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…”

Christine was quick to correct him, her tone playful despite the seriousness of her words, “after all this time together, where

a sobering

his

to his preferences, yet he never took the time to

frowned slightly, a trace of confusion in his eyes. “You like

I peeled a shrimp and ate it deliberately, maintaining eye contact with his beautiful, deep-set eyes as I earnestly replied, “Bryant, I don’t like bland food; it’s just

the atmosphere

wasn’t the right

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

years. Was there ever going to be a “right” time? Could i never speak my truth?

172

Chapter 39

Bryant, usually so willful, lowered his proud head in front

on, we’ll make meals that you

heart swelling with a bittersweet

seemed he was willing to change, but it wasn’t enough to set our marriage back

this made it

to my feelings.. That