The Price of Regret

The conference hall remained silent.

No one dared to speak.

The tension in the room was so heavy that even the servants standing by the doors lowered their heads, afraid to witness what would happen next.

Adrian stood frozen, staring at Evelyn as though she were slipping through his fingers one moment at a time.

For three years, she had always stood beside him.

She waited for him after work.

She celebrated every achievement with him.

She defended him whenever the Brooks family criticized him.

He had believed she would never leave.

But today...

The woman standing before him looked like someone he had never truly known.

She was calm.

Confident.

Beautiful.

And completely beyond his reach.

"Evelyn..."

His voice trembled.

"Please."

"Let's talk."

Damien's cold gaze landed on him.

"There is nothing left to discuss."

With one graceful movement, Damien pulled out a leather folder from the table.

His lawyer immediately stepped forward and placed several documents before everyone.

The words on the first page were impossible to ignore.

DIVORCE AGREEMENT

Adrian's heart skipped a beat.

He stared at the papers in disbelief.

"You already prepared them?"

Damien nodded.

"I don't waste time."

The lawyer calmly explained,

"Mr. Adrian Brooks, according to these documents, Mrs. Evelyn Brooks will receive the compensation she is legally entitled to. She will also surrender all claims to the Brooks Group after the divorce is finalized."

The room erupted into whispers.

One elder frowned.

"She isn't asking for the company?"

Another shook his head.

"Not even a single share?"

Everyone looked at Evelyn.

She stood quietly.

"I don't want anything that belongs to a man who never valued me."

Her answer stunned the room.

Vanessa secretly smiled.

She thought Evelyn was being foolish.

Walking away from billions?

Only an idiot would do that.

But Damien suddenly spoke.

"Wrong."

Everyone turned toward him.

"My future wife will never leave empty-handed."

He reached into another folder.

"This is my gift to Evelyn."

The lawyer placed another document on the table.

The title read:

Transfer of Ownership

Adrian frowned.

"What is this?"

Damien answered without emotion.

"The Brooks International Hotel."

Several directors gasped loudly.

"That's impossible!"

"That hotel alone is worth hundreds of millions!"

"You can't simply give it away!"

Damien leaned back in his chair.

"I built it."

"I can give it to whoever I choose."

Evelyn stared at him in shock.

"I can't accept something so valuable."

Damien looked directly into her eyes.

"You can."

"And you will."

"You are going to become my wife."

"My wife will never depend on anyone."

For a brief moment, Evelyn forgot how to breathe.

No one had ever protected her like this.

No one had ever believed she deserved more.

Across the room, Adrian felt jealousy rising inside him.

During their marriage...

He had never bought Evelyn flowers.

He had never surprised her with gifts.

He had always believed there would be another opportunity.

Now...

Another man was giving her everything he never had.

His chest tightened painfully.

He suddenly remembered their first year of marriage.

Evelyn had once stood outside his office for nearly three hours just to surprise him with lunch.

He had been inside...

Laughing with Vanessa.

That day, he had asked his secretary to send Evelyn home.

She never complained.

She simply smiled and said,

"I know you're busy."

Another memory followed.

It was Evelyn's birthday.

She had spent the entire day decorating the house herself.

She cooked his favourite meal.

Bought a cake.

Waited until midnight.

He never came home.

Instead...

He spent the night celebrating Vanessa's promotion.

The next morning, Evelyn greeted him with breakfast and wished him a good day as though nothing had happened.

She had hidden every tear from him.

Adrian slowly covered his face with one hand.

How...

How had he been so blind?

He looked up at Evelyn again.

She wasn't crying anymore.

She wasn't begging him to stay.

She had finally stopped loving him.

And somehow...

That realization hurt more than he ever imagined.

Just then, Grandfather Brooks slowly stood.

The old man's voice echoed through the hall.

"Adrian."

"If you still have any honour left..."

"Sign the divorce papers."

The pen was placed before him.

For the first time in his life...

Adrian felt as though the simple act of writing his own name would cost him everything.

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