Lost Me Gained Regret

Chapter 39

Mark seemed oblivious to any undercurrent in the conversation or perhaps chose not to delve deeper. With a gentle smile, he said, “No worries. Why don’t you all wash up?

Dinner’s almost ready.”

Mark was quite the chef. The table was laden with dishes that were a feast for the senses, making everyone’s mouth water.

Steven and Christine couldn’t stop singing his praises.

I couldn’t help but join in, “Mark, your cooking skills are totally amazing!”

“Give it a try, see if you like it,” Mark encouraged as he brought out the last two dishes, placing a plate of spicy shrimp in front of me with a warm smile. “You should like this

one.”

I was

surprised.

Aside from Christine, everyone assumed my taste was similar to Bryant’s-very mild. But before I could speak up, Bryant’s cool voice interjected, “She can’t handle spicy food. You might have been close in college, but you clearly don’t know her taste…”

to correct him, her tone playful despite the seriousness of her words, “after all this time together, where has your attention been? Jane’s favorite is spicy food, the

was a sobering

where had his attention been?

had always adapted to his preferences, yet he never took the

in his eyes. “You like spicy?” “Yes.”

and ate it deliberately, maintaining eye contact with his beautiful, deep-set

the atmosphere turned even more awkward.

the right moment for

for his patience, and this only served to spoil what was otherwise a

for three years. Was there ever going to be a “right” time? Could

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Chapter 39

his proud head in front

we’ll make meals that

was speechless, my heart swelling with a bittersweet

willing to change, but it wasn’t

this made it

he remained indifferent to my feelings.. That