My Husband's Regret After Letting Me Go

Jalen paused, the pen in his hand hovering mid-air, as a thought crossed his mind. He glanced at Captain Leon, their eyes meeting, and without exchanging another word, they both came to the same conclusion.

In unison, they murmured, "It seems like it's them."

Half a year ago, Jalen and Captain Leon had worked together to take down a notorious gang involved in organized crime. The gang had been ruthless—killing, stealing, and spreading fear wherever they went. Though they had crippled the operation, it seemed now that not all of the members had been caught. There might have been some who slipped through the net back then.

A wave of unease swept through the room as officers exchanged tense glances. The possibility weighed heavily on everyone’s mind. Could this be the work of the same criminals they thought they’d eradicated? Was this their way of sending a message?

Captain Leon, his face dark and serious, surveyed the room before speaking in a grave tone. "Listen up. We can’t afford to take this lightly. These criminals have come back, and this time, they’re making it personal. They’re challenging us, and I have no doubt they’re after revenge. Be on high alert. Watch yourselves, and most importantly, protect your families. They won’t hesitate to strike where it hurts."

Just then, a young police officer approached Jalen, holding a small package in his hands, looking slightly confused. "Forensic Doctor Reed, there's a package for you."

The room went still, the air thick with tension. Everyone’s heart seemed to jump into their throat as they watched the officer hand over the package. Captain Leon, glancing at the label, spotted my name written on it and immediately let out a relieved sigh.

"Siara!" he chuckled lightly, breaking the silence. "I was worried for a second. It looks like she misses you, Jalen. You’ve been stuck here for days—she’s probably just trying to reach out. You should head home soon and spend some time with her. If you don’t really want the divorce, maybe you can patch things up. She’s taken the first step, so give her a chance to make peace."

But Jalen's face darkened the moment his eyes landed on my name. His lips pressed into a thin line, tension rippling through his rigid posture. Though he tried to keep his anger under control, it was clear he was on the verge of losing it.

"She's the one who doesn’t want the divorce," he said, his voice cold and hard. Without hesitation, Jalen hurled the package to the ground, the sound echoing in the quiet room. "Anything with her name on it belongs in the trash."

As the package lay discarded, the door to the station opened, and in walked Jara. Her long black hair cascaded down her back, and she moved with a graceful elegance in a white dress, carrying a lunch box. The atmosphere shifted again, as if her arrival was both anticipated and carefully timed.

As soon as Jalen saw Jara approaching, the anger that had marked his features melted away, replaced by a warmth and tenderness that was almost palpable. His eyes softened, and he greeted her with a genuine smile. "Jara, what are you doing here in this heat?"

Jara responded with a gentle smile of her own. "I heard you’ve been working hard on the case lately, so I brought you some heat-reducing soup and a few snacks. I’ll share some with your colleagues as well."

Her presence was like a soothing breeze, easing the tension that had been building. Jalen’s demeanor transformed before everyone’s eyes; he became a different person altogether, his gentleness toward Jara revealing a side of him that I had never seen before.

The scene struck me deeply. Jara seemed to be an insurmountable barrier between Jalen and me. Despite his assurances, Jalen’s affection for Jara was evident, and it only highlighted the emotional distance between us.

Jalen had always insisted, albeit impatiently at times, that his relationship with Jara was purely familial. He had lost his mother at a young age, and it was this sister, though not biologically related, who had been his steadfast support. Jara called him "brother," and he felt a profound sense of duty to her. This bond, this connection that seemed so natural and significant to him, was a chasm I struggled to bridge.

Despite Jalen's insistence that his relationship with Jara was purely familial, I couldn’t ignore the way Jara looked at him. Her gaze held an intensity that went beyond sibling affection; it was the kind of look that spoke of deeper feelings, of admiration and longing that she couldn’t entirely conceal.

Jara’s eyes fell on the package on the ground, and she shot a reproachful look at Jalen. “Brother, why did you throw your sister-in-law’s package on the floor? If she finds out, she’s going to make a scene.”

Team Ross hesitated, wanting to say something, but decided against it. Jara, her expression darkening, picked up the utility knife and sliced through the package. As she opened it, a horrifying sight was revealed: a grimy pendant doll covered in a sticky, foul-smelling liquid that resembled blood. Jara’s scream of terror filled the room, drawing the immediate attention of Jalen and Captain Leon, their eyes widening in shock as they took in the grisly scene.

Without a word, Jalen snatched the box and threw it into the trash can with a forceful shove. His arms wrapped around the trembling Jara, his face a mask of anger and concern. His brows were furrowed deeply, and there was a smoldering fury in his eyes that seemed on the verge of exploding.

Captain Leon, silent and grim, kept his lips tightly pressed together, unable to find the right words. Jara, sobbing, looked up at Jalen with tear-filled eyes. “Brother, don’t worry about me. You need to go back and be with your sister-in-law. She must be feeling jealous of how kind you are to me and is probably upset.”

Jalen’s expression softened with distress as he comforted Jara. “Jara, don’t be scared. If she tries to hurt you again, I’ll file for divorce and make sure she’s held accountable.”

Captain Leon, desperate to mediate, interjected quickly. “Jalen, Siara might have just been playing a cruel prank. She probably wants your attention. You should go home and talk things through with her.”

My tears streamed down uncontrollably. Jalen, don’t you remember? This pendant doll was a gift from you, and there’s a hidden camera inside it. If you just turn it on and review the footage, you’ll see that what I’ve said is the truth. I’m already gone!

Jalen’s face contorted with sneer and contempt as he spat out, “A woman as vicious as Siara doesn’t deserve to be my wife. She couldn’t even stand Jara’s presence. I saw her with my own eyes—she pushed Jara down the stairs just because Jara’s hand couldn’t hold the scalpel properly. Being a doctor has always been Jara’s dream.”

Jalen continued, his voice dripping with disdain. "After everything, she still tried to deceive me with a fake list. Even if she were truly pregnant, I would have made her abort it. With a mother like her—vicious and selfish—the child’s future is doomed."

He shook his head, his frustration palpable. "The fake pregnancy and meal delivery charades won’t work on me. Now she’s resorting to sending these revolting things. She’s a psychopath."

The venom in his words was like a dagger to my heart. How could he hate me so profoundly? The depth of his disdain was more than I could bear. The love and hope I once clung to seemed to dissolve under the weight of his hatred.