Shining Bright After Rebirth

140 Do You Have Any Regrets? Part

Amelie flinched at her question. "Regrets? What do you mean by that?"

Mrs. Hauet carefully scrutinized Amelie's expression before letting out a long exhale as if she had been holding her breath all this time.

"Marriage is not simple, no matter who your spouse is," the woman started, "I married my first husband when I was only nineteen. My parents arranged it too; we had known each other since we were kids. He was a little older and was about to graduate from university and join his father's company.

When I looked at other women in arranged marriages, I always thought "I am lucky. I know my husband and we are friends. We respect each other and treat each other with kindness. What else is there to wish for?"

She paused to think about what to say next; given the circumstances, Elise realized that she had to choose her words wisely.

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140 Do You Have Any Regrets? Part II

Inhaling deeply, she continued, "As you know, my first marriage ended with a huge scandal. The divorce was a big mess and I was still technically just a child, barely turning twenty-four, with my husband and my dancing being all I had.

My second and current husband, Louis, is the kindest man I have ever met. Even after decades of marriage, he still dotes on me and tolerates my every whim, spoiling me to no end. But there were times when we only got married when I couldn't help but ask myself "Can the years to come erase what I had been carrying in my heart until now?"

High society teaches us to forgive one's caprice or mistake because we are forced upon each other and we have no say in it. My first husband is now a very respectable man; he has adorable grandchildren too.

So I sometimes wonder... If I had forgiven him back then, allowed us both to outgrow our childhood

connection and see our relationship with fresh, adult eyes... Could I have had the same life as his current wife does?"

Elise paused and Amelie felt something shift deep inside her heart. She knew what the woman was trying 217

Have

was happy to realize

your current husband love

hands again. "My husband loves me too. And you see, Richard is no longer a child, he had

marriage for what it really was but he failed

to make the marriage work. As for me... I needed Richard to treat our marriage as an adult so that I could finally see that all I ever

***

knock

behind it. He

knew it was wrong to eavesdrop but he couldn't help it. His

Why are they talking about

can barely hear

11:52

You Have Any

which voice belongs to

faster and

as he clenched his

standing there but

twist and the

the women to

Amelie raised her eyebrows as she saw his pale face. "When did you come

alone."

then wrapped her arms around Amelie's shoulders, embracing her in a friendly hug, and smiled at Liam. "Thank you for visiting us today.

***

surprisingly quiet. Liam's eyes were glued to the window the entire time. while Amelie couldn't help but throw occasional brief glances at his frowning

Did something happen? When I saw him standing at

Have