When His Love Changed,He Finally Regretted It

“Oops, my bad, little sister. Didn’t see that coming." Max crouched down as if to help her up—only for a smirk to tug at his lips.

“What’s this? A few days apart and you've already picked up new tricks to throw yourself at me?”

Max’s grip tightened around Ashley’s arm as he yanked her to her feet, his gaze sharp with warning. Meanwhile, the moment Liliana heard Ashley was his sister, the wariness in her eyes faded.

With the interview over, Max wasted no time leaving with Liliana.

Minutes later, Ashley’s phone buzzed with two notifications.

One was a friend request from Liliana.

The other—a message from Max.

[Get a grip. Stop crossing the line.]

[If you pull another stunt like that in front of Liana, it won’t just be a simple fall next time.]

Ashley’s fingers trembled as she stared at the screen.

So this was how little he thought of her. She wanted to tell him he was wrong, that she wasn’t putting on an act, that she had already given up on him.

But Ashley hesitated.

Would he even believe her? Or would he see it as yet another attempt to hold onto something that was already gone?

Her grip on the phone tightened before she finally turned off the screen.

There was nothing left to say. Her actions would speak for themselves. She would be gone soon—out of his sight, out of his life.

Slipping a hand into her pocket, Ashley pulled out a familiar bottle of paroxetine, rolling it absently between her fingers.

She let out a quiet, bitter laugh. "Guess quitting was never an option."

Unspoken emotions, the weight of passing years and Max’s constant ambiguity had slowly chipped away at Ashley’s confidence in their relationship. Yet, despite everything, she couldn’t bring herself to let go.

The emotions she buried kept piling up, suffocating her, until the anxiety she once dismissed turned into something far worse.

At first, it was just heart palpitations and dizziness. Then, it escalated—shortness of breath, an invisible weight pressing down on her chest, making it harder and harder to breathe.

She never told Max. She didn’t want his concern. And now, nothing he did would matter anymore.

She had waited—from seventeen to twenty-seven—only to arrive at the inevitable ending.

Stripped of love’s illusions, she saw Max for who he truly was—cold, detached, unmovable. She refused to use her illness to earn even a shred of pity.

After finishing up her work at the branch, Ashley picked up her newly issued passport and work visa before heading back to The Laguna Family Estate. She wanted to spend some time with her mother before she left.

Once she explained her decision, she quietly went upstairs to pack.

She didn’t expect to find Max there.

Leaning against the doorframe, he watched her, his expression unreadable. "Why are you back?"

"Let me guess—you only came back tonight because you knew Liliana would be here." Max’s voice was calm, but there was a sharp edge to it. "What’s wrong? Still not over me, little sister?"

Ashley’s hands paused mid-fold, but she kept her composure and replied evenly.

"I took some time off. I’ll be staying here for a few days. Just so you know, I had no idea Liliana was coming. But don’t worry—I won’t be in your way."

Max loosened his tie, irritation flickering in his gaze.

"You’d better not." He was about to say more when his phone rang.

"You’re here? I’ll come down and get you." His voice softened instantly, warm and gentle—a stark contrast to how he had spoken just moments ago.

Not that it mattered anymore.

Ashley watched him disappear down the hall before quietly closing her door. She picked up her phone, idly scrolling through company messages when a notification from Liliana’s social feed caught her eye.

[Question: What should I bring when meeting my boyfriend’s parents for the first time?]

Attached was a photo—two silhouettes leaning close together, radiating warmth and intimacy.

What really caught Ashley’s attention was Max’s comment beneath it.

[Just bring yourself and be good.]

Ashley smirked to herself. No wonder Max had said those things earlier. Without much more thought, she tapped the like button on Liliana’s post and returned to packing.

When Juan arrived, the family gathered for dinner. Liliana, visibly tense, sat stiffly in her chair. She clearly hadn’t expected Max’s father to be such a towering political figure.

Noticing her nerves, Max took control of the conversation, effortlessly easing the tension. His teasing remarks made Liliana giggle and soon enough, she relaxed, slipping her hand into the crook of his arm with a bright smile.

With Max leading the way, no one questioned their relationship or made things difficult. The meal went on smoothly.

Across from them, Ashley remained quiet, idly picking at her food, her long lashes casting delicate shadows over her cheeks.

This—this was how a normal couple acted. Comfortable. Natural. Unlike her and Max, who had spent years in this house carefully minding their every move, terrified of crossing an invisible line.

She lifted her gaze slightly, a faint smile tugging at her lips. Maybe this twisted love ending was a relief.

Juan, in rare high spirits, suggested a toast.

Ashley offered to grab the wine and to her surprise, Liliana quickly volunteered to go with her. Unable to refuse, she led the way.

The moment they were alone, Liliana’s cheerful mask slipped.

"So… dating your stepbrother—was it exciting?"