A Regret too Late

Maria watched Richard in silence, somewhat pale. Standing beside him was his legal wife. How was he supposed to introduce her in front of the woman he truly loved? If she were in his place, she would be stuck as well.

Richard met her eyes.

"This is Eleanor Cooper. We've known each other for a long time. She's…" he said quietly, pausing before continuing, "…a friend."

Maybe it was Maria's imagination, but when Richard said the word friend, it sounded unusually stiff. She trembled, but she kept her voice steady. "A long time? I see, so you were childhood friends."

Eleanor smiled.

"No, we met when we were twenty. Back then…" She covered her mouth and giggled softly. "Back then, Richard's haircut was so funny. It was a modern take on a traditional style. Heads turned the moment he got on campus."

Richard shook his head helplessly. "Are you bringing that up again?"

"So what if I do? I still have pictures from back then. Don't make me angry, or I'll show them to your wife," Eleanor teased, reaching over to tap Richard's arm.

Jonathan ran up and hugged Eleanor's arm. "What pictures? I want to see!"

Seeing them together was difficult for Maria. Anyone watching would think Eleanor belonged with the father and son, and that Maria was the outsider.

Eleanor smoothed Jonathan's cheek and winked. "I'll show you in secret later."

Richard smiled faintly and glanced at Maria, who looked so fragile and thin that he feared she might fall from a breeze. He hurried after her and caught her arm.

"What's wrong? Don't get angry at Jonathan. I'll teach him a lesson. I'll make him apologize at home tomorrow properly."

Maria bit her lip. "Did you read what I left you?"

Richard looked puzzled. "What did you leave?"

Seeing that he hadn't read her letter, Maria forced a small smile. "Never mind. I'm going home first. Remember to look in the study tonight."

"I'll take you home," Richard said, signaling to the driver across the street to pull over.

Maria refused to get in. Instead, she pulled her arm free and insisted on taking a cab. Richard stood and watched the cab drive off, then Eleanor came over and chatted with him.

Maria glanced back and saw them laughing together after Eleanor seemed to say something to him. She turned away, feeling a sharp sting in her palm. When she opened her hand, she saw purplish crescent marks where she had clenched her fist.

She didn't look back and left resolutely.

Back at the hotel, the doctor called and asked her to come in for a pressure test in two days.

Maria didn't want to stay, but the testing schedule was crowded with elderly patients who had to fly for treatment. Among the many patients on the schedule, she was the only person who was seriously ill and needed the test.

She went back to the hotel and deleted all of Richard's contact information.

At five, Jonathan was brought home by the driver. He tossed his bag aside and shouted, "Mom! I'm doing my homework now. I don't want to get in trouble at school again!"

He regretted playing the night before. Even though his mom nagged, he would lose his gold star and fall behind his classmates if he ignored her reminders. He didn't want to be teased by others!

Jonathan ran through the house looking for Maria, but he couldn't find her. "Mr. Graham, where's my mom?"

Mr. Graham came from the kitchen. "I haven't seen the madam. Maybe she's out. Would you like some egg custard?"

Jonathan pouted. "Yours isn't as good as Mom's. Never mind."

He went back to his room, played his console for a while, then glanced at the time and brought his homework out from the study. Sitting cross-legged on the floor, he muttered, "It's just homework. I can do it myself."

However, he quickly realized he couldn't.

No one was there to explain the questions. No one to help him massage his eyes when his eyes got tired. He had gotten used to his mom handing him fruit while he worked.

Annoyed, he went to find the butler and the maids. But the butler wasn't familiar with his schoolwork, and the maids didn't know how to help with his study routine. They could slice the fruits for him, but they didn't know when he wanted them to feed him.

Jonathan's face fell. He remembered how relaxing it was to do homework on the balcony, with a breeze and his mom beside him. Maybe homework wasn't so bad.

He finally couldn't take it. "I'm calling Mom!"

Mr. Graham quickly handed him his smartwatch. After several rings, she picked up.

"Mom, where are you? Why aren't you home?" Jonathan demanded.

Maria was silent for two seconds, then asked quietly, "Do you need something?"

"I'm still waiting for you to help me with my homework. Are you trying to get me punished again tomorrow? Come home," Jonathan urged, his tone upset.

Maria's grip tightened around the phone. Her expression cooled. She had given everything, and ended up raising a boy who was impatient only with her but polite with everyone else. She had never been shown any real respect.

"Don't you like Eleanor? Go ask her for help. Don't call me."

Then, she hung up.

Jonathan was stunned; he held the watch, unable to believe his mother was being so cold with him.

A car soon pulled up downstairs, and Jonathan ran to complain to Richard.

Richard listened and snorted. "You brought this on yourself by making her angry. I'll go find her. When she comes back, you will apologize to her properly. Understood?"

Jonathan mumbled an unwilling yes.

Half an hour later, someone knocked on Maria's door at the hotel. She opened it, expecting a hotel staff member. Instead, she met a pair of dark eyes.

She froze. "How did you find me?"

Richard stepped in carrying a bowl of ravioli. "Have you eaten? I got these for you. Crab ravioli with extra vinegar, just how you like it. Eat while they're hot."

He was still in the same crisp suit he wore to the company, the one she had ironed for him. He took off his suit, looked around the room, and started packing her things as he rolled up his sleeves and got Maria's coat.

"Come home with me. It's not convenient here. Jonny needs some discipline. Let's go back and handle him together. Don't run away just because you're angry."

Maria quietly watched him crouch to fold her clothes and felt a single tear fall. She quickly turned her head and wiped it away.

"Did you look at what I left on your desk?"

Richard froze and looked up. "What did you leave? You've already asked me that twice today."