Chapter 9: Regret Comes Too Late

Evan stood quietly outside Shantelle's office, the bouquet of white lilies resting uneasily in his hands.

For the first time in years, he felt nervous.

Not because he was negotiating a business deal.

Not because he feared losing money.

But because he didn't know how the woman standing before him would respond.

Shantelle looked at the flowers before shifting her gaze back to him.

"What is it, Mr. Thompson?" she asked calmly.

"These are for you," Evan said, extending the bouquet.

"Thank you for saving my father."

Shantelle glanced at the lilies for a brief moment before politely declining.

"Your gratitude is enough. I can't accept gifts from a patient's family."

Her professional tone created an invisible wall between them.

Evan slowly lowered the flowers.

"Can we talk? Just for a few minutes."

She checked the time on her watch.

"I have ten minutes before my next patient."

"Let's walk."

They made their way through the quiet hospital garden.

The evening breeze carried the scent of blooming roses.

Years ago, they had often walked together through gardens like this.

Back then, Shantelle had always been the one trying to start conversations.

Today, the silence came from her.

Finally, Evan spoke.

"I never imagined you'd become one of the world's best surgeons."

"You were always talented," she replied.

"I simply chose to use that talent."

"Why didn't I know?"

She smiled faintly.

"Because after our divorce, I stopped living for your approval."

Those words struck him harder than he expected.

He looked down at the flowers in his hands.

"I've been thinking a lot these past few days," he admitted.

"About us."

"About everything that happened."

"Five years is a long time to think," Shantelle answered.

"Sometimes that's exactly how long it takes to understand what we lost."

Evan's footsteps slowed.

"I was wrong."

"I know that now."

"I hurt you."

"I ignored everything you did for me."

"I chose someone else over my own wife."

"I thought freedom would make me happy."

"Instead..."

"I lost the person who loved me most."

Shantelle stopped walking.

She turned to face him.

"Mr. Thompson," she said gently.

"Do you know why your apology doesn't hurt anymore?"

Evan silently shook his head.

"Because I already forgave you years ago."

"Not for your sake."

"For mine."

"Carrying hatred only keeps old wounds alive."

"I chose peace instead."

Her answer left him speechless.

"Then..."

"Can we start over?"

For a brief second, complete silence filled the garden.

Shantelle looked into his eyes.

She no longer saw the arrogant CEO she had once loved.

She saw a man filled with regret.

Unfortunately...

Regret wasn't enough.

"No," she answered softly.

"Why?"

"Because I already buried that version of myself."

"The woman who waited by the window every night..."

"The woman who cried herself to sleep..."

"The woman who believed love alone could save a marriage..."

"She no longer exists."

"And I won't bring her back."

Evan clenched his fists.

"I've changed too."

"Maybe you have," Shantelle admitted.

"But change doesn't erase the past."

"Some things can be forgiven."

"They simply can't be repeated."

Before Evan could respond, Nicole appeared at the entrance to the garden.

"Evan!" she called.

"Uncle Erick is awake and asking for you."

She stopped when she noticed Shantelle standing beside him.

"Oh... I'm sorry."

"Was I interrupting?"

"No," Shantelle replied professionally.

"We were finished."

She nodded politely toward both of them before walking back toward the hospital.

Nicole watched her leave.

She turned to Evan.

"She's changed so much."

"Yes," Evan answered quietly.

"She became everything I failed to see."

Nicole remained silent.

Deep inside, even she understood one painful truth.

She had won Evan years ago.

Yet somehow...

She had still lost.

Inside the ICU, Erick smiled weakly when Evan entered.

"Where's Shantelle?"

"She went back to work," Evan answered.

"She's always working."

Erick chuckled softly.

"That's because she finally chose herself."

"You know..."

"She visited me every month after the divorce."

Evan looked up in surprise.

"What?"

"She never wanted anyone to know."

"She checked on my health."

"She arranged specialists whenever I needed treatment."

"Even after leaving this family..."

"She never stopped caring."

Evan felt his chest tighten.

"She... never told me."

"Because she wasn't doing it for you," Erick replied.

"That's the difference between genuine kindness and obligation."

"She loved this family even after it stopped loving her back."

Those words echoed in Evan's mind long after he left the room.

Late that night, he stood alone in his office at Thompson Group.

He opened an old storage box he hadn't touched in years.

Inside were photographs from his wedding.

A birthday card Shantelle had handmade.

A scarf she had knitted during their first winter together.

A notebook filled with recipes she had learned because he once mentioned liking homemade food.

Each item carried memories he had ignored.

Each memory reminded him of one painful truth.

Shantelle had loved him with her entire heart.

And he had never once appreciated it.

Holding the old birthday card, Evan closed his eyes.

For the first time in years...

He cried.

Not because he had lost his marriage.

But because he finally understood...

He had lost the only woman who had ever truly loved him.