Too Late to Say You Love Me

I dropped to my knees, my forehead hitting the ground hard in front of Julia.

“To think I actually believed you were being kind for once. Turns out it was just another trick." Owen sneered then continued, "What did you do to the lingerie?”

“She’s hurt because of you! Aren’t you going to apologize?”

Blood had already soaked through her evening gown. Julia shivered uncontrollably in the cold wind.

I shifted numbly, positioning my forehead directly in front of hers, then bowed again with force.

“I’m sorry.”

It wasn’t the first time I’d apologized.

I had to apologize for not delivering lingerie fast enough to Owen’s mistresses.

I had to apologize for not handing him a condom in time.

I had to apologize for using the wrong brand of body wash on his lover.

Any shred of dignity I once had had been shattered over these past eight years.

The guests around us laughed louder.

“No wonder Mr. Carter is who he is. He’s tamed the Myers family heiress like a dog.”

“With how gracious Sheryl is, she could’ve been a proper wife in ancient times. She's really magnanimous.”

I slowly rose to my feet. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of Owen’s clenched fists.

“Is that enough?” I asked quietly. “I’ll go run the bath for Ms. Julia now.”

Just as I turned to leave, Owen stepped forward, grabbed my chin, and forced me to look up.

“Sheryl, how many times do I have to tell you? Playing the victim doesn’t work on me!”

“There’s no audience here for your act. No one’s going to pity you. Save it and crawl back home!”

“Kneel for five days. You’re not allowed to eat or drink anything unless I say so!”

I closed my eyes in despair, my voice barely audible. “Owen... In the past, I knelt because I didn’t want a divorce. But this time, I do.”

“Let me go, and let yourself go.”

He laughed coldly, as if I’d just told the most absurd joke. “Divorce me? You think I’ll believe that?”

“Don’t forget—you threatened me into marriage with your family’s investments. The Myers family’s entire fortune is tied up in my company. Divorce me and the Myers will go bankrupt.”

His eyes gleamed with a sliver of hope. He was so sure I was acting out of jealousy again.

But I just nodded calmly. “Then let them go bankrupt. I just want the divorce. Return my half of the assets to the Myers family—that’s more than enough.”

His expression darkened, anger flashing across his face.

He spat the word “Fine” three times, each one colder than the last.

“Keep pretending. I want to see how long you can keep this act up.”

“Get out. Go wash Julia up!”

I bowed slightly and turned to leave.

The dead have no more tears left to cry.

There was once love between us—but that was eight years ago.

I didn't belong to this world. My soul was only sent here with one goal: to win Owen’s heart.

We were childhood sweethearts. The affection built up quickly. My strategy was working—until the Carter family suddenly ran out of funds and faced ruin.

I remembered the day he said he would marry me—that he wanted a future together. So I took out everything the Myers family had and offered it to him, in exchange for a single marriage contract.

But the story that reached his ears... was twisted.

Uncle Andrew, desperate and drowning in debt, died in a car crash.

Aunt Yvonnne, unable to bear the pain, followed him in death.

Owen blamed me for both lives.

He was convinced it was my threat that had killed his parents.

From then on, whatever love he had for me turned to ashes—leaving only hatred behind.

In the eight years that followed, he brought home ninety-nine lovers.

And when Julia appeared, I knew my mission had utterly failed.

Three days ago, the system erased me.

This time I’m living on borrowed time—granted only because I begged for it.

I pleaded for one last chance to say goodbye—one last chance to divorce Owen, and to finally free my soul.

By the time Owen led Julia into the bathroom, I had already filled the tub with warm water for her.