All Chapters of Regret Is Just The Beginning: Chapter 1 - Chapter 7

“Henry Golding and Selena, my husband and daughter, my whole world.”Diana Robinson said the words softly, like a prayer she had repeated so many times that it had become part of her breathing. She stood at the entrance of the mansion, her back straight despite the weight of the two filled shopping bags hanging from each hand. Her lips curved into a full, satisfied smile. It was the kind of smile that came from certainty, from believing that love, once built with patience and sacrifice, would always stand firm.“I grabbed all this stuff to whip up a special dinner for our wedding anniversary,” she murmured to herself, pride warming her chest.She pushed the door open and stepped inside.Earlier that evening, the living room had been alive with quiet excitement. Selena, their eight-year-old daughter, sat cross-legged on the rug, surrounded by bits of coloured paper, beads, glue, and ribbon. Her brows were drawn together in concentration as she worked carefully with her small fingers

Nine years ago, Diana had finally found the courage to say what she had been carrying in her chest for years.She stood alone in the bathroom, staring at her reflection in the mirror. Her palms were damp. Her heart beat fast, not from fear, but from excitement. She smiled, then laughed quietly at herself, pressing her fingers to her lips to calm down.“Henry,” she whispered, testing the sound of his name the way one tested a fragile thing. “I’ve had feelings for you for so long.”She paused, blushing at her own boldness.“I—”Before she could finish rehearsing, the door flew open.Henry stumbled in.His tie was loose, his shirt wrinkled, his eyes unfocused. He looked disheveled, like someone who had lost control of the evening. The strong smell of alcohol filled the space almost immediately.“Then help me,” he muttered weakly.Diana barely had time to react before he reached for her. His hand wrapped around her waist and pulled her towards him. Their bodies collided, close and sudden

They returned home much later that night.The house was quiet in a way Henry had never noticed before. Not the peaceful kind of quiet that came with rest, but the uncomfortable one that made a place feel empty even when the lights were on. The front door closed behind them, the sound echoing slightly, as though the walls themselves were listening.Mrs. Willis stood in the living room.She was the only one there.Henry walked in first, loosening his tie absentmindedly. Out of habit, without even looking, he slipped his coat off his shoulders and stretched it out to the side. For years, that single movement had been enough. Diana would always be there. Always waiting. Always ready to take it from him, no matter how late he returned or how cold his greeting was.But tonight, nothing happened.His hand remained in the air for a brief moment. He frowned slightly, confused, then turned and draped the coat over the back of a chair himself. The action felt strange, unfinished, like something

"Welcome back, Dr. Diana." They all echoed in excitation.Diana stood still for a moment, almost unsure of how to respond. The sound of her name spoken with respect, spoken with warmth, washed over her in a way she had not felt in years. She looked from one familiar face to another, taking them in properly. These were people who knew her before she became Mrs. Golding. People who knew her mind, her work, her worth.The fluorescent lights of the research center hummed softly overhead, casting a clean, clinical glow across the polished floors. Diana inhaled deeply, letting the familiar atmosphere settle into her lungs like an old friend returning home."Diana, you're finally back."Dr. Linda O'Neil - the director of the research lab, stepped forward, her face bright with genuine happiness. She opened her arms and pulled Diana into a tight hug, the kind that spoke of missed years and unfinished conversation. Diana closed her eyes briefly as she returned the hug. For a second, she al