Too late for regret: Ex-husband and his son wants me back

On the other end of the line, Victor Powell's father, Albert Powell, asked, "Seri, are you sure you want to terminate the agreement and divorce Victor .

Serena Powell held her phone calmly. "I'm sure."

"Even if Leon's custody goes to the Powell family, you're still leaving?"

"Yes. I believe Leon would rather stay with his dad. The Powell family can give him the best education. He doesn't need me anymore."

Albert's voice was low. "Alright. As for the divorce agreement, you can talk to Victor yourself."

"Okay," Serena replied.

Albert didn't hang up right away. "To be honest, I've been satisfied with how Victor's been these past few years with you around.

"So, as a reward, I'll arrange for you to join the design team in Glonia you've always wanted. In a week at most, you'll be out of the Powell family."

Serena thought, 'A reward? Rich people really do live in a different universe. In their world, even feelings come with a price tag!

She agreed. After she hung up, her phone screen was still frozen on a recent Instagram post from her husband, Victor.

Victor had never posted anything before. Not even their wedding. He'd said it was private, no outsiders needed to know. But for a month now, he'd been posting every day.

In the newest video, their son Leon Powell was playing happily with another kid around his age. The ironic part was, everyone in the comments thought Serena was the one who filmed it.

Someone commented: [Your wife's really good with the camera. Your son looks so happy.]

Victor's reply stood out like a slap: [Yeah.]

Serena thought, 'Yeah? Is he praising Eliza Stone, his childhood sweetheart, for her camera work, or is he just letting people assume she's his wife now?'

Serena grew up in an orphanage. Seven years ago, when she was still in college, Albert suddenly approached her and offered her three million dollars- to buy seven years of her life.

To pay for surgery for the orphanage director who had been kind to her, Serena reluctantly agreed.

Back then, she had already heard the story of Victor and Eliza. Both of them came from powerful families, grew up together as childhood sweethearts, and were deeply in love. But the year they graduated college, Eliza vanished. When Victor found out she'd gone abroad for an arranged marriage, he lost it. Started drinking, smoking, pushing himself to the edge.

The psychiatrist said only emotional healing could cure a wounded heart. So Albert found Serena- a girl who looked strikingly similar to Eliza- and had her care for Victor.

From then on, Serena began to get close to Victor on purpose, relentlessly pursuing him. And with a face that looked just enough like Eliza's, she made sure to stay in Victor's sight every single day.

When he was down, she would cheer him up. When he got sick, she stayed up all night to look after him. And when his depression hit, she was the only one who ever reached into the darkness and pulled him back.

With time, Victor gradually got used to having Serena around.

Until one day, Serena caught him in the middle of a breakdown, about to slit his wrists. She grabbed the sharp blade with her bare hand and forced it out of his grip.

Her hand was sliced open, the cut deep and long, bleeding uncontrollably. The doctor said if it'd gone any deeper, she would've lost the use of her hand. Because the wound was so severe, even after it healed, a jagged scar remained across her palm.

That was the first time Victor hugged her. "Seri, let's get married. Okay? Let's go to city hall tomorrow," he said.

Serena stood frozen, thinking it was her sincerity that had moved him. But later, when she found Eliza's wedding invitation tucked in a drawer, she realized it had all happened on Eliza's wedding day.

Less than two years after they got married, Serena gave birth to Leon. During those two years, Victor wasn't particularly affectionate, but he treated her with respect. Also, Leon was very close to her-he clung to her more than he did to Victor.

Serena had feelings, after all. She had already come to see this place as her home. She loved both Victor and Leon deeply. It wasn't about the black-and-white contract anymore. She truly wanted to be with them for the rest of her life.

So for the sake of her family, Serena gave up her dream of being an accomplished designer and became a full-time housewife.

During the day, she cleaned the house. At noon, she brought lunch to Victor. In the evening, after picking Leon up, she cooked dinner for him. At night, she still had to meet Victor's needs in bed.

She was like a machine that never stopped working year-round, quietly and tirelessly taking care of her husband and son for five straight years.

Serena used to think things would just continue like that. But a month ago, Eliza came back. She was divorced and brought her son with her.

When Victor found out, he rushed to the airport without an umbrella, ignoring the heavy rain. He could even forgive everything Eliza had done in the past, as if none of it mattered anymore.

He thought Serena didn't know. But she knew everything. Over the past week, Victor had grown more and more impatient with her. He started treating her like a servant, barking orders at her. Even Leon had become cold and harsh toward her.

Serena had argued with them and fought back, but they called her ungrateful and narrow-minded. Then, in the next moment, they gave all their tenderness to Eliza.

Ever since Eliza came back, Victor's Instagram had been full of pictures of the four of them-him, Leon, Eliza, and her son. They all looked so warm and loving, as if they were the real family.

That was how Serena learned that when she was sick, Victor and Leon were out shopping with Eliza. When she was heartbroken, Victor and Leon were celebrating Eliza's birthday.

Even yesterday, on their wedding anniversary, Victor and Leon ignored the dinner Serena had spent the whole day preparing just to be with Eliza. When Serena tried to stop them, they told her she was being dramatic.

Serena thought, I should've realized it a long time ago. There's no place for me in this family anymore. I actually believed I could move beyond that contract and stay with them forever-I was being delusional. It's time to wake up and leave.'

She took a deep breath and wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes with a cold hand.

Just then, the sound of the front door opening came from outside. Victor and Leon were back, the chill of the wind and rain still clinging to them as they came in.

"Seri, Leon fell and got hurt. Take care of his wound," Victor said, his voice low and steady, calm as always, automatically slipping into that usual commanding tone.

"I don't want her to do it. She never shuts up and nags the whole time." Leon's brows were furrowed tightly, his face full of annoyance. "I want Eliza to do it."

Leon ducked away from Serena's outstretched hand and ran straight behind Eliza.

"I don't want you," he muttered stubbornly, clutching Eliza's clothes. "Eliza will take care of me."

Serena's hand froze midair.

Only then did she notice the woman standing by the door.

Eliza Stone.

She stood there elegantly in a white dress, holding her son Oliver's hand as though she had every right to be in the Powell residence. Rainwater still clung lightly to the ends of her hair, making her look fragile and gentle.

Victor stood beside her silently.

The warm atmosphere between the four of them made Serena feel like the outsider.

Leon leaned against Eliza obediently while Oliver stood close to Victor without fear, as if he was already familiar with this house.

Serena slowly lowered her hand. "Why are they here?"

Victor removed his coat calmly and handed it to the servant nearby. "It's raining heavily outside. Eliza and Oliver will stay here for a while."

For a while.

Serena almost laughed at how casually he said it.

This was the master residence of the Powell family, yet Victor sounded as though he was informing a housekeeper instead of speaking to his wife.

Leon tugged on Eliza's sleeve. "My knee hurts."

Eliza immediately crouched down and checked his wound gently. "It's just a small scrape. Don't be scared."

Her voice was soft and patient.

Leon pouted. "If Mommy did it, she'd definitely scold me again."

The word "Mommy" stabbed into Serena's chest like a needle.

Victor frowned slightly at Leon. "Don't talk nonsense.

But there was no real warning in his tone.

Serena stood quietly by the side, suddenly feeling exhausted.

Just yesterday, Leon had still been acting spoiled toward her. Yet after spending only a short time with Eliza, he had already begun pushing Serena away openly.

Eliza looked up apologetically. "Mrs. Powell, Leon is still young. Please don't misunderstand."

Serena looked at her calmly. "Then what exactly should I misunderstand?"

The air instantly turned tense.

Victor stepped forward impatiently. "Enough. It's late."

He naturally picked Leon up into his arms.

"Oliver," Eliza said gently, "say hello to Uncle Victor properly."

Oliver obediently nodded. "Hello, Uncle Victor."

Victor's cold expression softened slightly. "Good boy."

Serena watched the interaction silently.

It looked painfully harmonious.

As if they were the real family.

The servant quickly came downstairs. "Mr. Powell, the guest room has already been prepared."

Victor nodded, but before anyone could move, Leon suddenly spoke up.

"I want Ollie to sleep with me!"

Oliver's eyes lit up immediately. "Really?"

"Yeah!" Leon grinned excitedly. "My room has lots of toys."

The two children instantly ran upstairs together.

Eliza looked troubled. "Will this be too much trouble?"

Victor replied calmly, "It's fine. The kids get along well."

Serena's fingers slowly tightened.

Even Leon's room had already become shared territory.

She suddenly remembered all the toys she had personally picked out for Leon, all the nights she spent putting him to sleep, all the times she stayed awake when he was sick.

Yet now, another child was casually stepping into the life she built.

A servant walked downstairs again awkwardly.

"Mr. Powell... Young Master Oliver seems to really like the master bedroom. He says the view there is beautiful."

Serena's expression instantly changed.

The master bedroom.

That was her room with Victor.

Before she could speak, Leon's excited voice drifted downstairs.

"Ollie, come look! My daddy and mommy sleep here!"

The servant looked embarrassed. "Young Master Leon already brought him inside."

Serena's chest tightened violently.

She immediately turned and walked upstairs.

Just as she reached the bedroom door, she saw Oliver standing by the balcony curiously looking around, while Leon climbed onto the large bed happily.

"This room is so big!" Oliver exclaimed.

Leon nodded proudly. "Daddy sleeps here every night."

Eliza hurried over behind them. "Leon, Ollie, don't make trouble."

But her tone carried no urgency at all.

Serena stood at the doorway silently, staring at the scene in front of her.

Her private space had been entered so casually.

Like her boundaries no longer mattered.

Victor walked upstairs afterward and frowned slightly when he saw Serena standing there.

"It's just children playing around," he said flatly. "Why are you overreacting?"

Overreacting.

Serena suddenly felt cold all over.

Her husband had brought another woman and her child home.

They entered her son's room.

Now they were standing inside her bedroom.

Yet somehow, she was the unreasonable one.

Eliza gently pulled Oliver back. "Ollie, come out first. This is Mr. and Mrs. Powell's room."

Oliver lowered his head obediently. "Okay, Mom."

Leon immediately grabbed Oliver's arm unwillingly. "Why can't he stay? I want Ollie here!"

Victor looked at Serena. "They're just children."

Serena met his eyes quietly.

For the first time, she realized something clearly.

This house no longer felt like her home anymore.

Just then, Leon suddenly waved his little hand. "Dad, let Eliza have Mom's room. It's big and bright perfect for Eliza and Offie."

Victor paused for a second.

Eliza immediately caught the subtle shift in his expression and rushed to speak before he could say anything. "No, that's not okay if there's really no space, I'll take Oliver and find somewhere else to stay. I'm so sorry for bothering you."

"It's no bother," Leon said, suddenly pouting. He turned his head and looked at Serena with urgency and grievance, raising his voice. "Say something. What, you lost your voice today?"

Serena looked into Leon's eyes, full of blame. "If Eliza takes my room, then where am I supposed to sleep?" she questioned

Leon puffed out his cheeks, clearly indifferent, his face turning red as he shouted like it was the most obvious thing in the world, "The storage room has a bed. Just sleep there.

"You should be glad you even have a place to stay. Why are you being so picky?"

Hearing that, Eliza looked troubled. She stepped forward slightly, her eyes full of sincerity and apology.

She looked at Leon as she spoke gently, "Leon, I'm a guest. Your mom is the host. How could I take the host's room? I'm already thankful she's letting me stay here. Oliver and I aren't going to be picky."

Eliza turned to look at Oliver, who had been quiet the whole time. "Right, Oliver?"

Oliver gave a calm nod.

"Well, Ms. Stone, you really know your place," Serena replied evenly, going along with her. "So you all can figure out another plan for the room."

Serena had swallowed her pride for years. She wasn't going to back down anymore.

Hearing that, Leon was furious. "You're such a wretch. I knew you didn't really want Eliza to stay. You're so annoying."

He put his little fists on his hips. "But don't even think about kicking Eliza out. I'll just sleep with Dad, and Eliza and Ollie can have my room."

Victor's eyes lit up. "That works. It's settled then."

Leon happily pushed the suitcases toward the elevator, and Victor led Eliza and Oliver to Leon's room.

Once again, Serena was the extra one. She was used to it. She went back to her room and started packing.

Not long after, Eliza came in with a cup of hot coffee in her hands. "Mrs. Powell, may I come in? Are you packing for something? Going out?"

Serena didn't respond. She couldn't exactly tell Eliza she was leaving.

Eliza said, "Leon poured this coffee for you. He may be little, but he's got a lot of pride. He was too embarrassed to bring it.

Serena didn't believe for a second that Leon had poured that coffee for her. self."

If Eliza hadn't shown up, maybe Serena would've believed it. But Leon now hated Serena too much to even get her a cup of coffee.

Serena said, "Ms. Stone, you don't need to smooth things over between me and teon. The four of you living happily ever after is better than anything else."

Even though Eliza had played innocent ever since she walked in–and had even stepped in a few times to help correct Leon–Serena didn't believe that was her true colors, Serena's instincts told her Eliza was far from simple.

Eliza bit her lip, looking guilty. "Mrs. Powell, did I do something to make you misunderstand me?"

She walked over to Serena anxiously. Seeing Serena folding clothes, Eliza quickly reached out and grabbed her hand.

Eliza said, "Mrs. Powell, if you don't want me to stay, just say it. I can leave. But please don't get the wrong idea about me. I never meant to sabotage your relationship with your family. I really didn't-"

Serena cut in coldly, "Let go."

"I'm begging you, please don't misunderstand me, okay? I'll leave, alright?"

"I said let go."

Serena had no idea what Eliza was trying to do. Seeing her stubbornly clinging on, Serena yanked her wrist free.

Before Serena could say anything, Eliza, who had been standing just fine, suddenly fell. The hot coffee in her hand spilled onto Serena's skin, instantly turning a large area red.

"Ow!" Eliza's sharp cry pierced the air.

"What happened?" Leon and Victor rushed over the moment they heard the noise. The moment they saw the scene in front of them, their expressions suddenly changed.

Victor rushed forward, his eyes tinged red with panic. "Ellie, are you okay? Are you hurt?"

Eliza raised her hand pitifully. Her delicate skin was now marked with a small red burn. "Victor, it's my fault. I shouldn't have come today. I upset Mrs. Powell. Please don't blame her."

Victor turned to glare at Serena, his eyes filled with anger. "Why did you do this? Ellie's just here to stay for a couple days.

"It was already bad enough how you kept giving her a hard time, but now you actually laid hands on her?"

Instantly blamed for something she didn't do, Serena was shaking with rage, knowing full well she'd just been set up. But her mind went blank. She blurted out the truth, "She fell on purpose."

Serena had thought Victor still had some ability to tell right from wrong. But not only did he lack that now, his face darkened even more.

He yelled, "Serena. How can you be so cruel? Why would Ellie fall on her own for no reason? You did it, just admit it. You've really let me down."

He scooped Eliza into his arms and rushed to the living room to apply medicine to her burn.

Even Leon pointed at Serena's face and cursed her out, screaming, "You're such a wretch. I hate you. You're evil and disgusting. You don't deserve to be my mom. Just die already. Stop ruining things between Dad and Eliza."

Serena shoved him away, her breathing heavy. "Leon Powell, you little brat, say that again."

Leon lost his balance and fell to the floor, tears welling up in his eyes. "You wretch, I don't love you anymore. I hate you." With that, he took off running.

Serena's fingers trembled, and a dull pain throbbed on the back of her hand. Serena lowered her eyes and looked at the large burn across it, then laughed. Eliza had only gotten a few drops on her and Victor was already that worked up. But Serena was hurt far worse, and no one cared.

Serena's throat moved with a deep swallow as she walked alone to the bathroom to run cold water over her hand.

The water was colder than usual, and the twisted, jagged scar in her palm seemed even more noticeable now.

Outside, she heard Leon's cheerful voice. "Yay. We're going out to eat. Daddy's the best, Ellie's the best too, I wish every day could be like this," he laughed.

"Victor, are you sure Mrs. Powell won't be upset we're not taking her?" Eliza asked.

Victor said, "She won't be. And even if she is, she'll get over it by the time we're back."

Serena turned the faucet up to full blast, drowning out their voices from the living room.

After a long while, she suddenly shut off the water with a loud clack and walked straight into the bedroom, her steps firm and unwavering.

Serena thought, 'I'll get over it? No, Victor. Not this time.'