Too Late For His Empty Regret

Audrey POV:

I spent nearly ten days in the hospital. Ethan never visited. Not once. My phone, once filled with his messages, remained silent. A heavy, suffocating silence.

But Kendall' s messages were a constant, tormenting stream. Ethan bought me a new diamond bracelet today. It' s gorgeous. He loves showering me with gifts. She sent photos, glittering and obnoxious. Then, the truly sickening blows. Videos. Clips of her and Ethan, intimate, laughing, utterly absorbed in each other. I deleted them as fast as they came, my thumb shaking. I wanted to block her, to erase her from my life completely.

Just as I was about to, another message popped up. Ethan' s planning something big. He' s getting your family to invest in a major project. He says it' ll secure your future. How sweet.

A cold dread gripped me. I knew Kendall. She was ambitious, but utterly clueless about finance. If she was involved in a major investment, it was a trap. A disaster waiting to happen. My family. My father. They would be ruined.

I frantically tried to call my father, but he wasn' t picking up. I called my mother instead. "Mom, please tell me Dad hasn't invested with Ethan yet."

My mother's voice, light and happy, floated through the phone. "Oh, darling, it's wonderful! Such a brilliant opportunity. Your father has already transferred the funds. Ethan is such a genius. He said it would solidify your inheritance, make sure you never have to worry about anything. He' s always looking out for you, our sweet boy."

My world tilted. My parents. They had worked their entire lives, building their company from nothing. Their fortune was modest compared to the Blakes, but it was hard-earned, built on integrity. They had poured everything into my future, into my stability with Ethan. Now, because of me, because of this monstrosity of a marriage, it was all at risk. The guilt was a physical ache.

I had to stop it. I would not let Ethan destroy my family.

Despite my still-broken leg, I discharged myself from the hospital. Leaning heavily on crutches, my body still weak, I made my way to Blake Enterprises.

"I need to see Ethan Blake," I told the receptionist, my voice trembling slightly.

She looked at me, a sneer playing on her lips. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Blake, but Mr. Blake is very busy. And he left specific instructions that you are not to be disturbed." Her tone was dismissive, contemptuous.

"I am his wife!" I shouted, a flash of my old fire returning. "I have every right to see him!"

She just scoffed. "And Ms. Johnston is his future. Her words are now part of our company's charter. You're effectively irrelevant here."

My heart hammered. Company charter? Kendall had that much power already? Panic set in. I tried calling Ethan, his assistants, anyone. All my calls went unanswered. I was shut out.

I failed. The contract was signed. My father' s money, my family' s future, was now in Ethan' s hands. And Kendall' s.

Just as I was struggling to accept defeat, the elevator doors opened. Ethan and Kendall emerged, side by side, radiating power and triumph. Kendall smirked at me, a silent victory dance in her eyes.

Ethan saw me, his expression darkening. "Audrey? What are you doing here? I thought you were still in the hospital." His tone was devoid of concern, only annoyance. He hadn't even known I was still there.

Then, my father appeared, walking towards the elevator, a broad smile on his face. He saw me, and his smile faltered. "Audrey! My darling, why are you so thin? Have you and Ethan been fighting?" His kind, worried eyes searched mine.

My father had a delicate heart. I couldn't tell him. Not now. Not when he was so happy, so proud of his "investment."

"Please, Ethan," I pleaded, my voice breaking, tears stinging my eyes. "Please. Don't let Kendall handle this project. Our family will be ruined. Please, protect my father. He' s put everything into this. Please, I beg you."

Ethan looked at me, his eyes cold and distant. "Audrey, don't be so petty. Kendall is brilliant. And she needs this experience more than your family needs a few extra pennies. She' s learning, growing. This is important." He then turned to Kendall, a soft smile on his face. "Isn't that right, my love?"

Kendall beamed, pressing a kiss to his cheek. "Of course, darling. I'm learning so much." She then leaned in close to me, her voice a low, vicious whisper. "Your family will lose everything, Audrey. Everything. And you have no one to blame but yourself."

A red mist descended. My family. My father. This venomous woman was going to destroy everything. I couldn't take it anymore. I lunged forward, grabbing at the contract in Kendall's hand.

"No!" I screamed, pulling with all my might.

Kendall shrieked, clinging to the document. We stumbled, losing our balance. The railing of the mezzanine, too flimsy to withstand our struggle, gave way.

We both tumbled over the edge.

I saw Ethan. His eyes, wide with horror. He reached out. Not for me. For Kendall. He grabbed her arm, pulling her back to safety. His hand, outstretched for a fleeting moment, passed right through me.

He chose her. Again.

The ground rushed up to meet me. A sickening crack. My right leg, already broken, twisted at an unnatural angle. The pain was blinding. Then, nothing. I blacked out.