7: His Regret

Williams POV.

The first three months with Jessica was perfect. She was everything I thought I wanted: charming, beautiful, and ambitious. She worked in public relations, and together, we were the perfect power couple. Everywhere we went, people commented on how well we looked together.

We toured the world, from Paris to Tokyo, and I lavished her with gifts, spending millions without a second thought. I treated her better than I had ever treated anyone, but that was before I saw her true colors.

As that phase faded, Jessica's true nature emerged. She became clingy, her constant need for attention suffocating.

She manipulated situations to her advantage, always wanting more control over my life and my decisions. Unlike Seraphina, who had been independent and strong, Jessica was like a black hole of neediness. But I told myself I had to deal with it. After all, I chose her over my wife.

Every day turned into a nightmare. Jessica would show up at my office unannounced, demanding my time, questioning my decisions, and criticizing my staff. She began interfering with my business, suggesting changes and pushing her own agenda.

She would throw tantrums if things didn’t go her way, her behavior more fitting of a spoiled child than a partner. I began to realize how different she was from Seraphina, who had been calm, composed, and understanding. Jessica's constant drama was exhausting, and I started to feel trapped in a decision I couldn't undo.

Her jealousy was another issue. She would accuse me of being unfaithful, projecting her insecurities onto me.

She isolated me from my friends and colleagues, making it clear that she wanted to be the center of my universe. The relationship became hell, and every day I regretted my choices more.

Now, seeing Seraphina again, or Allison as she claimed to be, it all hit me like a punch in the face

The moment our eyes met, a flood of memories crashed over me. I remembered the day I handed her those divorce papers in the hospital, the cruel things I said, and the cold way I had treated her. She was in so much pain from the accident, an accident that was ultimately caused by my betrayal with Jessica. It was clear that I had shattered her world.

Standing there, I felt a profound sense of loss. I saw the woman I had once loved, now a shadow of her former self, transformed into someone I barely recognized. Allison. She had claimed that name, but I saw Seraphina beneath it all. And it killed me. The way she looked at me with such disdain, as if I was nothing. As if I was a distant memory that she had long since buried.

I couldn't help but regret everything. My heart ached with the weight of my actions. I remembered the way Seraphina used to smile at me, the way she used to believe in me. I had thrown all of that away for a fleeting fantasy, and now I was left with the bitter reality of my choices.

Seeing her again, I knew I had to face the consequences of my actions. The regret was a constant gnawing at my soul. I had lost the one woman who had truly loved me, and in my quest for something better, I had ended up with nothing but emptiness. The memory of her lying in that hospital bed, broken and in pain, haunted me. And now, as I watched her walk away, I realized just how much I had destroyed.

All I could do was stand there, watching her disappear into the SUV with her colleagues, feeling the full weight of my regret. Allison, Seraphina, whatever name she chose, she was the same woman I had betrayed. And I was the man who would live with that guilt forever.

…

As I ensured that Robert Caldwell,, the wealthy man I was courting as a stakeholder for Montgomery Enterprises, arrived home safely, I couldn’t shake the image of Seraphina—no, Allison—from my mind. The shock of seeing her again, her cold indifference, ate at me.

As my P.A drove me back to the mansion, the weight of the day's events pressed down on me. Pulling up to the driveway, the usual swarm of servants rushed out to grab my bags. My bodyguards stepped aside, their vigilance never faltering. I barely acknowledged them, my mind elsewhere.

As I stepped through the entrance, I saw Jessica lounging in the parlor, flipping through a magazine, her feet propped up on an antique coffee table. The sight of her lounging so carelessly irritated me to no end.

"Why haven’t you been answering my calls?" she snapped, not even bothering to greet me.

"I was busy," I replied curtly, walking past her. The last thing I wanted was to explain the chaos at the museum.

"Busy?" Jessica spat, rising from her seat. "Too busy to answer my calls? What, were you with another woman?"

I stopped in my tracks, feeling a surge of anger. "I told you I was busy. Drop it."

She followed me, her voice rising. "I won't drop it! You think you can just ignore me? I'm not one of your employees you can boss around."

My patience snapped. "Respect me, Jessica. This is my house, and you will not speak to me like that."

She laughed bitterly. "Respect? You don’t deserve respect! You’re a liar and a cheat. You think you can treat me like this?"

"You’re the one who’s been manipulating and controlling every aspect of my life!" I roared back. "I regret ever letting go of Seraphina to be with you."

Her face twisted in fury and she scoffed. "Seraphina? That fat fool? You actually regret choosing me over her?"

"At least she had dignity and strength," I said, my voice like ice. "She was better than you in every way."

Jessica’s face turned red with anger as she followed me up the giant staircase. "How dare you compare me to that pathetic woman! She was a nobody!"

"That nobody had more class in her little finger than you have in your entire being," I retorted, walking towards my room.

Jessica was shouting at the top of her lungs now, her voice sounding through the hall. "You bastard! You’re still hung up on her? She’s gone, Williams! She’s gone!"

I reached my room and turned to face her, my jaw clenched. "Get out of my face, Jessica."

I slammed the door shut, her furious pounding and cursing immediately following. "Don’t you dare compare me to your good-for-nothing ex-wife! You hear me? Don’t you dare!"

I leaned against the door, taking a deep breath.

The house was filled with Jessica’s screams, but I clenched my fists instead. Hating myself for the reckless decisions I had made.