont get it. Its because she doesn't know anything that shes interesting to date.

Later, I used that sentence as the reason to break up with him.

All our friends thought I was overreacting.

Cole knelt before me, begging, explaining over and over.

He said he was wrong. He said he didn't mean it like that. He swore hed cut off that friend and never speak like that again.

I ignored him. I ruthlessly blocked him on everything and refused to see him.

Deep down, I knew he wasnt really at fault.

I knew the reason was flimsy.

But at that time, the real reason was something I couldn't bring myself to say.

On Saturday, Cole actually showed up with a child.

A boy, maybe five or six years old.

He was cute, confident, and immediately introduced himself to Luna.

Hi! Im Qi uh, Leo! Im six. Whats your name?

Luna was shy, clutching the hem of my shirt, her voice tiny.

Hi big brother. Im Luna. Im four.

Every weekend when preschool was closed, I brought Luna to the shop. It was our time together, and it gave Mrs. Higgins a break.

But Cole had scheduled for Sunday. He came a day early, on purpose.

The boy named Leo bent down, staring intently at Luna.

Whoa, youre so cute!

Hehe, Im gonna tell my mom to make me a little sister too!

Cole suddenly coughed loudly.

Leo seemed to snap back to reality and grabbed Lunas hand.

Lets go! Lets play in the back room. I brought toys!

Luna looked up at me.

I patted her soft hair. Go ahead. If you need anything, call Mommy or Auntie Becca.

She nodded and followed him.

Cole coughed again.

Lets measure.

I asked with genuine concern, Do you have a cold, Mr. Scott? We have medicine in the back if you need it.

Coles face stiffened.

A moment later, he sat on the velvet sofa, crossing his long legs and folding his arms.

Forget it. Show me the tie first.

The tie. I had actually finished it before the breakup. I just never gave it to him.

The night we reunited, I dug it out of a box gathering dust in my closet.

I suppose it was time to return it to its rightful owner.

I grabbed the gift box from the counter and handed it to Cole.

A shadow passed through his eyes.

He reached out to take it.

Suddenly, the bell chimed, and someone walked in.

A deep, commanding male voice filled the room.

Renna, is my child here?

I turned around.

The man was impeccable in a suit, his face handsome but stern.

It was Lunas biological father, Vaughn.

In front of me, Coles hand retracted.

His voice dropped to sub-zero.

Is that your dead husband?