Drowning Him In Regret

5

Back at Casey's tiny rented apartment, I finally felt like I could breathe again.

With Jude's presence scrubbed from every corner, even the air felt cleaner.

Casey was bustling around-ordering takeout, rinsing fruit, trying everything she could think of to keep me fed and functioning.

When she started searching online for sea cucumbers, I quickly reached out to stop her.

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"Please don't waste perfectly good sea cucumber on me," I said, chuckling slightly. "Eggs will do just fine. Sea cucumbers don't even taste like anything."

She narrowed her eyes at me, suspicious, and quipped, “You trying to say my cooking sucks?"

I met her gaze without flinching, nodding firmly.

She huffed, lips twitching, and retorted, "Says the woman who burns instant noodles. We're a disaster match made in heaven."

That got a real laugh out of me. The kind that came from the gut-rare these days.

Then I straightened, my smile fading, and declared, "Casey, I need you to help me find a divorce lawyer."

She stared at me for a moment, trying to read my expression, and then asked tentatively, "You're really not going to tell him, are you? If he knew the

truth.... he'd lose it."

I shook my head. I wasn't going to tell him.

I'd made sure he'd never find me again-didn't want him burdened with guilt or obligation.

And now, when there wasn't even love left between us, what was the point in dragging it out?

"Ada..." Casey said softly, her voice filled with concern, "If you go through with the divorce, and he finds out later-he's going to hate himself for the rest

of his life."

She knew everything that had happened between us. To her, I was the one getting the short end of the stick.

But in my eyes, if the truth came out, both of us would be the ones left bleeding.

I said, "He doesn't love me anymore, Casey. And if all we have left is pity, then what kind of future are we even fighting for?"

I looked down at my hands, sighing. "Honestly, I haven't loved him in years."

I took a breath, steadying myself, and continued, "Right now, I just want to live.

Get through treatment. Who knows-maybe I'll be a miracle case."

The last part barely made it past my lips because even I didn't believe it.

I still hated him, yes. But a part of me... still cared.

How much, I wasn't sure.

But the remnants of that feeling were enough to make me want to end this before it turned uglier.

Casey pulled me into a hug and nodded resolutely, "Alright. I'll find you the best damn lawyer in the city. We're done with him."

I lowered my gaze. Truth was, I never should've started again with Jude in the first place.

If not for that one desperate moment, I never would've let him back in.

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Thu, 8 Maynoveldrama

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Maybe because the way we ended before had been so messy, I'd become a loose thread he couldn't quite snip off.

But now he had someone else. He should be able to let me go.

He didn't call me at all that day-not even a text.

I figured Vivian's little fainting spell must've kept him busy. His precious new love

had passed out in his arms, after all. Why would he care about the wife he no longer acknowledged?

Honestly, I didn't mind staying at Casey's. I even offered to split the rent. Seemed like a good place to settle for a while.

The next morning at work, I felt surprisingly energized.

Turns out even terminal patients perk up with the right peace of mind.

Unfortunately, the same couldn't be said for the design department-something was clearly off.

I only knew the truth when Ellen came to my desk looking pale and stricken.

"Ada," she said, her voice quivering, "we can't reach Mr. Carson. He's not answering his phone, and the Elitara Group is already here. What should we

do?"

"No one else could sign the documents," she continued, her eyes pleading, "and no one greeted them. We..."

Ever since the whole Jude mess, the team had been tiptoeing around anything to do with him unless they absolutely couldn't help it.

The cooperation with the Elitara Group had not been finalized yet, so everyone was anxious.

4 stood and adjusted my shirt, saying reassuringly, "It's alright. The project's our responsibility anyway-I'll go."

Elien nodded, biting her lip nervously.

When I stepped into the conference room, the look on the client's face told me everything. Cassian Merritt was angry.

"I'm so sorry, Mr. Merritt. I should've been here sooner," I said, smiling politely, trying to ease the tension.

If we could land the Elitara Group, I wouldn't have to worry about commissions for the next two years.

I'd happily put up with his bad mood for that.

Unfortunately, he wasn't in the mood to let me off the hook.

"You and Mr. Carson must be very busy people," he said coolly, his tone laced with sarcasm. "Too busy to remember you had a meeting with me, it seems."

Of course it was Jude who set up the meeting and then didn't show.

I gritted my teeth but kept the smile, explaining. "Something came up. He he really couldn't make it."

"Then call him," Cassian snapped, pointing directly at me, his voice harsh. "Right now. Let's see just how busy he really is."

Everyone else had their heads down, not daring to breathe too loudly. I pulled out

my phone and called Jude.

It was the same this time.

I'd almost forgotten-he'd blocked me.

I lied to him. “Mr. Merritt, 1-his phone's off. He must be tied up with something"

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Before I could finish, he pulled out his own phone and held it up for me to see.

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"You think I haven't tried?" he snapped, his face reddening with anger. "Look-I've

called him a dozen times. This is how little he respects my time."

As he waved his phone in frustration, he accidentally hit the dial button. A few seconds later, someone answered.

"Mr. Merritt, I just arrived downstairs. I'm terribly sorry please wait a moment," said Jude.

The room went dead silent.

A moment later, before Jude walked in with Vivian on his arm, Cassian broke a

glass and accused, "So you are messing with me?

"Are you seriously wasting my time like this?"

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