Thus Began Your Regret (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 5
“Oh, please. President!”
Jeffrey, who had come back to check the situation two or three times already, finally exploded and shouted.
Saying he’d handle it himself and demanding that Edward stop questioning or interfering with what had transpired today, he abruptly shoved Edward out and slammed the door shut.
Bang!
“…….”
Edward stood helplessly before the laboratory door.
Leaving outright felt wrong because of the unfinished matters weighing on his mind, yet staying would clearly only hinder Jeffrey further.
As he stood there, indecisive and staring blankly into space, his eyes met those of a researcher who had just stepped out for a brief breather.
Seeing the president, the researcher gave an awkward smile and immediately retreated backward into the lab.
Edward sighed, burdened by an odd sense of embarrassment and frustration.
“Yeah. I should go.”
He had to face it.
Only then did he finally turn toward his car.
As he trudged along, he covered his face with both hands and lowered his head.
Nothing was going right.
It was exhausting. Frustration boiled inside him. Just when he was worn out, even more difficulties piled on.
Louisa would be waiting for him at home. And once again, she’d probably bring up parting ways.
He didn’t want to hear it.
But he knew he’d have to face it someday—otherwise, tomorrow would surely be just as miserable.
He desperately wished, more than anything, that this moment was just a dream.
[This is the timeline separator]When Edward arrived home, he stood silently in front of the entrance for a long while.
Probably due to too much caffeine, a sharp headache began to throb. Instead of pressing his aching temples with his fingers, he gripped the doorknob.
Just then—
Suddenly, the doorknob clicked, and the door swung open toward him.
“Oh my, Master!”
It was Rachel. Seeing Edward startled and stepping back, she spoke cheerfully.
“I thought I heard the engine and came out to check—and it really was you! It’s chilly out, so please come in quickly!”
Edward forced himself to move forward, trying to suppress the pounding in his skull and the drumming of his heart in his ears.
Rachel, taking his coat, said,
“Madam is in the second-floor study. Dinner will be ready around seven. Mrs. Johnson said tonight’s menu is lobster bisque!”
“Alright. I’ll handle the rest myself—go ahead now.”
Edward went straight to his room on the second floor. In his mind, he rehearsed the conversation he’d have with Louisa: start by admitting he’d been too harsh yesterday, comfort her gently, then properly ask for her reasons again…
Just then, Louisa emerged from the study and greeted him.
“You’re home early.”
At those words, Edward’s mind went blank as if his thoughts had frozen.
Louisa.
His lips, which had moved smoothly just moments ago, now refused to form even a single word, as though paralyzed by a lie.
Right. He had come home early today. Because he couldn’t focus on work at all, worried about her. So today had been truly unbearable for him…
The belated words stabbed at the back of his throat.
“You’re probably busy—finish your work first. We can talk while having dinner later. I’ll be done by mealtime, so I won’t disturb you.”
Unlike yesterday, Louisa’s voice was calm. Having said that, she passed right by him.
Edward turned around, reaching to stop his wife. In his field of vision, her luscious golden hair swayed with each step she took.
Just a moment, Louisa. Talk to me a little.
But at that exact instant, Edward froze mid-motion as he reached toward her.
An inexplicable awkwardness washed over him.
He stared intently at his wife as she descended the stairs. He couldn’t tear his eyes away from her back until she disappeared from sight—and only after standing there dazed for a long while did he finally realize something.
There was no need for deep thought.
He truly found her back unfamiliar.
[This is the timeline separator]
“…Since when did her hair get so long?”
Thud. Edward collapsed onto his bed.
Back when she’d still been Lady Aberitt, her hair had been this long too.
But once she’d taken on responsibilities that demanded every spare minute, that became impossible.
Long hair was hard to manage—and could even be sold for money.
Every time he saw her short hair, Edward felt unbearable guilt.
So the day he received his first contract payment from his research, he’d told her to grow it out again.
Hair didn’t grow long overnight, so Louisa must have been growing it for quite some time since then.
Yet, despite seeing her every day, he hadn’t noticed.
The reason was simple.
He’d never actually seen her back.
Thus, he didn’t know how her soft golden locks rippled or how delicate her small frame truly was.
How was this possible, living under the same roof? Even Edward himself found it puzzling.
But the answer was obvious if he thought about it even a little.
He’d always left the house before Louisa.
“Hah. No wonder she’s angry.”
Perhaps she was so furious that this separation was her blunt way of demanding he finally turn and look at her—just once.
‘No. Louisa isn’t the kind of woman to act so impulsively…’
He knew exactly how cautious his wife was.
Moreover, taking Louisa’s words at face value was always the right approach—she wasn’t the type to wrap truths in falsehoods.
‘Then again… maybe she’s truly reached the point where living alongside her enemy makes her sick to her stomach.’
He swallowed hard, forcing down the surge of emotion rising from deep within.
Some time passed. Faintly, the chime of the grandfather clock downstairs reached his ears.
Only after hearing all seven chimes did Edward finally rise from his bed.
[This is the timeline separator]The dining table where the two sat was quieter than ever. Only the sound of cutlery clinking filled the spacious room.
Louisa broke the silence first.
“Ed.”
Edward’s mechanically moving hand stilled. Louisa asked in her usual tone,
“How was your day?”
“Eh, same as always.”
Edward tried his best to sound normal—otherwise, everything boiling inside him might burst out toward her.
Same as always? No. Not at all. I couldn’t focus at all and ended up getting kicked out of my own company. Today was truly the worst!
Fortunately, his intense emotions seemed well hidden. Louisa, unaware, simply replied,
“I see.”
Silence settled between them again.
Louisa stopped eating, though she’d been making slow progress.
“I’ll continue what we talked about yesterday.”
Edward’s throat tightened, and he gripped his fork pointlessly.
He already knew what she’d say. He almost wanted to cover his ears.
“Let’s stop here—for both of us. We just don’t fit together anymore.”
Even though he’d expected it, the surge of emotion was unstoppable.
He tried to calm down but failed. Edward finally spoke, his voice slightly agitated.
“What’s the reason? Why suddenly like this? We’ve been doing fine.”
“Maybe we were, once. But not anymore.”
Her “once” was in the past tense. Realizing this, Edward asked,
“What do you mean? Are you saying you don’t love me anymore?”
“No. That’s not it.”
Louisa shook her head.
“I still love you. But, just as the words say, we’ve changed—and it’s time we each find our own place.”
As she spoke, Louisa looked sorrowful.
In that, Edward glimpsed a tiny flicker of hope. At the very least, she didn’t resent or despise him—she was simply heartbroken by the situation itself.
He spoke hurriedly.
“Right. Maybe you feel we’ve changed. But even so, shouldn’t we at least try—to put in some effort together? Couldn’t you have given us some time… talked to me first before things reached this point!”
He’d tried to stay calm, but his voice ended up breaking into a desperate cry.
Louisa looked at him, her eyes glistening with moisture. Edward flinched at the sight of her tears, his hand trembling.
That’s not what I meant—to make you cry.
Louisa widened her eyes, fighting back tears. With forced composure and a faint smile, she said,
“Ed. I’ve already tried so hard. Really… so very hard. Until I shattered into pieces.”
“What does that even mean?”
“Yes. You don’t know. And now, I don’t know you either. The trust that held me up has completely crumbled. That’s the reason.”
Louisa gave a pitiful smile. A tear clinging to the corner of her eye rolled down her cheek.
Seeing that, Edward’s face twisted in pain.
After gazing at her for a moment, he finally closed his eyes, unable to bear looking any longer.
In a dejected voice, he said,
“Right. I didn’t know until now. But I understand now. From here on…”
“Ed.”
Louisa cut him off. Edward looked at her with shaking eyes.
“Not all marriages are built on love. I’ve always known that—which is why I tried. Truly, countless times.”
Tears flowed down her cheeks along the wet trails already formed.
“It’s not the first time. I’ve already told you so many times: I miss you. I worry. Please get in touch. Is work going well? Did anything happen?”
Her voice echoed in Edward’s memory.
The shy whisper of “I missed you,” spoken as she hugged him tightly. The weary words of “I was worried,” murmured late at night as she held his hand. The hollow request a few days ago, spoken while gazing emptily out the window: “Please contact me…”
Memories surfaced, yet he couldn’t accept them.
“Is that what you call effort? Is that your reason?”
“…Something like that.”
“So you caused all this… just over things like that?”
Edward asked coldly.
The reason he’d imagined for their separation, the unhappiness she felt—it wasn’t supposed to be this. This could never be a valid reason.
When scheming men desperately battle for her favor in the male harem
This one’s also on my reread list! The rivalry, scheming between the men in the imperial harem are just as intense and thrilling as in classic palace drama novels, where concubines fight to the death. Give it a read, girls! I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Synopsis:
“I am not worthy of her… but I still want to be by her side, even if only as a loyal dog…”
Those were the painful whispers of Yue Guanyi – the proud Crown Prince of the Great Qi, who was torn between deep love and a guilty conscience. Despite holding the supreme power of the Imperial Guard, he still could not forget the dark past when he was sold into a brothel.
Fate played a cruel twist when Qiu Shuzhi – a young female official who had just passed the imperial examinations with top honors – stepped into his life. She did not know that she was the one who had saved him from a tragic fate many years ago. And now, her heart was the target of pursuit for both Yue Guanyi and the powerful Empress Dowager Qin Qing.
While Yue Guanyi only dared to silently care for and protect the one he loved from afar, the Empress Dowager Qin Qing openly expressed his feelings and did not hesitate to take advantage of his power to approach Qiu Shuzhi. The covert struggle between the two most powerful forces in the imperial court began…
Trigger warning: All men in this novel are yandere style.
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That seems nice at least he is trying the problem that he doesn’t know how !!!