The Treasure You Discarded, The Regret You Earned

Audrey unexpectedly lost her innocence to a bartender.

For a time, all fingers pointed at me. Whispers followed wherever I went—scheming, shameless, a woman who would do anything just to get what she wanted.

People said I had ruined Audrey's reputation while trapping Hayden in a marriage he never wanted. And no matter how much I denied it, no one believed me. Their judgment was set in stone.

The aftermath was even worse. Audrey attempted suicide multiple times. Each time, Hayden was the one by her side, never leaving her for a second. The once proud prince of Havenford humbled himself, kneeling before her again and again, pleading with her just to stay alive.

In the end, Audrey chose to live but refused to remain in Havenford, the place that had brought her nothing but heartbreak. With the Ross Family's support, she left for another country, far away from all the pain.

After Audrey was gone, Hayden changed. He no longer spoke of love, no longer smiled. He sank into silence, his grief turning to cold hatred. Then, in the cruelest way possible, he married me—not out of affection, but as an act of punishment, using every opportunity to make my life unbearable, as if avenging Audrey through my suffering.

I had once believed that time would change things. That one day, Hayden would finally see the truth—that I was not the villain he thought I was, that I would never sacrifice another woman's dignity for my own gain. But I had been naive. Terribly naive.

I placed my hand over my lower abdomen, feeling the faintest trace of warmth where life had begun to grow. Lifting my gaze, I met Hayden's eyes and spoke with unwavering clarity. "Hayden, I agree to the divorce. I won't continue down this path."

For the briefest moment, something flickered in his eyes—hesitation, uncertainty—but it was gone in an instant, replaced by the same cold indifference.

"The moment the court opens tomorrow morning, we're getting divorced," he declared, his voice sharp with finality. "If you dare go back on your word, I promise you'll pay a painful price."

A hollow laugh escaped me. "This time, even if you beg me, I won't change my mind. I'm determined to end this marriage."

"You'd better mean that," he scoffed before turning on his heel and walking out of the villa.

The sound of the door slamming shut echoed through the empty space and with it, the last of my strength drained away. My legs gave out and I collapsed onto the sofa.

The floor heating filled the room with warmth, but I still felt unbearably cold. Curling up, I shut my eyes, but the numbness only deepened.

Sometime into the night, soft footsteps approached, steady and unhurried. A faint scent of citrus and pine filled the air before something warm draped over my shoulders.

I opened my eyes and found Hunter, Hayden's uncle, crouching slightly beside me. His suit jacket now covered me, shielding me from the chill I hadn't even realized had seeped into my bones.

"Oh... I must have been a mess," I murmured, offering a bitter smile.

Hunter, ever composed, merely tilted his head.

"Hey, if you're not feeling it, don't force it. Divorce... it can be a fresh start. A chance to be free."

I hadn't realized he'd overheard my earlier conversation with Hayden. But his words settled over me like a quiet reassurance. I'd expected him to be angry, to defend Hayden, but instead, he offered something that felt dangerously close to kindness.

Hunter stood to leave, but on instinct, I reached out and caught his hand. The warmth of his palm was grounding, steady in a way that made me reluctant to let go. Before I could even process the action, his teasing voice broke the silence.

"What? Intrigued?" His tone was light, but amusement danced in his eyes. "Tomorrow, after the divorce, maybe we'll see where things go. But until then... you're still family. I'm not that kind of guy."

Heat rushed to my cheeks, embarrassment sparking like fire beneath my skin. I recoiled as if burned, jerking my hand back and lowering my gaze. "You're overthinking it," I muttered. "I just wanted to ask... Do you believe me? About Audrey? That I had nothing to do with what happened to her?"

Hunter's expression didn't change, but after a brief pause, he gave a small nod. "Yeah, you're not smart enough for that."

I blinked, momentarily stunned. That was unnecessary.

A dry laugh escaped me, half amused, half self-deprecating. "Even you believe me, yet Hayden doesn't. Just how much does he hate me?"

Hunter exhaled lightly, shaking his head. "Come on, stop brooding. It'll all be over tomorrow. I've got plans tonight, so I'm heading out. Call me if you need anything."

Then, he was gone, leaving me alone once more in the empty villa.

Outside, the snow fell heavier, blanketing the world in an endless sea of white. The night stretched on, silent and unyielding. I sat there, unmoving, unable to sleep. By dawn, everything would finally come to an end.

***

Early in the morning, I reached for my phone, typing out a message.

[Come pick me up. Let's get divorced.]

Hayden's reply came instantly.

[You're such a hassle. Can't you just take a taxi? Or have the driver take you?]

His words were colder than the winter outside. Normally, when Hayden called me troublesome, I would bite my tongue, suppress my emotions and do as he pleased.