All Chapters of Regret It Now?: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

9 Chapters

Chapter 1

I watched with my own eyes as they dumped my body in the mountains—the most remote part of the city. Somehow, though, my consciousness stayed behind.By then, I'd already been dead for three days.I drifted aimlessly until, without meaning to, I found myself back at the Seymour residence. And as luck would have it, my family had just come home.They'd taken William Seymour to the coast for his birthday. It was a trip that included everyone except me.They laughed and reminisced about the breathtaking sights from the cruise ship, ones I'd never have the chance to see.I stood there quietly as my sister, Anne Seymour, started complaining, "Is Zach still not back? I'm starving. I thought dinner would be ready the second we got home."Mom frowned and called my name a couple of times, but of course, no one answered. "He's gone again? The residential treatment center was let out two days ago, wasn't it?"Who even raised him? Everyone else in this family knows how to behave, but he's t

Chapter 2

Mom shrugged it off. "Zach's already a lost cause from living out in the country. Bringing him here sooner wouldn't have changed anything, and it probably just would've meant more trouble for Will. At this point, all we can do is hope that whatever center he's at manages to fix him."Dad cleared his throat impatiently. "Why even bring him up? Do you want Will picking up his bad habits? Let's just eat."I'd heard all I needed to. Feeling numb, I drifted into the storage room. Since William didn't want me around, this room—the one farthest from his—had basically become mine.I looked around, but none of my stuff was left. That was when I remembered that Mom had already turned it into William's walk-in closet."Your dad and I have always done our best for you," Mom had hissed, her voice dripping with disgust. "And Will is your younger brother. He's fragile, and instead of protecting him like you're supposed to, you got him beaten up?"I know you're unhappy living here, but Will is st

Chapter 3

Felix clutched his head, grimacing in pain, but his eyes were still clouded with confusion as he stared up at William."Zach…""I'm not that beggar."William seized Felix's matted, unkempt hair. The searing pain sent Felix thrashing wildly, though he was careful not to so much as brush against William.William gave him a disdainful look and slapped him across the face. Felix cried out, but before he could make another sound, William shoved a rag into his mouth, muffling his cries.Then he grabbed Felix and threw him to the floor like he was nothing. Felix, terrified, scrambled back into the corner.William crouched before him, his face twisted in a vicious smirk as he slapped him again and again."You're the little beggar, and Zach's the big one. What a pair." William gave a harsh laugh. "Zach's nothing but trash. Who does he think he is, calling himself my brother? Because of him, the whole class makes fun of me. That useless waste should've stayed rotting in the countryside.

Chapter 4

My family didn't notice the taser appearing over and over in the video. All they saw was me, the Seymours' eldest son, nuzzling against a stranger's leg like a dog.Dad's face twisted with anger. In a low, furious voice, he snapped at Mom to turn off the video, calling it humiliating. "Turn it off!"Once she did, she tapped open a voice memo from the dean of students.That was the same voice that had tormented me endlessly at the residential treatment center. It always came right before punishments that left me shaking.They'd lash me with a whip coated in pepper spray or shock me with the taser until my body spasmed uncontrollably.The whole time, they'd howl with laughter, mocking me, a privileged family's son, for having less pride than their pet dogs."Mrs. Seymour, Zach's behavior is beyond disappointing. The fact that he's gone this far just to avoid punishment is despicable! I suggest we extend his 'study' period until he learns some obedience and manners."Dad slammed th

Chapter 5

Dad's phone clattered onto the floor, and in an instant, the living room went dead silent.…Anne took the wheel this time.Mom and Dad sat in the back, their faces showed no trace of grief. Instead, Mom's forehead was deeply creased. Dad rolled the window down and exhaled a ring of smoke.At the police station, an officer escorted them to the morgue. He couldn't hide the pain on his face as he spoke. "You should brace yourselves. The body bore wounds of varying degrees."Mom didn't get upset. She just let out a dismissive snort. "Zach went through all the trouble of bribing every one of you. He must've planned this whole thing. Since you're all so convincing, I guess we might as well go see for ourselves."Dad agreed, "He's probably hiding somewhere, waiting to watch us freak out and regret everything. Well, I won't give him the satisfaction. And honestly, how could someone like him die so easily?"Their faces were full of scorn, like they were completely certain this was just

Chapter 6

Mom finally felt it too—that crushing moment when hope turned to despair.Anne came running up behind her, gasping for air.Mom's eyes lit up as she grabbed Anne's arm. "Where are Zach's things?"Anne hesitated before answering, "We got rid of everything."Mom staggered like she might fall. Before Anne could say another word, Mom flung her hand away and bolted to the yard.Later, when Anne caught up with her, Mom stood motionless in front of the small room where Felix used to stay."Where's the boy Zach adopted? The one named Felix!"Anne shifted nervously, hesitating to answer.Mom grabbed her wrist, her voice desperate. "Where did he go? Zach loved him more than anything. We have to take care of him. We can't let Zach worry from beyond the grave. Tell me. Where's Felix?"Anne snapped out of her daze and yanked out her phone. "Will was the one who sent Felix away. I'm calling Will now."Mom stared at Anne with desperate intensity as she scrolled through her contacts. Just as

Chapter 7

William continued, "That country bumpkin doesn't stand a chance against me when it comes to our parents' love. They've always been on my side. I ended up with a few scrapes the last time we got into a fight with the guys next door."But just a few words from me, and my mom was sure he was the one who hurt me. They sent him away without even thinking twice. The only reason he was ever around was to take the fall for my fight wounds. My parents ate up every word I said."Anyway, enough chit-chat. Round up the guys and bring them over for lunch. Just make sure they dress like students. We can't afford to blow our cover.""William, you're the best," the blonde guy said.William left, but Anne remained rooted to the bench. The bulging veins on the back of her hand told the whole story—she'd caught every last word of William's conversation with that blonde guy.…Dad still wasn't back from the police station when Anne brought Mom home.They'd only just settled in when William walked i

Chapter 8

William clamped his hand over the dean's mouth and growled, "Enough. You'll get it tomorrow!"He watched the dean walk away before finally exhaling in relief. After a quick scan of the area, he snatched up a nearby rock and cracked it against his own forehead.Anne pressed her hand to her lips, stifling any sound.Completely unaware of her, William pressed a palm to his bleeding wound and headed back inside.Dad sat on the couch, comforting Mom. The second she spotted the blood on William's forehead, she grew frantic. "Will! How did you hurt yourself? Is it bad? Hurry! Go get the medical kit!"Tears streamed down William's face as he held Mom's hand down. "Mom, Z-Zach just beat me up at the gate. He said he needed 200 thousand dollars, and when I told him I didn't have it, he hit me! Mom, Dad, he's my brother. I can't stand seeing him like this. Maybe we should just give him the money."Completely missing the thick silence that had fallen over the room, William kept throwing accu

Chapter 9

Mom continued, "Will, I regret it so much. I should've chosen Zach over you back then. Just go to sleep now. Your dad and I will look after you for the rest of your life."After that, William was paralyzed from the neck down, bedridden for the rest of his days.Mom slowly lost her grip on reality, moving through life as if she were in a fog. Eventually, the truth must've become too much to bear. She took her own life by slitting her wrist.…I stood by Mom's bed, watching her face twist with regret."Zach, I was wrong… I shouldn't have doubted you. You chose to stay in the countryside for Will's sake. Of course, someone like you would care about him. I messed up. Please forgive me."She crawled toward me on her knees, blood trailing behind her, and reached for my hand.I stepped back and looked down at her."Mom, you and Dad failed as parents. I'm just glad I wasn't raised by you and that I didn't end up like William. And forgiveness? That's not happening. "What really killed

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