Regret is only the beginning Novels & Stories

He shook his head. “If only things were different, had we met in a different circumstance, had we met in a different place in an acceptable way, on a better note? We would have a different start than was planned. The one I had planned. The one you would have most certainly liked.” Regret was the foremost tone in his voice. “Only had we been given a finer chance of knowing each other the way it was planned,” his words held another mode of regret. He felt entirely exhausted when he said, "Exactly like the way you would have always wanted. It would have been so much better than this,” he muttered too low for his own ears. “Anything would have been so much better than this.”

For my sake, Yelena went through IVF, enduring so much pain. She finally conceived, only for me to destroy everything with a moment of infidelity. I truly regretted it. If I had known things would end up like this, I never would have strayed. Wouldn't it have been better to stay faithful to one person? Humans were so foolish. They longed for what they couldn't have, only to take it for granted once it was theirs. I had worked so hard to win Yelena over, only to ruin everything with my own hands.

At twenty, she designed a brooch and a pair of cufflinks for him. Noel's eyes turned red as he looked at them. He felt pain all over his body. His heart felt like it was being clenched tight by a pair of hands. He could hardly breathe. Noel covered his face with his hand. His tears fell through his fingers and wet his sleeves. That was when he suddenly understood. He knew what it felt like to lose something, only to realize too late that he cherished it. Even though Stella was only three months pregnant, Eric was already thinking about names.

He trailed off, and I simply stared at him and waited to hear what more he could say. Eventually, he did finish, "I made a mistake. I'll do all I can to make things right." Seeing the pain and remorse in his eyes, I said coolly, "So you're showing guilt now? Abusing me for Eva's sake without a second thought? But you see, guilt doesn't apply to everything. We're never getting back together again." And I'm not a person who forgets the pain after my scars fade.

I couldn't help but wonder how my life had unraveled so quickly, how I had gone from a place of hope and love to one of despair and isolation. Regret washed over me like a tidal wave, drowning me in a sea of what-ifs and could-have-been. If only I had been more cautious, more discerning. If only I had seen through Reuben's facade sooner. But now, it was too late, and I was left to face the consequences of my naivety.

"You were the only one who saw something in me. Who pushed me to be better." Seth's jaw clenched, but he remained silent. "You didn't just give me a job," Paige continued, tears falling freely now. "You gave me confidence. Purpose. Made me believe I could actually make something of myself. And I threw all of that away because I was too weak and scared to stand up to him." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "I don't expect forgiveness. I just... I needed you to know that failing you is my biggest regret. Not because of the job or the company, but because you're one of the few people in this world I truly respect."

"Aurora! I told Damian I wanted to apologize, and I can't believe he brought you here. I know I was wrong that day. Will you forgive me?" I looked at Damian, but he just kept flipping through the auction catalog in silence. So that was the real reason for this trip. So Clara could apologize. The whole “clearing my head” excuse had just been a cover. I felt empty inside, as if something inside me had been hollowed out, but I didn't even have any tears left to cry. Clara reached for my hand, her eyes full of regret. "I really didn't mean to hurt you. I was just so excited. After being away so long, it's nice seeing everyone again, and I can't help but feel happy about it."

He had no idea that the woman warming his bed was worth more than his entire pack. He had no idea that the "pathetic" wife he'd discarded could buy and sell him a hundred times over. He had no idea that "Phantom"—the genius everyone wanted to recruit, the legend no one could find—was currently sitting in a $49 motel room with tear tracks on her face and vengeance in her heart. Liora stirred, her grief transmuting into something sharper. Something hungrier. Show them, she whispered. Show them all. I closed the laptop and lay back on the lumpy motel bed, staring at the water-stained ceiling. Tomorrow, I would become someone new. Tomorrow, I would start the process of burning my old life to ash

"If you have something to say, just say it. My flight is early tomorrow morning, so I won't keep you here too long." Ruby froze for a moment and asked, "Where are you going?" "Home." "Then when will you come back?" "Probably never." I had never liked this city. The only reason I came here in the first place was for Ruby. Now that we were over, there was no reason for me to stay. Ruby spoke in a somewhat anxious tone. "Are you angry with me because of what happened this afternoon? Wilbur's back was injured before. I was just worried that he might be hurt, so I panicked a little."

she whispered to herself. After a few blocks, the anger gave way to exhaustion. Her feet ached. The road stretched endlessly ahead. She sighed and muttered, “I’ll just get Cora to drive me back to the car.” That made sense. It made the walk feel like something temporary. But as the minutes passed, regret crept in. The air was colder now. Her hair whipped across her face. The pavement gleamed under the streetlights, still wet from the evening drizzle. Her arms wrapped around herself as she tried to fight the chill.