Drunk on Regret

Five years ago, I gave up my research achievements for love. Then, out of the blue, Marcus Parker's childhood friend made her return to the country. Using the excuse of playing truth or dare, they did everything that couples did together.

I reminded Marcus not to go too far, but he just gave me a helpless look. "Claire, if I really had something going on with Hannah, I wouldn't have married you."

I watched as he chose to abandon saving my mother for Hannah Carter's sake.

He even hung up on me when I got into a car accident. When I woke up again, I learned that my unborn child, who was not three months old, had died in my womb.

I finally gave up all hope and handed him the divorce papers. "Marcus, let's get divorced."

A month later, I boarded a plane bound for Andoria.

"Mark, hurry up and kiss her! That's your punishment! Come on, do it!"

I stood in the doorway, watching my husband, Marcus Parker, use a game of truth or dare as an excuse to passionately kiss his childhood friend through a poker card. My heart instantly plummeted to rock bottom.

If I had not received that anonymous text message, I never would have believed that Marcus, who was always so restrained and proper with me and never touched alcohol, would engage in something like this.

I swallowed the bitter feeling rising in my throat and pushed open the door. "Marcus, what are you doing?"

Hannah Carter suddenly fell to the ground as if startled by my questioning voice. Someone immediately spoke up to criticize me.

"Claire, aren't you being a bit too uptight? It's just a game of truth or dare. It's not real."

Hannah looked at me with rapid, shallow breaths. "Claire, don't blame Mark for this. It's my fault. I lost the game, so he drank and played along with me..."

Hannah was Marcus' childhood friend, and she was born with asthma. She was abroad for treatment for nearly ten years before recovering enough to return home.

Seeing Hannah's asthma attack triggered by her attempt to explain, Marcus angrily turned to me. "Claire, why did you have to burst in like that? Are you happy now that Hannah's having an asthma attack?"

He then spoke to Hannah in a gentle, soothing tone. Hannah tugged at his sleeve playfully. "I'll only feel better if you personally peel me an apple, Mark."

Marcus patiently peeled an apple for her, but Hannah kept making demands and getting in his way. With all her fussing and interference, Marcus ended up cutting his hand—the same hand he was always so careful to protect.

Hannah let out a cry, her voice full of concern but tinged with excitement. "Oh no, Mark! Your hand is hurt. What about your surgery tomorrow?"

"It's fine, I'll have a colleague cover for me." Marcus' casual words made my face instantly go pale.

He had forgotten that tomorrow was my mom's final