Chapter 10: The Man Who Finally Regretted Everything

Trevor sat alone in the master bedroom long after midnight.

The small notebook remained open on his lap.

Every page was filled with Celeste's neat handwriting.

"Remember to warm his milk if he works past midnight."

"Don't let him drink coffee on an empty stomach."

"His migraine medicine is in the second drawer."

"He smiles more after eating strawberry cheesecake."

Trevor slowly turned another page.

There were hundreds of little reminders.

Not one complained about his coldness.

Not one asked him to love her.

Every sentence revolved around making his life easier.

He lowered his head, feeling an unfamiliar heaviness in his chest.

How had he never noticed any of this?

The next morning, Trevor skipped work for the first time in years.

Instead, he walked through every room of the villa.

The living room still had the cushions Celeste had picked.

The kitchen cabinets were organized exactly as she liked them.

The small herb garden outside the window had begun to wither.

She used to water it every morning before breakfast.

Trevor quietly picked up the watering can.

After a few moments, he stopped.

He didn't even know how much water each plant needed.

Hannah happened to see him standing there.

"Mr. Fleming..."

"She planted all of these?"

"Yes, sir."

"Mrs. Fleming said fresh herbs made your meals healthier."

Trevor looked at the dying basil leaves.

For years, someone had been caring for every small detail of his life.

He simply never realized it.

Later that afternoon, Arnold Fleming called again.

"Come to the old house."

"Yes, Grandpa."

When Trevor arrived, Arnold was sitting in the garden.

He quietly poured two cups of tea.

"Sit."

Trevor obeyed.

For several minutes, neither of them spoke.

Finally, Arnold broke the silence.

"Do you remember your wedding day?"

Trevor nodded faintly.

"Celeste cried before the ceremony," Arnold continued.

"Not because she was unhappy."

"She told me she'd loved you since high school."

"She believed marrying you was the happiest day of her life."

Trevor lowered his gaze.

"Grandpa..."

"She asked me only one thing."

"She said, 'Please don't force Trevor to love me. As long as he lets me stay beside him, I'll be happy.'"

Arnold sighed deeply.

"That girl never asked you for anything."

"Not money."

"Not gifts."

"Not status."

"She only wanted your heart."

"And you never gave it to her."

Trevor remained silent.

Every word felt like another weight pressing against his chest.

After leaving Arnold's house, Trevor drove aimlessly through the city.

Without realizing it, he stopped outside a small bakery.

He stared at the sign for several seconds before entering.

"Can I help you, sir?"

"Do you still sell strawberry cheesecake?"

"Of course."

The owner smiled.

"Your wife used to buy one every Friday."

Trevor looked surprised.

"You remember her?"

"Naturally."

"She always said it was your favorite."

"Sometimes she came even in the rain."

"She never forgot."

Trevor bought a small cake.

As he carried it back to the villa, he suddenly remembered something.

Every Friday evening, there had always been dessert waiting on the dining table.

He had assumed Hannah prepared it.

Now he knew.

It had always been Celeste.

When he returned home, Jordyn was sitting quietly in the living room.

"Dad..."

"Hmm?"

"Can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"Did Mom really love us?"

Trevor looked at his daughter in disbelief.

"Why would you ask that?"

"Because... I treated her badly."

"But she never got angry."

"Why?"

Trevor slowly sat beside Jordyn.

"Because your mom loved us more than she loved herself."

Jordyn's eyes immediately filled with tears.

"Then... can we bring her back?"

Trevor couldn't answer immediately.

Finally, he whispered softly,

"I'm trying."

That evening, after putting Jordyn to bed, Trevor entered his study.

He opened his laptop and searched through years of old emails.

Most of them were from Celeste.

"Take care of yourself."

"Good luck with today's meeting."

"Don't forget lunch."

"Happy anniversary."

He noticed something heartbreaking.

Almost every email ended with the same words.

"I love you."

He searched for his own replies.

Most consisted of only one or two words.

"Busy."

"Okay."

"Later."

"Received."

Not once...

In seven years...

Had he ever written back the words she longed to hear.

Trevor slowly closed the laptop.

He finally understood why Celeste had stopped waiting.

She hadn't left because of one forgotten birthday.

She hadn't left because of Wynn.

She hadn't left because of one argument.

She left because every day of the last seven years had quietly broken her heart.

Looking at the unsigned divorce papers once more, Trevor finally admitted something to himself.

He wasn't afraid of being divorced anymore.

He was afraid...

That even if he learned how to love her now...

Celeste would never believe him again.