I Gave Him Everything, He Gave Me Regret

As his words lingered in the air, he presented me with a captivating necklace. Its radiant beauty was unmistakable and clearly worth a fortune.

My heart raced with anticipation; today marked our ninth anniversary.

I had subtly hinted at wanting a dazzling necklace many times. Still, he would always reprimand me for being materialistic, accusing me of being with him for his riches. “Don’t think being with me will come with rewards. Remember, my family has supported you all these years, so don’t get any lofty ideas!”

From that moment on, I vowed never to ask for anything again.

He placed the necklace gently in my palm, a hint of anxiety in his voice. “I remember you’re great at fixing things. Can you see if you can repair this? I need it urgently.”

So this was the reason behind his gesture.

I scoffed at my own naivety, turning away from him and heading toward the door.

He frowned, stepping closer to grasp my arm, disbelief etched on his face. “Didn’t you hear me? Fix it for me; I have something important to do!”

In the past, I had rushed to fulfill his every request, fearing that even a moment's delay could spark his displeasure.

But now, I coolly pushed his hand away and replied with a hint of sarcasm, “Hire a maid for that. I’ve been one for eight long years, but not anymore. And don’t present me with something that belongs to another woman; it makes my skin crawl.”

Caesar’s expression clouded over, his unsaid words heavy in the air.

Just as he looked ready to respond, a knock came at the door. “Ms. Reeves, your luxury cake is here. Please confirm the receipt.”

Caesar’s gaze drifted to the label: Eighth Anniversary.

His reaction, a brief, unsettled look, betrayed him.

"Zelia… today is our anniversary? And you didn’t remind me?"

A faint smile flickered on my lips as I accepted the cake in silence.

I had intended to part ways with civility, but seeing his indifferent surprise now made that feel pointless.

I turned to dispose of it, only for his hand to reach out, stopping me gently. “Don’t. Let’s enjoy it together.”

Reluctantly, I took a seat across from him as he struck a match, lighting a single candle that danced with a flicker of warmth.

His gaze softened, almost as if in some nostalgic reverie. "Zelia, let’s put these misunderstandings to rest. After all, a wife should trust her husband and not meddle too deeply in his affairs."

His solemn yet helpless words stirred a bitter laugh within me. Perhaps, after all these years, it was my fault for letting him feel so entitled.

Seeing my silence, he grew irritated and drew a ring from his pocket. The diamond was rare, a natural pink, but I felt no thrill.

“I never forgot our anniversary; I wanted to surprise you! Stop sulking like that; you look worse than when you cry,” he said.

I met his gaze with a cold stare. That ring wasn’t chosen for me; I’d seen it before. Gaia had posted not long ago: [My boyfriend is so clueless, thinking I’d actually love a giant pink ring. He doesn’t know me.]

The ring he held now was unmistakable, the faint scratch on its surface was proof enough.

To him, I was nothing more than a backup, deserving only of Gaia’s castoffs.

With a scowl, he pressed the ring into my palm, irritation flickering in his gaze. “Zelia, I’m offering you a chance. Please don’t make me regret it.”

I was about to turn him down when a playful ringtone shattered the moment.

His expression turned guilty for a moment, yet he answered the call without hesitation.

A syrupy voice trembled through the phone, nearly breaking into tears.

Concern filled Caesar’s eyes as he turned to leave in a hurry, inadvertently knocking over the cake.

The candle’s flame brushed against the back of my hand, searing my skin.

I cried out in pain, but he didn’t notice.

“Gaia, don’t worry. I’ll take you to the hospital right away!” he insisted.

I could only grit my teeth and tend to my burn.

After I cleaned up the mess, I opened my phone to find Gaia’s latest post appearing on my feed, captioned: [Little clumsy me. Only Mr. Wallace can protect me from harm. He’s my superhero!]

Caesar, who rarely bothered to reply to my calls, astonished me by liking and commenting right away: [Don’t worry, princess. Rest up, and there’ll be a little cake as a reward tomorrow!]

I liked his post in return, then promptly blocked and deleted him.

But just as I hit confirm, my phone buzzed with a call from Gaia’s number, only to be met by Caesar’s furious voice on the other end.