Chapter 147: Regrets

Megan's POV

"So, are you now back as Gael's friend?" My sister asked when she came to see me in my room.

"Yeah, in my heart, he will always be my friend, Ava, even if he hated and stopped communicating with me; nothing has changed between us," I responded and gave her a sweet smile.

"Except, I got married to Ashton." I continued as the smile faded on my face.

"For you, but things will never be the same between you two; you need to consider your husband's feelings if you want to remain friends with Gael. I could tell your friend is not ready to let you go and Axel." Ava replied, and I nodded my head.

"Of course, that is what I am doing, and I want to give Gael a chance. I forgave his shortcomings because we were friends, Ava. I couldn't just throw away our friendship because I got married to Ashton." I declared.

"Besides, I have an understanding husband," I added.

"I don't think that is the case, I saw him playing chess with Gael, and I could see a competition between them, Megan. You must make your husband believe you will never fall for your friend." She replied, and I raised my eyebrows.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Well, it was only a board game, but how your husband looked at Gael seemed like they were having a football game." She answered and let out a heavy sigh.

"You can't stop Ashton from feeling jealous, Meg, and not only that, I could see regrets and sadness on his face. I am sure he felt guilty that it was Gael who rescued you when you needed Ashton the most." Ava said, and I could tell she was right.

"You better return to the front porch; Dexter was with them," my sister said, and I suddenly felt alarmed. I don't want Dex to hurt Gael.

"Why didn't you tell me immediately that our brother had arrived?" I asked.

"They are no longer teenagers, Meg. Besides, I don't think they will fight each other in front of our father and Axel," Ava responded, and I felt relieved that our dad joined them.

Gael and my brother stayed and ate lunch with us, and my son couldn't stop asking questions to all the men around the table. I could tell Ava was right; my husband was so afraid that Gael would steal Axel's full attention that my husband answered all the questions our son asked to no one in particular.

I don't know if I should feel happy or sad that Ashton was trying to be closer to Axel to the extent that he was showing everyone that Axel is his son. He didn't need to say it repeatedly,; and I hoped no one had noticed my husband's unusual behavior.

"Thank you so much, Mr. Corteza, for inviting me to lunch with you and your entire family. When I helped Megan years ago, I wanted to know you one of these days, and I understood why your daughter left that day." Gael said.

I raised my head while I could feel the hammering of my heart as I looked at Gael with begging in my eyes. I don't want him to speak about the past to remind my father, Ashton, and the rest of my family members of the mistakes they made from the past.

The day they abandoned me, my friend didn't get my message that I don't want to talk, and instead, he continued talking. 

"I knew you only wanted to protect your daughter, Sir. You didn't want Megan to become a single

mother at an early age, but for the record, she was an amazing mother." Gael said with sincerity, and even if I wanted to ask him to stop talking, I realized it wasn't intentional for him to talk about the past.

"Even if she gave birth to Axel before she could even start her first year in college, Megan didn't lose hope. She made it, and I would like to make a toast." Gael declared as he picked up his wine glass since we were eating steak.

 He was beaming as he raised his glass, and I could see my father's face flushed, and when I turned my head to the side, Ashton's face darkened, and I could tell he wasn't happy about Gael's speech.

"To the bravest woman I know, cheers to your success, Megan; I am so proud of you. I don't have any regrets about helping you, and I will be forever grateful that you came to me that day, and helping you was the easiest thing to do." He continued with a wide grin.

I could tell everyone was holding up their wine glasses except my husband, and even Axel was raising his glass filled with drinking water. Gael looked straight into Ashton's eyes, and I could tell he was challenging my husband as he waited for Ashton to get his wine glass.

I could tell everyone was waiting for him. I felt glad my husband slowly took his glass, and I smiled when he lifted it in the air.

Ashton averted Gael's gaze and turned his head to me, and I was shocked when he kissed me before he said cheers. I could hear my family members say cheers that followed the clinking sounds of the wine glass as they made their toast, while I could feel my heart leap in my chest as I thought my husband had devoured my mouth.

"Cheers to you, my love," Ashton said in 

more than a whisper before he took his wine in one gulp, and he looked at Gael with a triumphant smile on his face after swallowing his beverage.

Gael's face turned bright red, and he suddenly stood up from his seat.

"Thank you, everyone, and nice meeting you all, but I needed to leave now since my manager has been calling me," Gael said as he looked at his iPhone; I could tell he was pissed with Ashton, and he was only faking his smile.

"Why do you need to leave so soon, dad?" Axel asked, and I could see that Ashton was curli g his fists over the table.

"I am sorry, buddy, but I promised I would make it up to you. I will bring you to your favorite place the next time I visit you and your mom," Gael responded with a wide grin as he stared at Axel.

"Okay, dad," Axel responded with an adorable smile that turned Ashton's face sour.

Gael excused himself and walked out of the dining room without taking a second glance, and I ran after him.

"Hey, Gael!" I called him, but he kept walking, and I knew he heard me calling his name.

"Please, Gael, wait!" I added, but he continued to walk without looking back at me, and I felt so frustrated with him; he only stopped in his tracks when he reached the front steps.

"I need to go, Meg," he said as he looked me in the eyes, and I could see the pain all over his face.

"You didn't even finish eating your meal, Gael," I softly replied as I stared back at him.

"I need to leave, Meg. I have a concert in two days, and I don't want to disappoint my fans by showing up on stage with bruises all over my face. Ashton was angry with me, but he didn't play fair, Meg." He said 

"I don't want us to end up hurting each other; I didn't say those things to remind him of his mistakes, I was only proud of you, and I wish to let them know how brilliant you were," Ashton added.

"They are my family, Gael; they knew what happened in my life back then; they are grateful to you for everything you had done to me, especially my husband," I responded.

"Don't make me laugh, Megan; if only looks could kill, I had been dead by now. Your husband was angry with me, and he wasn't happy to see me, Meg." He replied.

"Look, I hope you understand the burden Ashton was carrying in his heart because of what happened in the past, and you don't need to remind him about his mistakes; and not only my husband but my entire family, especially my dad," I stated, and his face fell.

"Come on, Meg, you know it wasn't intentional; I was only overwhelmed that I see you and Axel again." He responded.

"I am proud of your achievements, and I still want to be part of your life; how can I be friends with Ashton if he will always act that way." He said, and I was speechless as I looked at him.

"Ashton knew I was still in the process of mending my broken heart, and how could I get over you if he would keep kissing you in front of me? And show it to my face that you belong with him." He added as his shoulders sagged.

"God knows how much I wanted you for myself, Meg, but I didn't take advantage of your situation years ago. I could offer you marriage when you came with me to my estate." Gael said, and I could see regret all over his face.

"If I had only known you would only end up marrying the man who shattered your heart, I should have been selfish and asked you to marry me that time." He added.

Gael honked his horn before he drove away from our driveway, and I felt so devastated that it didn't work. I walked back inside with a heavy heart as I realized I needed to speak with my husband and make him understand Gael didn't do it on purpose to make him jealous.

"Meg, you don't need to say sorry; it wasn't your fault if I fell in love with you. I hope you will answer me whenever I call you, and our friendship means a lot to me, Megan." He said, and he moved closer to me, and Gael kissed my forehead before he turned around and walked to his car.

"I am sorry, Gael," I responded in more than a whisper, and he smiled weakly at me.

"But I don't want you to have regrets about your decision in life, and I waited for you to fall in love with me, only to be brokenhearted in the end." He continued.