Regret Came Too Late

Jodie's eyes lit up as she looked up shyly at Ethan. "Uncle Ethan, I brought you a gift."

He took it without much reaction. His face remained expressionless as he said, "It's late. You should head home."

She stomped her foot, frustration bubbling up inside her. She protested, "But I want to stay. I haven't seen you in so long... Don't you miss me at all?"

Ethan's brows knitted together slightly, and he moved to shut the door. But Jodie suddenly reached out and blocked it. Her sharp eyes caught a single long strand of hair stuck to the edge of the doorway. It was obvious that it belonged to a

woman.

Her face went pale, and she shoved the door open hard. "There's a woman in your room, isn't there? You swore that you'd never marry anyone in this life!" she snapped.

As the door flew open, she stormed in and turned toward the room, but it was empty. Even so, she wasn't convinced. She yanked back the curtains and even walked out onto the balcony, checking every corner. But she found nothing.

That hair definitely belonged to a woman.

Ethan stood calmly near the bathroom door, his voice as steady as ever. "Jodie, you need to grow up."

Her eyes welled with tears again. Then, she realized she hadn't checked the bathroom.

You told me I only needed to focus on being happy. Uncle Ethan, did you forget everything you promised me? Everything?"

past him before he could

of her, his expression

checking

stubbornness was exhausting, but

flung open the bathroom

had already braced for the worst, but the bathroom was

in relief and

now acting coy and sweet.

overreacted. That hair must've

the cleaning lady. She

such a neat freak,

curtly,

pushed too far, she stuck out her tongue playfully and backed toward the door. She tossed one last reminder before she left "Okay, I'm going. Don't forget to

seemed content again, practically skipping

her, his eyes scanning