By the Time He Regretted, She Was Gone Forever

Quinn’s expression flickered, clearly dissatisfied with the lack of reaction. Just as she opened her mouth to push further, Enzo suddenly stirred. His drunken eyes cracked open, his voice hoarse and laced with impatience. "She’s nothing more than a servant in this house. What’s with the attitude of a lady of the house?" "Make me a bowl of hangover soup." A nearby servant instinctively stepped forward, but Enzo lifted a hand, stopping them. His fingers curled slightly as he pointed straight at Kinsley. "You do it." "Miss Moore, don’t tell me you can’t even manage a simple bowl of hangover soup?" The words landed like blows, sinking deep into her chest. Kinsley took a slow breath before turning toward the kitchen without a word. Watching her retreating figure, Quinn felt a rush of satisfaction wash over her. Once upon a time, everyone had compared her to Kinsley. And every time, she had come up short. Even Enzo, the boy she had known since childhood, had once been utterly devoted to her. But now, everything had changed. The Moore Family had fallen, Moore Corporation was no longer a name that carried weight in Ashford. Now, the city belonged to the Keller Family. Time passed in silence as Kinsley finished making the hangover soup. She wiped the sweat from her forehead, her voice soft but steady. "It’s ready. Do you want to drink it now or wait until it cools?" Enzo barely spared it a glance before reaching out. Without hesitation, he swept the bowl to the floor. Porcelain shattered against the tiles, the sharp fragments scattering like fallen glass. A few jagged pieces cut into Kinsley’s calf, bright red seeping down her skin in thin, glistening trails. For a split second, Enzo’s gaze flickered, but he said nothing. Kinsley didn’t flinch. As if she felt nothing at all, she crouched down, quietly picking up the shards before turning back to the kitchen. Watching his indifference, Quinn leaned in, her voice laced with amusement as she draped herself against his shoulder. "Why don’t we just make her my servant? I could use one at home." The words barely left her lips before Enzo shot her a cold look. The playful smirk on her face stiffened instantly. "You should go. I’ll consider the project in Rainier Bay." A clear dismissal. Quinn hesitated but knew better than to argue. She left without another word. Kinsley, oblivious to her departure, continued moving like a machine, her hands repeating the same empty motions. She didn’t hear the footsteps approaching behind her. Didn’t notice until warmth pressed against her back. A pair of strong arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her against a familiar frame. The scent of alcohol lingered in the air, but the grip around her abdomen trembled slightly. She stiffened. Uncomfortable, she tried to pull away, but Enzo didn’t let go. His voice, hoarse yet strangely steady, brushed against her ear. "Kinsley, when did you become like this?" "Kinsley, give me a child." Kinsley abruptly pushed him away, her entire body trembling like a leaf caught in a storm.

For a fleeting moment, she wanted to tell him the truth, that she was already carrying his child. But the brutal reality twisted like a dagger in her heart, dragging her into the depths of despair. Her voice came out sharp, edged with madness. "Enzo, I’m atoning for my father’s sins. How could we possibly have a child?" "You would become the target of public scorn. They would drown you in their contempt." "Someone like me isn’t even worthy of being a mother." A cold, self-deprecating laugh slipped past her lips as her clear, desolate eyes met his abyss-like gaze. Enzo’s jaw tensed, his fists clenching at his sides. When he finally spoke, his voice was laced with biting indifference. "At least you have some self-awareness." He stepped back, putting distance between them and without hesitation, he handed her a wedding invitation. Kinsley took it, her fingers trembling as she unfolded the delicate paper. Her gaze fell on the bride’s name—Quinn. At that moment, memories surged like an unforgiving tide. Once, she had held a wedding invitation just like this. Once, her name had been there. But time had passed. And there was no going back. The bubbling of the soup on the stove broke the suffocating silence, pulling Kinsley from her daze. Slowly, she turned off the heat. Enzo’s gaze lingered on her for a second, two seconds, before he turned away and strode upstairs. Kinsley remained crouched on the ground, unmoving. The night stretched on, swallowing her whole. Her head throbbed as if it might split apart, but she clenched her teeth and swallowed the pain in silence. Her lips, bitten raw, seeped with blood and a dull ache coiled in her lower abdomen. Dazed, she drifted into the past. Back when Enzo’s father was still alive, they had already begun planning their wedding. She still remembered the first time they met at a lively gathering in their youth. For Kinsley, it had been love at first sight. And Enzo had felt the same. That night, he had sat beside her, murmuring her name over and over as if engraving it into his soul. Her hand had pressed against her chest, trying to steady the wild rhythm of her heart. They had been happy once. Until everything crumbled the night before their wedding. She could still hear the desperate tremor in her mother’s voice, raw with panic. “Kinsley, come home quickly! Something terrible has happened!” Fear had seized her, but she hadn’t wasted a second. She had tried to call Enzo, but his phone remained unanswered. By the time she reached home, a bloodied figure lay motionless on the ground. She had shoved her way through the gathering crowd, only to stop dead in her tracks, her body frozen, her breath stolen by the sight before her. Her mother clung to her, sobbing uncontrollably. “Kinsley, talk to Enzo, please! Don’t let them send your father to prison!” Her mind went blank. The words barely registered, drowned out by the chaos swirling around her. Before she could make sense of anything, an ambulance arrived, sirens wailing and took the injured man away. And then, she saw him. Enzo stood there, his gaze piercingly cold, steeped in disappointment and something far worse, helplessness. Her steps felt like lead as she forced herself forward, lips parting, yet no words came out. His fingers dug into her shoulders. “Kinsley, your father committed a crime and now you want mine to take the fall?” His voice was laced with disbelief, with fury, with an ache she could not name. Before she could respond, another figure broke through the crowd: his mother. “You are the daughter of a murderer! I will never let you step foot into my house!”

The older woman seized Kinsley’s collar, her hatred raw and unforgiving. Then, without hesitation, she yanked the diamond bracelet from Kinsley’s wrist and hurled it to the ground. The delicate diamond shattered into pieces. Enzo said nothing. But in that silence, everything became clear. They were no longer a couple. They were no longer the ones who had once spoken of forever. They had become something else: victims and criminal’s kin. Kinsley had wanted to uncover the truth. But before she could take a step forward, her father’s body was found near the reservoir two days later. And the world whispered the same verdict: he had taken his own life out of guilt. The Moore Corporation had crumbled. Overnight, everything was gone. All that remained was her mother, trapped in madness, a hollow shell of the woman she once was. Kinsley had always been stubborn. She had juggled five jobs a day just to pay for her mother’s treatment, pushing herself beyond exhaustion. But even as her body withered under the strain, her mother remained comatose, clinging to life by the thinnest thread. Now, returning to the present, Kinsley curled into herself, bone-deep exhaustion pressing down on her. Only in this fragile moment could she steal a sliver of relief. But once the sun rose, she would once again become the Kinsley, even she could barely recognize. It wasn’t that she hadn’t tried to leave. But every time she did, Enzo dragged her back. “Kinsley, do you think your father’s death can erase the damage he did to my family?” His voice was ice, sharp and unrelenting. “I want you to stay in Cascadia and suffer, just like I do, every single day.” They were the same. Both had lost everything overnight. And Kinsley hadn’t hesitated to agree. Not long ago, the doctors had sealed her fate: a brain tumor. Maybe, in the near future, she would forget everything. Or maybe she was already living during borrowed time. “Kinsley, your mother passed away last night.” She answered groggily, her fingers numb against the phone. Her legs had long lost their strength and as the news settled in, her body weakened, leaving her frozen in place. The servants who passed by hesitated, their curious gazes lingering. But when she offered no response, they left, their presence dissolving into the background. Closing her eyes, she forced herself to steady. When she finally spoke, her voice trembled. “Rowan, please help me. I’ll be there as soon as I can.” As the call ended, she struggled to stand, her steps unsteady as she forced herself forward. At the hospital, she stood before the glass window, staring blankly. The woman on the bed was no longer breathing. Her mother’s voice echoed in her mind, fragments of a past that could never be reclaimed. “Kinsley, I don’t believe your father would harm anyone. He was innocent, just a scapegoat.” “Don’t go to the Keller Family. I won’t accept treatment either. I just want you to live well.” “Kinsley! I dreamed of your father again. His body was covered in wounds and he was crying out in pain. I think he’s coming to take me with him.” Her eyes snapped open, bloodshot and filled with grief. Tears welled up, spilling silently onto the floor. At some point, Rowan had appeared behind her. “Auntie left peacefully. She didn’t suffer too much.” She wiped her tears with trembling fingers, letting out a soft, weary sigh. “I know. I know it all.” “But now, I’m all alone.”

Rowan’s heart clenched. He wanted to pull her into his arms, to shield her from the weight of this loss. But he had no rightful place to do so. The piercing ringtone shattered the silence again. Kinsley numbly picked up the call. "I'm going on a business trip tonight. My mom is in the hospital. Take care of her." Before she could utter a word, the call ended. Rowan had overheard Enzo’s voice and fury flickered in his eyes. "Kinsley, how can he treat you like this?" “What happened back then wasn’t your fault. And both of you lost your fathers; doesn’t he know what that pain feels like?" She remained silent for a long moment before speaking, her voice soft but unwavering. "Rowan, I know you mean well." "But I owe him. This debt will be repaid soon." Rowan’s gaze darkened, his lips pressing into a thin line. Then, out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of the medical report she pulled from her bag. "My doctor reviewed it. He recommends I seek treatment abroad." "So, I’m leaving." Rowan reached out instinctively, his fingers curling around her wrist. For a brief second, words hovered at the edge of his tongue, an urge to confess what had long been buried. But fear crept in. If he spoke, would he lose even their fragile friendship? In the end, he let her go. Instead, he fished a small candy from his pocket and pressed it into her palm. "Peach-flavored, your favorite." Kinsley curled her fingers around it and hurried off. Near Samantha’s hospital room, she took a deep breath, composing herself. The moment she stepped forward, a pillow flew out and struck her. Samantha’s furious voice cut through the air. "Did Enzo not call you?" "If you don’t come, who will take care of me?!" Her sharp eyes burned with disdain, her glare ice-cold. Quinn stood nearby, draped in a princess-style gown that looked painfully out of place. Wrinkling her nose in irritation, she spoke with thinly veiled disdain. "I can’t blame Auntie for being upset. Since Enzo assigned you to take care of her, you should at least do it properly." "What’s that smell? Kinsley, when did you become so unkempt?" Kinsley swayed slightly, a sudden wave of dizziness washing over her. Steadying herself, she forced her legs to move and walked to Samantha’s bedside, glancing at the medical chart. A common cold. The sight made something snap inside her. Without another word, she turned to leave. To Samantha, it was an unforgivable offense. Disrespect. Defiance. Throwing off her blanket, she pushed herself forward and grabbed the hem of Kinsley’s dress. "Where do you think you’re going?" "If Enzo didn’t stop me every time, do you really think you’d still be standing here?" "A murderer’s daughter, how clean can you be?" "Who knows if every penny you spend is built on the blood of others!" The commotion spilled into the hallway, drawing a crowd. Murmurs and whispers filled the air. Kinsley tried to wrench free, but her strength was fading fast. She opened her mouth, but any words she had were swallowed by the rising noise. Then, pain. Her head slammed hard against the metal railing. A sharp, white-hot ache burst behind her eyes. The world around her blurred, voices turning into distant echoes. Somewhere in the haze, she heard her name. "Kinsley! Kinsley!"

Rowan had just arrived, intending to check on Samantha. Instead, she saw Kinsley collapsing. Rowan hadn’t expected to walk into this scene. Panic gripped him as he rushed forward, crouching down to gather Kinsley into his arms. Without hesitation, he turned and bolted toward the emergency room, his heart hammering against his ribs. Behind him, Samantha stood frozen, momentarily stunned. Quinn, too, seemed slightly shaken, her fingers tightening around the fabric of her dress. "Auntie, I think he was Kinsley’s university classmate. They seem really close." Samantha’s expression darkened. "Then why is she still clinging to my son?!" "Quinn, you have a kind heart, no schemes, no deceit. Never let yourself be wronged, understand?" Not once did she spare a thought for Kinsley’s condition. Meanwhile, inside the emergency room, the situation had turned dire. The hospital had already issued two emergency notices. "Kinsley! Stay awake! You’ll be okay!" The usually composed Rowan was visibly shaken, his voice raw with urgency. Kinsley barely managed to pry her eyes open. "I’m fine," she whispered, her voice barely audible. And then, darkness swallowed her whole. *** Kinsley’s eyelids fluttered open and the first face she saw was Enzo’s. Her lips parted, dry and cracked, but no sound came out. Enzo barely spared her a glance, his voice laced with indifference. "You're awake?" She stared at him, dazed, as if time had rewound to the past, back to when his presence still held warmth. Feigning a few coughs, Enzo rose from the chair, his expression unreadable. "Since you’re fine, get up already." "I was only gone for a few days and you’ve already stirred up trouble." "Apologize to Quinn and this matter ends here." Kinsley’s lashes quivered. She looked at him, confusion flickering in her eyes. Seeing her hesitation, Enzo let out a low chuckle, void of humor. "You don’t remember? Before you fainted, you bumped into Quinn. She’s fragile and now her leg is broken." A cold scoff echoed in Kinsley’s heart. Her hand instinctively rested on her lower abdomen as if seeking comfort in the silence. The words of defiance swirled on the tip of her tongue, but in the end, she swallowed them whole. "I understand." Enzo’s gaze darkened, something unreadable flickering behind his eyes. His voice turned even colder. "Good. Don’t think faking an illness will get you out of this." "Rowan was your classmate, wasn’t he? He seems awfully heartbroken over you." For a fleeting moment, jealousy thickened the air between them. Then, without another word, Enzo straightened and strode out. The moment Enzo left, Kinsley struggled to sit up. After a brief moment of thought, she stepped out, her mind set on one thing: finding Quinn’s ward. When she arrived, the sight before her made her pause. Quinn sat on the hospital bed. "Enzo, I'm really fine. The wedding date is already set; we can’t postpone it over something this minor." "Here, touch it and see. It’s really nothing." A sudden tickle clawed at Kinsley’s throat, forcing out a harsh cough. Enzo’s body stiffened. In an instant, he was by her side. His hand lifted slightly, hesitating mid-air, before he withdrew it as if burned. Turning away, his voice was steady, emotionless. "The wedding will proceed as planned. Just focus on recovering." "And as for you, atone for your mistakes. Isn’t that what you do best?"

Kinsley bit her lip, something flickering in her eyes. As soon as Enzo walked out, the sweetness in Quinn’s expression vanished. Without a hint of discomfort, she stood up and strode toward Kinsley with ease. A cold draft swept through the room. Kinsley’s body tensed as a sharp pain surged through her chest. A metallic taste flooded her mouth before blood trickled from the corner of her lips, her face losing all color. But Quinn wasn’t satisfied. She lifted her hand again, ready to strike. Kinsley’s eyes turned icy as she blocked her without hesitation. Her voice was frigid, each word sharp as a blade. "What do you think you’re doing?" Quinn’s breathing turned ragged, her face twisting in anger. "Kinsley, you’re shameless!" "I am Enzo’s fiancée, yet you had the audacity to get pregnant with his child?" "What, do you think this child will make Enzo change his mind?" She let out a cold laugh, arms crossed as she loomed over Kinsley. "Let me make one thing clear: Uncle Atlas’s life is between you two. You will never be together!" "Even if Enzo agrees, Aunt Samantha will never let you set foot in the Keller Family!" "My advice? Get rid of it while you still can." With that, she sauntered toward the luxurious sofa and sat down, her glare never wavering. Her fingers clenched tightly around the armrest, the fury in her eyes barely contained. Kinsley lowered her head, her hand instinctively resting over her stomach. Her voice was calm, indifferent. "That’s none of your concern." She turned to leave, unwilling to waste another breath. But Quinn wasn’t done. "Kinsley!" "You’re not worthy! You don’t deserve to carry Enzo’s child!" "The position of the Keller Family’s matriarch belongs to me and me alone!" Feigning weakness, she deliberately made herself look disheveled, then stepped in closer, her presence suffocating. Kinsley was in no condition to fight back. She took a step back. Then another. But in the next instant, Quinn’s fist struck without warning. A sharp, searing pain exploded in Kinsley’s abdomen. Her breath hitched as she doubled over, unable to stand upright. She reached out, trying to shield herself. But Quinn was relentless. Her grip was like iron, her strength overwhelming. Kinsley’s fingers fumbled for the door handle, her weak voice barely escaping her lips. She tried to call for help. But her cries were swallowed by the merciless blows. She felt the life within her slipping away, warmth pooling beneath her as crimson stained the cold floor. Kinsley’s eyelids fluttered shut. The pain was unbearable. Darkness swallowed her whole as she lost consciousness. Quinn’s breath hitched. It wasn’t until she saw the vivid red spreading beneath Kinsley that the reality of what she had done struck her. Her body trembled as she collapsed onto the floor, fumbling for her phone. "Enzo, I’m scared; please, come quickly!" On the other end, something clattered, his phone, perhaps, as he hurried over. Moments later, Enzo appeared in the doorway. His breath caught at the sight before him. Kinsley lay motionless, her body lifeless on the bloodstained floor. His chest tightened. Without hesitation, he strode forward, reaching down to scoop her into his arms. But Quinn threw herself in front of him, her voice quivering, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I’m the real victim here, Enzo. Are you really going to leave your fiancée behind?" For a heartbeat, he hesitated. His gaze locked with hers, uncertainty flickering in his eyes. And in that fleeting pause, Rowan stormed in. Without a second thought, he crossed the room, lifted Kinsley into his arms and turned to leave. "If anything happens to Kinsley, you’ll live to regret it."

The surgery stretched from day to night. Rowan paced outside the operating room, his fists clenched, cold sweat trickling down his back. When the harsh glow above the door finally dimmed, the doctor stepped out, his expression grave. “The patient’s condition can’t be delayed any longer.” “The medical resources here are limited. It’s best to proceed with the original plan.” Rowan’s jaw tightened. His knuckles turned white, but he nodded in silence. Kinsley was wheeled out soon after, still under anesthesia, her face pale and lifeless. Meanwhile, her phone vibrated relentlessly, with hundreds of missed calls. Enzo, unable to reach her, had resorted to a cold, cutting message. [Kinsley, I only asked you to apologize to Quinn. Do you really need to go this far and pretend to be sick?] [The internet is swarming with news about you. I suggest you respond publicly before things get worse.] [I’m only giving you one chance.] A strange frustration gnawed at him, a restless unease he couldn’t shake. Rowan held Kinsley’s phone in his hand, staring at the screen, his expression unreadable. Then, a faint voice broke the silence. “Why is the light off?” His breath hitched. His pupils shrank. He waved a hand in front of her eyes. No reaction. A terrible realization settled in his chest. Kinsley let out a quiet, self-deprecating sigh. “So it’s gotten this bad already?” She slowly folded her hands over her stomach, her fingers trembling. “Leaving is for the best. Bringing you into this world with a mother like me would only be irresponsible.” “I’m sorry, truly sorry.” A single tear slipped from the corner of her eye. And in that moment, her heart shattered beyond repair. Rowan parted his lips as if to speak but hesitated. After a brief pause, he finally asked, “Kinsley, you’ll get better. Once you recover a little, let’s go abroad, alright?” Kinsley froze for a moment before a faint smile tugged at her lips. “Let me go on my own.” She had already owed him too much. Since she could never return his feelings, it was best to make things clear now rather than later. Just then, a nurse entered to check on her. The phone beside her hadn’t been turned off yet. A voice drifted into the air, soft yet piercing. “Enzo and I are getting married soon.” “You’ve never liked me, but aren’t you afraid of what Enzo will do if he finds out?” Kinsley’s fingers twitched. Rowan waved the nurse away, his voice low and measured. “Someone posted a video of your argument at the hospital. After some malicious editing, rumors started spreading.” “Don’t let it get to you.” She said nothing. She only turned her head away, her thoughts spinning in an endless loop. If Enzo had ever truly trusted her, he wouldn’t have sided with Quinn time and time again. If he had ever truly loved her, he wouldn’t have been blind to such obvious tricks. Right now, she didn’t want to think. Didn’t want to remember. As she closed her eyes, a vision surfaced: the child standing there, saying goodbye. A few days later, on the eve of Enzo’s wedding, public outrage reached its peak. The storm refused to settle. Someone had to step forward to end it. Unable to reach Kinsley, he found another way, contacting Rowan instead. The moment the call connected, his impatience flared. “Is Kinsley with you? Put her on the phone!” “If she apologizes publicly, I’ll try to minimize the damage.” “After all, she’s the one at fault here.” Kinsley clutched her phone tightly, momentarily frozen. Rowan had gone out to buy her a meal. She had thought it was her own phone ringing. A long silence stretched between them before she ended the call. Without hesitation, she asked a nurse to buy her a plane ticket. Fumbling to gather a few belongings, she took a taxi and left. Before disappearing, she recorded a voice message for Rowan, telling him not to worry. Not to look for her. The nurse watched her resolute figure vanish into the distance, anger simmering in her chest. Moments later, she posted Kinsley’s abortion records online. [Who is really at fault here?] [What kind of mother would use her own child as a ploy?] The revelation sent another shockwave through the internet. At that moment, Enzo was helping Quinn try on wedding dresses. The moment he saw the medical report, his posture stiffened, his expression dark and unreadable. Quinn, oblivious, twirled in front of the mirror, her tone light. “Enzo, do you think this one looks good?” The sales assistants showered her with praise, but Enzo’s mind was in complete turmoil. Frantically, he dialed Kinsley. Her phone was off. Unexpectedly, Rowan called instead. Before he could utter a word, Enzo’s impatience flared. “She was pregnant?” “Whose child was it?!” “Tell her to call me back!” Rowan’s voice was cold, razor-sharp. “Enzo, you really are a fool.” “Chances are, she’ll never appear in your life again.” At that moment, Kinsley was already on a plane, leaving behind the land that had brought her nothing but suffering. She closed her eyes, exhaling softly and whispered to herself, “Enzo, let’s never meet again.” From now on, she will be her own light and move forward courageously...