L
Loving him makes me regret
forever
Chapter 1
My husband, Mark, acted like I was after his
money, like our son and I were scheming to
raid his bank account.
He kept us on a ridiculously tight budget.
Then Mikey got really sick. I called Mark,
begging for money for the hospital. He just laughed, a cold, dismissive sound.
“Seriously? You’re using this to get money?
You’ll try anything!”
“At least make it believable next time, maybe
Photoshop a death certificate.”
<
Desperate, I called my mom.
She and Dad wired over their entire
retirement fund.
But when I went to pay for Mikey’s treatment,
the card was empty. Every single cent was
gone.
I was about to call the bank when Mark rang.
“So now you’re hitting up your parents?
Guess I’ve been too soft on you.”
“I’m holding onto their money for now.
Consider it a lesson. Your allowance, and
Mikey’s, is cut in half. Starting now!”
He hung up before I could say a word.
<
Mikey died in that hospital because we didn’t
have the money to save him.
While I was arranging the funeral, Mark’s
secretary posted something online.
“Thank you, boss, for the necklace and the
bonus!”
Attached was a photo of some ridiculously
expensive necklace from last year’s auction
worth like, fifty million.
And a screenshot of a bank transfer for
$50,000, which was exactly the amount I’d
borrowed from my parents.
I stared at it for what felt like forever. Then I
left a comment.
く
“Congrats. Guess I’m not good enough to get
these kinds of perks, maybe he likes you
more than his wife.”
- 1.
The funeral home smelled like incense and
disinfectant, a gross combination that made
my stomach churn. The silence was even
worse.
A guy in a suit handed me a small wooden
box. His eyes said he felt sorry for me.
“I’m sorry for your loss.”
The box was so light. It felt wrong, like it
wasn’t even possible that my son could be
reduced to this.
<
My phone blared, cutting through the silence.
It was Mark.
“Are you out of your mind? What the hell are.
you posting online?”
His voice exploded through the speaker,
making my head pound.
I closed my eyes, trying to swallow the lump
in my throat.
“I was just telling the truth.”
“The truth? That’s slander!”
“Sarah’s getting death threats now, people
are calling her a gold–digging homewrecker.
Are you happy?”
<
I gripped the box tighter, my knuckles white,
but I couldn’t even feel the pain.
I was so tired. Every word felt like a weight.
But he wasn’t done.
“Sarah is amazing at her job. That bonus was
for her hard work.”
He paused, his voice softening a little, but still
hard as nails.
“Take down that comment, right now. And
apologize to Sarah.”
“Or forget about Mikey’s basketball camp.
Got it?”
Basketball camp…
L
I laughed, and it turned into a sob.
Mikey had wanted a basketball more than
anything.
He’d watch the other kids on the court, his
eyes so full of longing.
He’d asked his dad for the camp and Mark
had snapped, calling him spoiled and
accusing him of wasting money.
I begged Mark to let him go. I told him how
much Mikey wanted to be part of the group
and finally Mark relented.
Now, Mark hands out million–dollar necklaces
like they are candy.
I pictured Mikey’s face in the hospital, pale
and drawn.
He’d struggled to open his eyes and
whispered, “Mom, why isn’t Dad here?”
I didn’t know what to say.
Those bright, hopeful eyes went dark.
Mikey had a fever of 104. He was burning up,
barely conscious, begging for help.
Mark had brushed it off. “He’ll be fine. It’s
good for his immune system. A little illness
never hurt anyone.”
Mark had even refused to pay for the school
health check.
く
The delay meant Mikey didn’t get the
treatment he needed, when he needed it. It
was too late.
But Sarah had a hangnail, and Mark had
rushed her to the fanciest private hospital in
the city, buying her all kinds of top–shelf
medical care.
Looking at the box in my hands, all the rage
I’d been holding back exploded.
“You don’t deserve to be a father!”
“Get out of my life!”
I hung up, tears blurring my vision.
- 2.
く
I walked out of the funeral home, clutching
Mikey’s ashes, just wandering.
Everywhere I looked, there was Sarah’s face.
On the giant LED screens, on bus stop ads,
even in shop windows.
I stared, numb. My head was buzzing.
I finally collapsed into a chair at a coffee
shop, by the window.
The couple at the next table was whispering.
“Who is that girl? I keep seeing her on every
billboard and store display! How is this
possible?”
The guy grinned.
<
“You know Mark Henderson, the CEO of
Henderson Industries? This is all for his
secretary, Sarah. He’s going all out for her
birthday. I heard there’s even a drone show
tonight in the town square!”
Sarah, Mark, birthday the words stabbed
- me.
I finally understood. Mark had done all of this
for Sarah.
He’d never done anything like this for his own
wife and son.
The coffee tasted like ash.
“I thought he was married?” the girl asked. “I
saw some woman leave a comment on her
く
“Mark’s single, never been married. Check it
out, he even released a statement about
Sarah, and it’s trending.
The guy held out his phone, and I looked.
Henderson Industries Denies Marriage.
Necklace and Bonus Were for Secretary’s
Performance.
The comments were all heart emojis and
people saying it was something out of a rom-
com.
The couple went on about my Instagram
account and were calling me a jealous lunatic.
Mark used my humiliation to protect Sarah.
“Is that the drones?” the girl shrieked.
<
I looked up.
