Lost Me Gained Regret

The anticipation was thick in the air, almost palpable.

The day of the gala had dawned surprisingly bright and clear, a stark contrast to the dreary, rain-soaked days that had preceded it. Vista Town's elite and a smattering of celebrities usually glimpsed only on screen graced the event, making the hotel's entrance a parade of luxury cars and eager reporters.

Catching sight of the cameras, I couldn't help but express my amazement, "My mom really went all out with this."

Beside me, Gregory nonchalantly agreed, "Yeah, the scale of this thing is kind of stressing me out."

I thought he shared my sentiment until he added, "Makes me think I'll have to go even bigger for our wedding."

I was speechless.

I sneaked in through the back door into the green room.

Bella's eyes lit up when she saw me. "My daughter looks stunning."

Despite my excitement, nerves tingled through me.

Feeling the sweat in my palms, she guided me to sit down on a couch. "Take a breather. Ivy will come fetch you when it's your turn."

I nodded.

Before leaving, Bella turned to Gregory, saying, "Try to calm her down a bit, will you? She's still pregnant, and even at three months, we can't have her getting too stressed." "Of course, Bella."

Gregory settled next to me after Bella left.

He asked, "Want me to say anything in particular?"

"I don't even know..."

"Okay."

Suddenly, he knelt in front of me, "I've been trying to comfort you all morning with no luck. It's hard to control physiological responses."

"But, I might have a slightly unconventional solution."

Intrigued and too preoccupied to question his logic, I went along with it, believing in him.

"What's the plan?"

could propose

...

and the reporters found their spots, the flash of cameras

initially denied any

I'd like to

Summer deceived her, preventing her from recognizing her own

cue, enhancing the emotional impact of her speech. She chose a subdued gown for the occasion, willingly playing the supporting role to her daughter.

journalists, a masked woman's eyes gleamed

...

me, Gregory had

Christine teased, "What's with the flushed

eyes. "It's nothing. He just brought

"Proposing? He did?!"

"Not exactly."

mentions it in passing,

the type

"You mean so much to him, so

a company with a blueprint to

wants the proposal to

this, I nodded, "You're good at analyzing others' relationships. When it comes to your

late I had touched a

Christine's expression dimmed

made me feel guilty. "Dailey's hurt. He probably wanted you to visit. I didn't

been to

I was there

of scorn crossed her

I saw him with his et

Must

appear unaffected, I could sense

I've been

was playing