From Love to Ashes—My Ex-Lover's Regret

"Josie, are you crazy? Are you really breaking up with Winston? You took care of him for seven years after his parents passed away. You even dropped out of school to work and support him. If you break up now, everything you've done will be for nothing."

Of course, Josie knew that. Nevertheless, she managed a sour smile as she recalled what she had heard the previous evening.

Last night, Winston had just returned from studying abroad. After three years apart, they had eagerly embraced in a hotel room. His strong arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her tightly into his chest. She hadn't been intimated for so long that even the slightest touch left her weak. "Winston, hurry up, I ... I can't take it anymore."

Sadly, Winston kissed her without moving forward. It wasn't until she clung to his neck in frustration that he sighed and pulled out something cold and metallic. "Josie, let's try something different. I am not in the mood today."

Consumed by desire, Josie didn't think much about it and nodded absentmindedly. Yet something about it felt off. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't reach that peak. Strangely, Winston also seemed distracted.

Then, suddenly, the sharp ring of a phone cut through the silence. Winston stiffened, immediately letting go of her and answering the call. The phone was close, so Josie could hear the sweet, delicate voice on the other end. "Winston, I just arrived at your parent's house. Don't worry, they like me a lot. Your mother even made a carrot cake, the ones you used to love as a kid."

Josie's heart dropped. The woman spoke in a foreign language but instantly recognized the voice. It was Zelda, the only daughter of the Lorraine Family, who had once caused Winston's parents' death and absconded with all their money. Because of her, Winston's family was ruined.

If Josie hadn't taken him in, he would have starved to death on the streets. She had given up everything for him—her education, her future. Josie worked tirelessly to pay for his schooling, working three jobs daily to fund his studies abroad. She drank until her stomach bled at business banquets and she never once complained.

Josie's mind went blank momentarily now and her body grew cold. Winston's parents weren't dead after all and they were living with Zelda, the daughter of their enemy.

"That's good. I just met that old woman. She won't agree to a breakup, so I'll have to marry her. Don't worry. The moment we get the marriage certificate, I'll head straight back to France. I won't touch her. You're the only one in my heart."

Zelda feigned panic. "Winston, am I interrupting? Will your fiancée be mad if she hears us talking?"

Winston remained calm. "She barely finished high school before dropping out. How could she understand French? A woman like her should be grateful I'm even willing to marry her. It's the least I can do to repay her for raising me."

They continued chatting, oblivious to the devastation in Josie's heart. Every word was another knife cutting deeper and deeper. In Winston's eyes, she was stingy, cheap, petty, not presentable and was only a few years older than him but acted like an old lady.

Each insult pierced Josie's heart like a needle, tearing at the wounds already numbed by her years of hard work. She had sacrificed everything to support Winston, forcing herself to live frugally and neglecting her appearance because she was too busy working. She had even dropped out of a high school for him, even though her grades were nearly as good as his. She had given up everything for Winston, which was how he repaid her.

Finally, Winston ended the call with one last sentence. "She's probably just desperate because she's getting older. She kept begging me to sleep with her. Honestly, who knows how many men she's been with while I was away? I'm scared I'll catch something if I touch her. So, Zelda, don't feel guilty. You're not a homewrecker."

When the call ended, Winston lingered momentarily before finally noticing how stiff Josie's body had become. He suppressed the smile creeping onto his face since the phone call and cleared his throat. "I forgot to submit an important document. My professor asked a classmate to get it from me, so we chatted for a bit. Do you want to continue?"

Josie silently shook her head, picked up her clothes and numbly walked towards the bathroom. The water washed over the places Winston had touched and the earlier intimacy seemed like a joke. Josie couldn't hold back her tears, letting them flow freely.

By the time Josie had composed herself, Winston had already left without even giving her a chance to break up with him. So, Josie called her boss. "Janice, I'm not marrying Winston. Give me three months to raise the money and I'll accept the closed-door training in Scotland."