On the way to the hotel, the driver was at the wheel. We sat in the back, with Bryant mostly silent. Every so often, he glanced my way but said nothing. His silence suited me just fineâthere wasnât much I wanted to talk about either, so we just sat there in quiet. The hotel wasnât far off. And in that silence, we soon arrived.
âThat boy who called you Aunt earlier, is he Gregoryâs nephew?â After a long while, in the quiet of the car, Bryantâs deep, husky voice finally broke the silence. I looked up at him, meeting his complex gaze, âYeah, his cousinâs son.â
Bryant seemed restless, impulsively pulling out a pack of cigarettes and drawing one to his lips, then catching my eye and stopping himself from lighting it. He tossed the cigarette into the ashtray with irritation, fixing his gaze on me, hesitating before finally voicing his question, his voice trembling ever so slightly.
âYou and Gregory, are you together now?â I faced him squarely, feeling not a shred of guilt. It was as if everything had changed over time. As if I had anticipated this moment between us. Either he would be with someone else or I would. It was nothing out of the ordinary. There was nothing to lie about, nothing to hide, I simply smiled, âNot yet.â
âNot yet?â His eyes narrowed, catching the nuance in my tone. I nodded, openly, âRight. Thereâs a misunderstanding between us that hasnât been cleared up yet.â Bryantâs Adamâs apple bobbed, his voice coming out rough and dry, âAnd after itâs cleared?â âThen, weâll likely be together.â I looked at him earnestly, âThen what? Get married? Have kids? I donât know. There are too many unknowns, but thatâs the plan for now.â
As I finished speaking, the atmosphere thickened further. Bryant seemed frozen, barely breathing, shrouded in the shadow of the setting sun, looking particularly dejected. After a long moment, he took a deep breath, as if suppressing some emotion. Suddenly, his voice was soft, âAnd what about me? Jane, youâve moved on so far, but it feels like Iâm still stuck in the same place.â
âBryant, be fair.â I licked my lips, letting out a sigh, âItâs been ten years, you have no right to expect me to stay put. Back then, the one who couldnât even get a glance from her husband was me; the one entangled with Margaret Ferguson was you; but the one who never gave up on me was Gregory.â I asked him, with a smile, âIf you were me, who would you choose?â
Bryant fell silent, his hand clenched into a fist, the veins on his wrist bulging. When he spoke again, there was a hint of self-mockery, âYouâre right.â
âBut you talked about being fair. Donât I even get a fair chance to compete?â he asked.
âBryant,â I took off the jade bracelet from my wrist and held it out to him, âI know youâre influential now, with the Ferguson family, RF, or even all of RiverCity under your sway. But please, Iâm begging you, let me go.â On my pale wrist was a startling scar. It had not healed well, the keloid scar was quite severe. But it was evident how deep the wound had been to leave such a mark.
Bryant grasped my wrist, his fingertips gently brushing over it, his jaw clenched, âGary told me, for Gregory, you... you slit your wrists to make him let you go...â
Lost Me, Gained Regret (Jane and Bryant Ferguson)
ï¤Chapter 435 His Charming Wife ï¤Chapter 10 Dominant Boss: Call Me Hubby, My Dear ï¤Chapter 250 Finn Shows up Amidst Many Obstructions âThatâs not it.â I interrupted him, âIt was this scar.â I pointed to a faint mark above the more visible scar, barely noticeable unless you looked closely.
After all, when I did it, I wasnât aiming to die. Just to scare them.
Bryantâs pupils contracted, his voice trembling, âYou... you have suicidal tendencies?â âDepression.â I smiled wryly, drawing my hand back, slipping the jade bracelet back over my wrist to cover the scar, my voice light, âBryant, we were married for three years. You gave me plentyâproperties, cars, shares, jewelry, nothing was missing. But all of it, I paid for with my life.â
Bringing up these things, I harbored no resentment. It was as if I was talking about someone elseâs life. Bryant watched me, âWhen did this happen?â
I glanced at the bustling streets outside, âI was diagnosed the month you brought me back from Vista Town.â
âWas it me...â His voice shook, disbelief in his eyes as he reached out, then hesitated, âDid I... drive you to depression?â âIt was also my choice.â I didnât want to put all the blame on him. After all, not loving me wasnât his fault, âBy the time I was diagnosed, the doctor said I must have been depressed for a long time. Bryant, Iâm telling you this not because I want you to feel guilty. Iâve moved on now. I just want to live a good life.â
âWhat does a good life look like?â âA life without you.â I took a deep breath, speaking with release, âThe past was my choice. As for the future, letâs just go our separate ways and wish each other well.â