Her Return, His Regret

"Neighbour?" Ryan arched an eyebrow as he looked between Aiden and his sister. "Since when?"

"Um... he lives next to my apartment," Diane replied, her face blushing when she recalled the incident when she thought Aiden had been stalking her. That was the most embarrassing moment of her life.

"I didn't know you're now neighbours with my Uncle Aiden, Diane. Is he still a pervert?" Lora asked playfully, making Diane's blush deepen.

Although Diane was embarrassed, deep down she thought. 'So, his name is Aiden? It's quite a nice name.'

Aiden smirked when he saw Diane's expression, however, he didn't want to tease her in front of her brother, so he suggested, "How about we go into the restaurant? I'm starving."

They walked into the restaurant and found a table. After ordering food, Aiden glanced at Ryan and asked, "How far with the search for Ivy Williams?"

Ryan creased his eyebrows. The mention of Ivy Williams always reminded him of how stupid he had been for so many years.

If only he had seen through her lies earlier, none of what they were going through would have happened.

He was responsible for putting his family in danger because he kept that woman close. It was his biggest regret.

"There's nothing yet. But with the reward I've put up, I'm very sure we will hear some news soon," Ryan replied, his jaw tightening.

It was like Ivy had disappeared from the face of the earth. There was no sign of her leaving the city, so he was certain she was within. But where?

All the Williams' property had been searched thoroughly, however, there was no trace of Ivy Williams.

"Great... my team is also trying to trace her movements through her parents. However, they haven't made any suspicious calls yet. I do hope that for your sake, that vicious woman is found and put behind bars. If she ever hurts my niece again, I'll hold you responsible for it," Aiden warned in a low voice, his face becoming serious.NôvelDrama.Org: text © owner.

"You don't have to worry. Lora's life is like my own now... I'll protect it the way I would protect myself," Ryan declared.

"Ok, you two. Enough of all this serious talk... you're making the atmosphere tense," Diane interrupted. She raised her glass of wine and said, "How about a toast to Lora? She's a very strong woman who survived a murder attempt, this is to her being alive." "Diane..." Lora's cheeks flushed pink. "That's not necessary-"

"Of course it is! To me, you're a superhuman, a survivor! God, you don't know how happy I am that you're alive," Diane remarked.

Ryan smiled. He raised his glass and chipped in, "Diane's right. You're the strongest woman I know, Lora. Thank you for being alive... here's to you."

Aiden raised his glass too and Lora had no option but to clink her glass with everyone's.

She cleared her throat and said, "Ok, that's enough. I owe my life to my parents. They are the ones who saved me."

The food was served and they began to eat, sharing a few words here and there.

When they were done and dessert was served, Aiden glanced at Lora and remarked, "Well, since your identity is out and you don't need to hide anymore, when are you two getting a divorce? You've been separated for six years anyway."

Dead silence fell over the table.

It was Diane who gasped and rounded her eyes at Lora, asking, "What? Do you want to divorce my brother, Lora?"

Lora gave a faint smile. She calmly replied, "Since we are not together anymore, that's the best solution we have."

Ryan felt a pang of pain shoot through his heart. Lora's words stung.

'She wants to divorce me,' he mused in his mind.

It was never his intention to get a divorce. Since he was pursuing Lora anyway, their legal marriage was the only thing connecting them together. Wouldn't he lose her forever if they divorced?

Diane glanced at her brother's sad

face before turning to Lora, saying, "I

thought you two were getting along well. Why do you still want to divorce? Are you finding it hard to forgive my brother? Please forgive him, he's really sorry and he loves you very much."

"Would you easily forgive a man who hurt you deeply?" It was Aiden who spoke this time, directing the

question towards Diane. "You'venet

never been hurt before... who are you to decide whether she forgives

him or not?"

A look of hurt flashed through Diane's eyes, sadness creeping into her. She glared at Aiden and asked, "What would you know? Just because I'm always smiling, doesn't mean I've had it easy."

The tension seemed to be growing in the air, so Lora interrupted, "Hey, we came over for lunch, not to fight. Let's talk about other things."

Lora's words changed the topic. However, Ryan was in a sour mood.

He thought there had been progress with Lora, but it seemed no matter what he did right now, it couldn't erase the pain he made her go through six years ago.

...

Later on, Ryan and Adan met at their usual spot for a drink.

Adan glanced at his friend who kept chugging down drinks like he was trying to beat a record.

"Did you invite me here for a drink or to watch you drown yourself in alcohol? What's wrong with you? Things not going well with Lora?" Adan asked.

Silence followed Adan's question.

It was only after a while that Ryan said, "I don't know what to do to make Lora forgive me, Adan. I really wish I could turn back time. I would never hurt her the way I did. I'm such a fool."

After those words, Ryan did something even more shocking to Adan. Tears rolled down his cheeks, and he wept.

"It's all my fault," he proclaimed through sobs. "She loved me... and yet, I took her for granted... And now, I've lost her completely."