Regret Came Too Late

The moment those words left Damien's mouth, the atmosphere in the room grew unbearably strained.

This wasn't the first time he had said something like this-and he meant every word.

Selene drew a deep breath and set down her utensils. "Get out. Don't come looking for me again. The Jensen family's been calling me lately, and I won't let this escalate."

Every time they met, she asked him not to make a scene. Yet Damien had never once listened.

Rising abruptly, he grabbed the tablecloth and yanked it hard, sending the carefully prepared dishes crashing to the floor. It turned the room into chaos, with spilled food and shattered porcelain.

His gaze cut to Vincent, and suddenly, he smirked. "Selene and I grew up together. Whatever reason you two are together, it doesn't matter. You're not marrying her as long as I'm breathing. Professor Calloway, you're still young. Go find someone else."

Ever composed behind his glasses, Vincent simply tightened his grip on Selene's hand.

His stance was clear-he would never look for someone else; he had already chosen her.

a long pause, he finally

immature. I don't like childish men. Vincent would never barge into someone's home

I'll shift my work entirely overseas.

behind, there was no need for her to live in their shadow any

took a moment to compose himself before quietly gathering up the pieces of shattered plates from the floor and then pulling out his

chaos on the floor. However, being born as an

stood motionless, a dull

stood between them, and the debt of gratitude for her upbringing weighed

stepped forward, reaching for the mop in

stripped of its usual

the floor silently, swept the broken shards into the trash, and

as his hand touched the doorknob, he turned back and said, "Grandma's condition has worsened. She keeps asking for you, and Grandpa, too.

had left did she make her way slowly to