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.

bitter taste in his mouth. "Who told you that? I

associate mentioned it today," Christopher said. "Apparently, you have been

and their endless

rearview mirror,

avoids me now. It's just because of all those nonsense rumors

on the

unchecked, the entirety of the Jensen family would be branded with the damaging accusation of having

had first moved out, he and his wife, Sophia, never said

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

her, ever since you

several seconds to lower his gaze and respond hoarsely, "Christmas is next month. Won't you at

other as long as

flee abroad and avoid him? Not

glanced at the

But you need to control yourself. Stop forcing her into difficult situations. If you weren't obvious about it, there wouldn't have been so many rumors in the first place-and she wouldn't have been forced