Lost Me, Gained Regret (Jane and Bryant Ferguson)

Bryant seemed stunned but remained silent.

I asked in a hushed tone, "What about our wedding night? Why did you leave?"

I vaguely remembered I sat on the balcony waiting all night that night. It was our wedding night, and he left his newlywed wife at home, carelessly heading out. I thought something serious had happened, worried about his safety while also fretting if I had somehow displeased him. At the same time, I was eagerly hoping for his early return.

I was only twenty-three then, having somehow married the man I had secretly adored for years. How could I not have expectations for our marriage and him?

Then, I finally learned that while I was eagerly waiting for him to come home, he was with another woman. It all felt like a cruel joke.

Bryant didn't hide it anymore, his voice cold and steady. "That night, she had gone drag racing and got into a mishap. The police called me to pick her up." What a coincidence.

On the very day of our wedding, Margaret had an accident, and it was in the dead of night.

But I remembered, just several days after the wedding, at the family dinner, she was there, without a scratch on her.

I rolled down the car window, silent for a while, and said calmly, "Bryant, if she's the one you've got feelings for, we can go our separate ways on good terms."

He slammed on the brakes and parked at the side of the road, his gaze fixed on me, his emotions finally surfacing.

It was unusual to see him anything other than cool and collected.

"I never thought..." Buzz. The vibration of a text message interrupted him.

Bryant glanced at it, annoyance flashing across his face, and he said without hesitation, "She's in trouble again. I might have to go check on her."

I struggled to contain the bitterness surging in my chest, trying to control my emotions, and then I glanced at him through the streetlight. The person I had longed for seemed to fill me with disillusionment. "Got it." I tiredly opened the car door and stepped out.

At that moment of anger, divorce crossed my mind. But I'd loved Bryant for so many years. It wasn't going to be easy to just let it go.

Fear of regret held me back. It was the fear that I might look back and feel remorse one day.

As the black Maybach sped away, I sighed deeply, watching the bustling traffic and the flashing neon lights, feeling a sense of loneliness I hadn't felt in a long time.

"What's up?" Christine's call came out of the blue, her voice as vibrant and bright as her personality.

The early autumn breeze made me shiver, and I wrapped my jacket tighter around me, crossing the street.

"Just wandering," I said.

"Really? Mr. Ferguson has the time and inclination to..."

"No, by myself." I cut her off, feeling helpless.

"What a jerk, leaving you alone during the holidays? Where are you?" Christine's temper flared instantly. She could be indiscriminately combative when it came to my issues.

I couldn't help but laugh. "Over by the Cloud River."

"Wait for me. I'm coming to get you." She hung up abruptly, clearly in a rush.

Her car pulled up before me in less than twenty minutes, and she rolled down the window, "Get in."

"What happened?" As we drove, Christine glanced at me. "Don't tell me you've been wandering the streets for miles alone."

She might come off as brash and outspoken, but she was more rational and considerate than anyone else.

I never thought about lying to her and just shared what had happened.

"What the fuck!" Christine's face was a mix of confusion and anger. "So this Margaret wants Bryant to divorce you for her? I ran into her at the office today, flaunting that Patek Philippe watch. Talk about a nice watch. Shame about the wearer! Bitch! And Bryant, what's he doing messing around with another woman when he's got a wife? I swear he's a second-rate lover and a first-rate fool!"

"So, what are you thinking?" she asked after her rant.

"I haven't decided yet." I shook my head.

Christine reached over and tapped my forehead. "You, you're usually so sharp. But when it comes to Bryant, you're clueless. Missing out on a lifetime of happiness over a few dinners, and you're the only one clinging to the past. Bryant probably forgot about it ages ago."