Regrets Come Too Late

Tommy glanced around the room, and his gaze finally landed on the suitcase in Sierra's hand. In his soft but earnest voice, he asked, "Mommy, why do you have a suitcase?"

Sierra opened her mouth, but couldn't come up with a reasonable answer.

"It's for me," John cut in, crouching down so he was eye-level with Tommy. "Daddy has to go on a business trip for a few days. While I'm gone, you have to be a good boy and listen to Mommy, alright?"

Tommy nodded. "Okay."

John ruffled his hair. "Good boy."

Tommy looked over at Pamela. "Who's her?"

"She's Daddy's secretary," John lied without a hint of hesitation. "She's coming with me on the trip."

Sierra's hand unconsciously tightened on the suitcase handle, but she didn't let any emotion show on her face.

John stood up and walked over, naturally taking the suitcase from her hands. Then, just like always, he pressed a kiss to her lips, his tone gentle and soft. "I'm leaving now. If you miss me, just call, okay?"

Sierra forced herself not to react, answering stiffly, "Sure."

"Good." John pulled a loose strand of hair behind Sierra's ear, his fingertips coming down, and lingered a little too long at her earlobe as he rubbed it between his thumb and finger. "Wait for me to come back."

"You should go, or you'll miss your flight," Sierra said, doing her best to get him out the door. Being near him for even a second longer made her sick. She just wanted him to leave as soon as possible.

John noticed her rejection. Just before leaving, he deliberately leaned down and kissed her again, not giving her a chance to refuse. By the time she looked up at him, eyes full of anger, he was already gone, carrying her suitcase with Pamela close behind.

"Mommy," Tommy spoke up once they were gone.

Sierra pushed down her emotions and gave him her best smile. "What is it?"

Tommy opened his mouth, hesitated, and then changed what he was about to say. "It's lunchtime. Let's go eat."

"Alright," Sierra agreed.

During lunch, Sierra's mind was still haunted by what had happened. John had lied to Tommy's face without flinching. Was he really not worried she would tell Tommy the truth about his cheating? And those two kisses… He already had someone else. Why did he still act that way?

Suddenly, she remembered her suitcase. John had taken it with him, and it held all her important documents, including her ID and passport.

She picked up her phone and texted him, "When will you give my suitcase back?"

John saw the message, but didn't reply. Nearly an hour later, he got another message.

He thought it was Sierra urging him, but it was not from her. It was a message from Tommy.

"Dad, that lady today wasn't really your secretary, was she?"

John froze.

He hadn't expected Tommy to ask that. He almost replied, but then remembered he had told Tommy he was on a business trip. At this time, Tommy would think his dad was still on the plane and hadn't received his message yet.

Tommy waited in his room. If his dad replied, it meant he wasn't traveling and had lied to him.

But John was his dad, after all. He wasn't about to make such a rookie mistake.

As for Sierra, after waiting for hours and getting no reply, she finally called him.

He answered, but before she could say anything, Pamela's voice rang out through the phone, "John, I just finished my shower."