To Those For Whom Even Regret Is A Luxury (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 2
It was my older brother—Edward.
“…Step aside for now.”
I felt like I was about to vomit and tried to push past Edward.
But Edward ignored me and swaggered closer.
“You still haven’t signed it, have you? That ‘Paradise’ proposal I mentioned.”
‘Still talking about that?’
Edward was brimming with ambition to build a massive cabaret called ‘Paradise’ in the capital.
His plan was to hire beautiful singers and dancers and construct a comprehensive entertainment complex—something that might look plausible on the surface but was clearly destined to fail in my eyes.
‘At best, it would just be a cheap imitation of something that already exists.’
After all, the capital already had the real earthly paradise created by Dante Hagenberg.
“I already told you, Older Brother. There’s no way I’ll ever put my seal on that document.”
Building ‘Paradise’ required nothing short of an astronomical sum.
Since his own earnings weren’t enough, Edward had set his sights on the fortune stored in my private bank vault—
the family heirloom my late grandfather left solely for me.
Recently, Edward had been relentlessly chasing after me, trying to get me to stamp my seal on the document that would use that heirloom as collateral for the ‘Paradise’ construction fund.
“Damn it, Ariana! I get that you’re a woman and don’t understand business. But this golden opportunity—just build it, and money will pour in!”
“…Elena.”
I spat the words out as if vomiting.
“Elena had an affair with my husband.”
“What?”
“She spent the night with him and is carrying his child.”
“Ha! That little wench finally…”
Edward muttered, frowning deeply. Instinctively, I realized.
“You already knew, didn’t you, Older Brother.”
“…”
Edward scowled, his face sour. I stared blankly and murmured.
“You knew… yet kept it secret from me. …Why?”
No—actually, I thought I understood now.
“Were you afraid I’d whine and make a fuss once I knew the truth?”
Afraid I’d refuse to compose any more music for the opera house—the very family business that had become a golden goose?
“Ha, damn it all!”
Edward ran his hands wildly through his hair and shouted.
“Why are you doing this to me? You should’ve kept your husband in line yourself! When you act like some work-obsessed woman pounding on the piano all day, who’d care about a wife like you?”
“…”
“You’re better off. Consider this a wake-up call. Stop lazing around the house like that—put on some makeup, dress properly! Huh? Every day the Marquis sees those flashy, flirtatious opera singers; do you think he’d even notice a plain wife like you?”
“…I see.”
I murmured as if in a trance.
Edward sighed, then gave my head a couple of light taps.
“Now you’re finally making sense. The Marquis was probably just momentarily distracted. If you just follow my advice, he’ll—”
“Yes… that’s how it was.”
“What?”
I repeated in a hollow voice.
‘That’s exactly how it was. You foolish Ariana.’
Now everything became crystal clear.
My older brother, my younger sister, and my husband.
My beloved family—they never saw me as a person.
Just livestock producing golden eggs called hit songs—nothing more, nothing less.
“Ariana!”
I saw my husband, Lucas, charging toward me, shouting hoarsely.
Trailing behind him was Elena, scattering tears like chicken droppings.
“Come here right now! Talk to me!”
“Sister, Sister! What’ll happen if you just leave like this!”
Their nauseating duet made my head feel like it was splitting open.
I clenched my eyes shut and screamed.
“That… hand…!”
At my desperate cry, everyone fell abruptly silent.
But the silence lasted only a moment. Lucas approached with a stiff expression.
“You’re being too emotional right now. Calm down and just hear me out first.”
Words?
What need was there for words?
‘I saw their actions—far more certain than any words—with my own eyes.’
Lucas’s hollow excuses only chilled my heart further.
I panted shallowly and glanced around.
One by one, the people I’d loved and relied on flickered before my eyes.
‘I just wanted to be loved by you.’
I wanted to be a loving wife, a dependable older sister, a good elder sister.
After Grandfather passed away, the family’s reputation as a “musical dynasty” had withered overnight—but I thought that if I worked hard enough, I could restore it.
Then, maybe I could return to those happy days when Grandfather was still alive.
Together with my people, my family.
‘Foolish Ariana.’
Never realizing that these very ‘my people’ had thoroughly deceived me.
“…Lucas.”
“Yes. Have you calmed down a—”
“Let’s separate. The two of us.”
“What?”
Lucas’s eyes widened in shock.
I exhaled a trembling breath. These words—ones I’d never imagined leaving my lips.
But no matter how foreign and terrifying they felt, I had to say them.
‘I can’t pretend ignorance and obey after knowing the whole truth.’
Because I mustn’t betray myself as well.
“Huh… Ariana. Fine, I see you’re really worked up right now.”
Lucas, frozen in surprise at first, slowly shook his head and tried to soothe me,
his voice dripping sweetly, as if coaxing a clueless child with candy.
“But think carefully. Are you seriously considering divorce? Do you even know how divorcees are treated in the Empire? You’ll be thrown out with nothing—not a single coin to your name. Understand?”
“I don’t need any other assets. I’ll just take my compositions.”
“Ha! You said ‘your compositions’?”
Edward, who’d been gawking open-mouthed at our conversation, jumped in instantly.
“You only wrote a few chords! I did all the essential work! How can you call them yours?”
“Do you really believe that, Edward?”
I looked quietly at Edward. He flinched and stammered.
I used to believe those words.
Edward only tweaked the tiniest details of my scores—just a note or two, maybe a couple of accents.
Then he’d claim those tiny touches were the masterstrokes that elevated incomplete drafts into proper works of art.
“Sigh… You naive Ariana.”
Lucas shook his head and wrapped an arm around my shoulder.
At the seemingly affectionate gesture, I instantly recalled the image of him groping my younger sister’s thigh. Nausea surged.
“Your compositions? How could anyone possibly recognize your contribution? Everyone knows the head composer of the Lopez Opera House is Count Lopez—not you.”
“Yes! The Marquis is absolutely right! Without my reputation and arrangements, do you really think anyone would’ve ever heard your stupid songs?”
Edward, emboldened again, chimed in eagerly at Lucas’s words.
“…Yes, I see.”
At my quiet reply, Lucas and Edward exchanged glances—they clearly thought I’d backed down.
Slowly, I opened my mouth once more.
“Then I’ll just go straight to the taverns and shout it from the rooftops.”
All three pairs of eyes widened at once.
“I’m sure the gossip columns would love these headlines: [‘Head of the Musical Dynasty Lopez Family, Count Lopez, Is Actually Tone-Deaf’] and [‘All His Music Was Really Composed by His Twin Sister’].”
Blue flames blazed in Edward’s eyes.
“Hey! Have you lost your mind?!”
“Here’s another headline I’m looking forward to: [‘Marquis Pedegrin’s Affair with His Sister-in-Law—None Other Than ‘The Flower of Opera,’ Elena Lopez’].”
My lips felt numb as I poured out these sensational headlines.
I tried to hold it back, but a tear inevitably slipped down my cheek.
With tear-filled eyes, I looked at the three of them.
“…Then, goodbye, everyone. I’ll see you in court.”
“Ariana!”
“Sister, why are you really doing this?!”
“Damn it! Grab her!”
I sprinted like a madwoman and fled the mansion.
Hee-hee-hee!
I leapt onto the horse tethered in the stable and spurred it—the horse bolted like an arrow.
Feeling the sharp wind whip against my face, I let out a sob.
‘Don’t cry.’
Now that the rot had been cut away, I could start over.
Again… just one more time…
‘But can I truly start over?’
Divorce. Court.
Though I’d spat out those harsh words as if they meant nothing, my whole body trembled uncontrollably.
My husband, my brother, my younger sister.
The family I’d trusted as my own—
learning they’d betrayed me so utterly, I doubted I’d ever trust anyone again.
Could a life lived with this broken heart even be called living?
I’d never again sincerely rejoice in someone else’s happiness, depend on them, or love them like before.
What could I possibly…?
Boom!
At that instant, excruciating pain ripped through my body.
I collapsed from the horse like a marionette with its strings cut.
Vroom, vroom, vroom…
I heard the idle rumble of the automobile Edward had recently bought, boasting about acquiring the latest novelty.
‘It hurts.’
The surreal agony stole my breath.
Every bone in my body screamed.
Was that flowing red river my blood?
“Damn it all! You crazy bitch—when I told you to stop, you should’ve just stopped!”
I heard Edward jump out of the car and come running.
“Kyaaaaah!”
Elena’s shrill scream followed.
“What if she dies!”
“I only meant to block her path! How was I supposed to know she’d suddenly jump out!”
“If Ariana dies, who’ll compose my songs now?! And what about the ‘Paradise’ construction fund!”
“Damn it, I’ll compose the songs myself! She just scribbled a few notes—my touch is what turned them into true masterpieces! And the funds… Wait, hold on.”
Edward scanned the area, then crept slowly toward me.
Disgustedly, he lifted my blood-stained finger and carefully pressed it onto a document.
“…”
It was the same proposal Edward had thrust at me moments earlier—
authorizing the release of funds for the ‘Paradise’ project.
“There—done. She’s stamped it.”
Edward murmured, his voice brimming with glee.
“Hah… hehe… good. That’s all I needed. Once ‘Paradise’ is complete, I’ll be richer than the Emperor himself!”
His greed-stained voice sounded uglier than any beast or insect.
“Oh… dear. Poor Ariana. What a mess of that pretty body.”
My husband, Lucas, knelt before me and whispered sympathetically,
“You really shouldn’t have made such a fuss.”
“Lu… cas…”
“I’m sorry, Ariana. But I truly did love you once—honestly. Even if you were dull and boring as a stone.”
“Huh….”
“But then, a woman who looks just like you acts nothing like you—flirting and dripping with charm. What man could possibly resist? It’s really your sister’s fault for being such a temptress.”
Then goodbye, Ariana.
The man who’d once been my husband whispered.
“At your funeral, I’ll have them play the requiem you composed.”
With a final show of mercy, Lucas closed my eyelids.
In my nearly clouded mind, I murmured,
‘Ah…’
Foolish Ariana. Stupid Ariana.
Trusting those wretches simply because they were “family,” giving them everything—what a pathetic Ariana.
‘Such a miserable life.’
No one would ever remember the tale of a foolish, gullible woman betrayed and abandoned in the end. It was a pitiful farce that wouldn’t draw even a single spectator.
I felt the sound of my life slowly fading away,
like a smorzando gently dimming to nothing.
And until it vanished completely—diminuendo, diminuendo…
‘No. Not like this. I don’t want this ending…’
Bitter regret surged, yet I was helpless before the pitiless descent of the curtain.
‘Not like this…’
And then, at last—al fine.
Perfect silence.
Male lead is reincarnated to save his wife
I’ve also read this one twice already. The female lead is kinda soft and gets embarrassed easily—not really my type, but the plot is definitely worth reading. Hurry up and read it, y’all!
Intro
When Shen Yuan encountered Su Jin again in his previous life, she had already become the Prime Minister of the current dynasty. As for him, the former top young master of the capital, he had long since fallen into the abyss, becoming a singer on a pleasure boat.
After a song ended, he was redeemed and sent to the Su Residence.
Su Jin respected and cherished him, gave him a roof over his head, and bestowed him with warmth. Shen Yuan fell deeper and deeper, but before he could express his feelings, Su Jin passed away.
Shen Yuan died to follow her in death, but instead, he returned to when he was fifteen years old.
At that time, he was not yet engaged, and Su Jin was just a poor scholar.
Shen Yuan gritted his teeth, casting aside all his pride, and thought of ways to coax and entice her every day.
The colder and more indifferent Su Jin was towards him, the more proactive Shen Yuan became.
He was not afraid of being mocked by the world, only wanting to marry his Wife-master early, to hold her hand and never let go for a lifetime.
[Note: This story will not specifically point out the male lead’s reincarnation time point; it’s all in the details. Whenever you feel that the male lead is acting strangely, he has most likely been reincarnated.]
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
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