Regrt

Chapter 418

+25 BONUS

On the way to the hotel, the driver was at the wheel. We sat in the back seat, and Ryan was somewhat silent. Occasionally, he would glance at me but remained silent.

He didn’t speak, and I didn’t particularly want to talk to him either, so I remained quiet as well.

The hotel wasn’t too far away. In silence, we soon arrived.

“Was that little boy who called you ‘Aunt Frank’s nephew?” After a long while, Ryan’s deep and hoarse voice finally broke the silence in the car.

I looked up at him and met his complex black eyes. “Yes, he’s the child of his cousin.”

Ryan seemed a bit agitated. He subconsciously took out a cigarette from his cigarette case, put it between his lips, and looked at me before stopping and not lighting it. He irritably tossed the cigarette into the ashtray in the car, his eyes fixed on me as he hesitated, then finally asked, “Are you and Frank together?

His voice had a barely perceptible tremor.

I looked at him, feeling no sense of guilt at all. It felt as though time had passed and things had changed.

It seemed like it was only a matter of time before this day would come. Whether he was with someone else or I was with someone else was only normal.

There was nothing to hide or deceive. I smiled faintly, “Not yet.”

“Not yet?”

He narrowed his eyes, catching the key point in my tone.

I nodded and said candidly, “Yes, there are still some unresolved misunderstandings between us.” Ryan’s Adam’s apple bobbed, his voice rough and dry. And after the misunderstandings are resolved?” “Then we should be together.” I looked at Ryan seriously and said, “Then marriage? Children? I don’t know. There are too many unknowns, but that’s how it stands in my current plans.”

As my words settled, the atmosphere became extremely tense.

Ryan seemed to be struck by something, and for a long time, he didn’t even breathe.

He was enveloped in the shadows of the setting sun, looking particularly despondent.

After a while, he took a deep breath, seemingly holding back some emotion.

Suddenly, his Adam’s apple moved slightly, his voice very soft. “And me? Charlotte, you’ve moved so far ahead, but it seems like I’m still standing in the same place.”

“Ryan, be fair.” I licked my lips and took a deep breath. Ten years have passed. You have no right to ask me to stay in the same place. Back then, I was the one who couldn’t even get a look from my husband in marriage. You were the one entangled with Jessica, but the one who never gave up on me was Frank.”

I looked at him and asked with a smile, “If it were you, who would you choose?”

Chapter 418

+25 BONUS

Ryan fell silent, his hands clenched into fists by his side, the veins bulging. When he spoke again, his voice carried a hint of self–mockery. “You’re right.”

“However, you also said it should be fair. Don’t I even get a fair chance to compete?” he asked.

“Ryan…” I took off the bracelet from my wrist and extended my arm towards him. “I know you’re now very successful, with the entire Frost family, the RF Group, or even Jelaston at your command. But, just consider this a request from me–give me a way out.”

On my pale wrist was a striking scar. It had been poorly cared for and had formed a significant keloid. But it was clear how deep the wound must have been to leave such a scar.

Ryan reached out and held my wrist, gently feeling the scar with his fingertips. His teeth were clenched tightly. “Albert told me that you cut your wrist to make Frank let you go…”

“It’s not like that.” I interrupted him, “The cut was on this one.”

I pointed to a faint mark above the scar, which was barely visible unless closely examined. After all, the cut wasn’t meant to be fatal.

It was just meant to scare.

Ryan’s eyes widened, his voice trembling. “You… you had suicidal tendencies?”

“Depression.” I smiled lightly, withdrew my hand, and slowly put the jade bracelet back on my wrist to cover the scar. My voice was soft. “Ryan, in our three years of marriage, you provided me with many assets–houses, cars, shares, jewelry. I lacked nothing. But all of these were paid for with my life.”

I didn’t hold any resentment about it. I spoke about it lightly, as if it were someone else’s story.

Ryan looked at me. “When did this happen?”

I glanced at the bustling traffic outside. “The diagnosis was made in the month you brought me back from Jelaston.”

“It was me…”

His voice trembled as he looked at me in disbelief. He reached out as if to touch me, but hesitated, “It was me… who caused you to be depressed?”

“It was my choice too.” I didn’t want to place all the blame on him. After all, not loving me wasn’t his fault. “When I was diagnosed, the doctor said it had likely been a long time coming. Ryan, I’m not telling you this to make you feel guilty. I’ve already moved past it just want to live my life properly.”

“What kind of life is a proper life?”

“A life without you.” I took a deep breath and spoke with relief, “The past was all my own choice. As for the future, let’s part ways amicably. May we each find peace on our own paths.”