Regret Came Too Late

Selene never cared about Vincent's past, nor did he concern himself with hers. They simply respected each other; that was all.

If marriage could be compared to running a company, they would indeed have made excellent partners-steady, dependable, and composed-though lacking the burning passion that often ignited such unions.

But passion was fleeting. Ultimately, every marriage would settle into companionship, much like how they were with each other now.

Vincent took a drag from the cigarette, his brows faintly knitting together. It was too bitter for his taste.

Meanwhile, downstairs, Damien still felt his heart pounding as he stepped into his car.

His phone rang all of a sudden.

It was his father-Christopher Jensen.

The voice on the other line was hesitant. "I heard you've been giving Selene some trouble lately."

The Jensen family had no idea they had once slept with each other. Still, they had sensed something unusual-Damien's unusual attentiveness toward her and her sudden decision to sever ties and move out. It had left the family feeling quietly relieved.

the bitter taste in his mouth. "Who

it today," Christopher said. "Apparently, you have

and

and even in the rearview mirror, he could still see the redness around his

to them," he said. "You know better than anyone how she avoids me now. It's just because of all those

sighed on

Should those rumors be allowed to develop unchecked, the entirety of the Jensen family would be branded with the damaging

Selene had first moved out, he and his wife, Sophia,

treatment of their adopted daughter had always been nothing but kind. Nevertheless, when boundaries were tested,

attached to her, ever since you

gaze and respond hoarsely, "Christmas is next

run into each other as long as she

think she could just flee abroad and avoid him?

glanced at the

situations. If you weren't obvious about it, there wouldn't have