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 to

...

themselves in the banquet hall and the reporters found their spots, the flash of cameras was

the rumors. When I initially denied

like to

Summer deceived her, preventing her from recognizing her

tears flowed on cue, enhancing the emotional impact of her speech. She chose a subdued gown for the occasion,

journalists, a masked woman's eyes

...

Christine came to fetch me, Gregory had stepped out to

teased, "What's

"It's nothing. He just brought up proposing out of

"Proposing? He did?!"

"Not exactly."

breath, "He always mentions

the type to

analyzing, "You mean so much to him, so proposing has become a big deal.

a company with a blueprint

wants the proposal to

this, I nodded, "You're good at analyzing others' relationships. When

I had touched

Christine's expression dimmed

wanted you to visit. I didn't tell you because after last time,

been to

injured. I was there on other business

of scorn crossed her

et art by

very cozy. Must be his

to appear unaffected, I could sense her

fault; I've been

playing games, then