The River of Regrets

I was the last one to find out that Rowan River was going to be a dad.

When I arrived at the hospital, I saw him giving orders to his staff. "Don't let the news of the baby leak out. If Angela finds out, she'll definitely come back and cause a scene."

I had liked him for ten years, and a year ago, I confessed my feelings to him.

At the time, he said, "Wait until you finish school and come back, then we'll be together."

I found it laughable.

This time, though, I didn't react like before. I didn't yell at him or ask why he had lied to me.

Instead, I boarded a plane and left the country, agreeing to marry the guy who had been pursuing me recently.

From that moment on, I no longer loved Rowan.

The woman standing by the window in the hospital room spoke to Rowan, "Rowan, blocking the news won't help. If Angela suddenly comes back, she'll find out anyway."

Rowan was holding a baby in his arms, his gaze full of affection.

At her words, his expression hardened with indifference.

"If she comes back, then so be it. If she finds out, I'll make things clear with her. I just don't want her to come back and make a scene because she can't handle it. You know how much she loves me. She caused a lot of trouble before."

I froze at the door of the room.

Yes, I used to love him deeply.

If there was another woman around him, I'd immediately try to get rid of her.

If he spoke to another woman, I'd ask him if he didn't love me anymore.

"True, everyone knows what she's like." The woman laughed, but her expression quickly shifted to one of concern. "So, when you get married, will you block the news then too?"

Rowan kissed the baby on the cheek, his voice calm as he replied, "We'll see when the time comes."

As soon as he finished speaking, Samantha Punter walked out of the bathroom.

Rowan quickly put the baby down and rushed to support her.

"Samantha, hey, take it easy."

"Oh, Samantha, you're so lucky. You've got such a good fiancé. No wonder you're willing to have a child with him before marriage."

My heart stopped for a beat.

Samantha used to be my best friend. Before I left the country, I had asked her to look out for Rowan.

But now, she was Rowan's fiancée.

I never imagined that the melodramatic scenarios I'd seen on TV would happen to me.

I suddenly wasn't sure whether I should walk in. If I did, what right did I have to confront Rowan? After all, we'd never officially been together.

A year ago, all he'd promised me was, "Wait until you finish school and come back, then we'll be together."

I pulled out my phone and opened Rowan's contact.

He hadn't contacted me in a long time. The last message he sent was a week ago, asking if I'd had dinner. I replied that I had and shared some interesting stories from my time abroad.

I told him about a kitten I had seen on the side of the road.

But he didn't reply.

I typed out a message to him. [Rowan, what are you doing?]

Just as I sent it, I heard Rowan's phone ring in the room.

He picked it up, glanced at it, then immediately turned it off without replying.

The friend sitting next to him saw the message and laughed. "Aren't you going to reply to that?"

Rowan gently held Samantha's hand, his tone dismissive. "Nothing worth replying to. I've always disliked her. If she weren't my father's adopted daughter, I wouldn't even bother with her. The only person I've ever loved is Samantha."

...

I had no idea how I managed to walk out of the hospital. I just remember stumbling and bumping into several people along the way.

When I reached the door, I ran into another one of Rowan's friends. He was holding a bouquet of flowers, and when he saw me, surprise flashed in his eyes.

"Angela, when did you come back to the country? What are you doing here?"

His two questions made me remember everything that had happened recently.

I had just finished my year abroad and came back.

After I landed, I felt a bit unwell, so I came to the hospital.

I didn't expect that I'd pass by the very room where Rowan was.