HIS BIGGEST REGRET

CHAPTER TWO: 48 HOURS EARLIER

Forty-Eight Hours Earlier...

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee drifted through the spacious kitchen as the morning sun poured golden light across the marble countertops.

Serena Hart stood at the stove, humming softly while flipping pancakes onto a plate. She glanced at the clock.

7:15 a.m.

"Mommy!"

A tiny pair of feet padded across the hallway.

Before Serena could turn around, three-year-old Lily wrapped her little arms around her mother's legs.

"I'm hungry!"

Serena laughed, setting the spatula down before scooping her daughter into her arms.

"My little princess couldn't wait another minute?"

Lily shook her head dramatically.

"My tummy is crying."

"It is?"

"Yes! It said, 'Feed me, Lily!'"

Serena burst into laughter and kissed her daughter's forehead.

"Well, we can't let your tummy cry, can we?"

Lily giggled, resting her head on Serena's shoulder.

These were the moments Serena lived for.

Every exhausting day at work.

Every sleepless night.

Every sacrifice.

Everything was worth it because she had Lily.

Her little miracle.

Her reason for smiling.

She set Lily on a stool before placing a plate of pancakes in front of her.

"Chocolate syrup?"

Lily nodded enthusiastically.

"And strawberries?"

"Yes!"

"And a mountain of whipped cream?"

Lily gasped dramatically.

"A BIG mountain!"

Serena smiled.

"You drive a hard bargain."

Just then, strong arms wrapped around her waist from behind.

She smiled without turning around.

"Good morning."

A warm kiss brushed her cheek.

"Morning, beautiful."

Damien.

He rested his chin on her shoulder as if nothing in the world could ever come between them.

"You woke up early."

"I wanted to spend time with my girls before you rushed off to conquer another company."

Serena rolled her eyes playfully.

"You make me sound like a superhero."

"You are."

His answer came without hesitation.

"You've carried this family on your shoulders since the day we got married."

She looked at him through the reflection in the kitchen window.

"You'll make me cry before breakfast."

"I mean every word."

Lily scrunched up her tiny nose.

"Eww."

Both adults looked at her.

"No kissing!"

Damien chuckled.

"Why not?"

"Because Mommy belongs to me."

"Oh?"

"And Daddy belongs to me too."

Serena laughed so hard she almost dropped the coffee mug.

Damien walked over and lifted Lily into the air.

"So we're both yours?"

"Yes!"

"And what do we get in return?"

Lily thought for a moment before planting loud kisses on both of their cheeks.

"There."

Damien pretended to wipe away tears.

"Best deal ever."

For a brief moment...

Everything felt perfect.

If only Serena had known it would be the last peaceful morning of her life.

...

By eight-thirty, Serena was dressed in a cream-colored pantsuit that perfectly complemented her graceful figure.

She worked as a senior financial analyst at Ashford Financial Group, one of the city's fastest-growing investment firms.

At twenty-nine, she had already achieved what many spent decades chasing.

She earned an excellent salary.

Owned a beautiful apartment.

Provided comfortably for her family.

She had never minded being the primary breadwinner.

Damien often apologized for not contributing enough.

"I'm trying, Serena," he'd say.

"My business just needs one big opportunity."

She always believed him.

Love wasn't measured by money.

At least...

That was what she kept telling herself.

She picked up her handbag.

"Lily, Mommy has to go."

Her daughter immediately pouted.

"No work."

"I'll be back before bedtime."

"You promise?"

Serena knelt and held up her pinky finger.

"Pinky promise."

Lily linked their fingers.

"If you break it..."

"I know."

"No bedtime hugs."

Serena gasped dramatically.

"What a terrible punishment."

Lily giggled.

Damien walked Serena to the front door.

"You've got another late meeting today?"

She sighed.

"The board wants the quarterly report finished before Friday."

"You work too hard."

"It's only for a few days."

He tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

"I'm proud of you."

Serena smiled.

Those simple words always made the long hours worthwhile.

"I love you."

"I love you more."

She kissed him before leaving.

Neither of them noticed the expression on Damien's face after the elevator doors closed.

The smile vanished.

His warm eyes turned cold.

He checked his wristwatch.

8:47 a.m.

Right on schedule.

His phone vibrated.

UNKNOWN NUMBER

He answered immediately.

"She's gone."

A woman's voice laughed softly.

"Good."

"Meet me at the usual place."

"I'll be there."

He ended the call without another word.

Inside the elevator descending toward the lobby, Serena stared at her own reflection.

Something felt...

Off.

She couldn't explain it.

It wasn't fear.

Not exactly.

Just an uneasy feeling that settled deep inside her chest.

She shook it away.

She had an important presentation.

Her imagination was getting the better of her.

...

Across town...

Damien entered an upscale café wearing sunglasses and a baseball cap.

A woman was already waiting in a secluded corner.

Elegant.

Beautiful.

Confident.

She removed her sunglasses as he approached.

"You kept me waiting."

Damien smirked.

"You know I like making an entrance."

She rolled her eyes.

"You almost got caught yesterday."

"I didn't."

"Almost isn't good enough."

The waiter arrived.

"The usual?"

She nodded.

Once he walked away, the warmth disappeared from her face.

"When are you telling her?"

Damien leaned back comfortably.

"When the time is right."

She scoffed.

"You've been saying that for months."

"I need one more thing."

"And what's that?"

"The transfer."

She stared at him.

"You're unbelievable."

"She trusts me completely."

"Exactly why you're disgusting."

Damien chuckled.

"You weren't complaining when we started this together."

The woman smiled faintly.

"No..."

"I wasn't."

...

Meanwhile...

Serena's presentation ended with applause.

The board members congratulated her one after another.

Outstanding.

Exceptional.

Brilliant.

Those words followed her out of the conference room.

Her boss stopped her near the hallway.

"You've exceeded every expectation this quarter."

"Thank you, sir."

"We're considering you for Director of Financial Strategy."

Serena froze.

"Director?"

"You've earned it."

Her heart raced.

The promotion would double her income.

She immediately thought of Damien.

He'd be so happy.

Maybe this was the breakthrough they needed.

Maybe he could finally stop worrying about his struggling business.

She smiled all the way back to her office.

She couldn't wait to tell him.

What Serena didn't know...

Was that Damien had already made plans for every dollar she hadn't earned yet.

And none of those plans included spending the rest of his life with her.

Far across the city, he raised a champagne glass toward the mysterious woman seated across from him.

"Forty-eight hours," he said.

She clinked her glass against his.

"To new beginnings."

Damien smiled.

"No."

"To the end of Serena Hart."