Unforgettable Regret

I always put my family first. No matter where I was, they were always on my mind. My biggest dream was to give them everything they needed, so I never allowed myself to fall in love. Many men tried to court me, but I ignored them all. Then one day, I met a strange boy — quiet, awkward, and almost like a nerd. He kept following me around, teasing me with endless attention, and no matter how many times I rejected him, he never gave up. But he was not the kind of man I liked. I preferred someone confident and fearless, not someone too soft and clumsy. Because of his constant persistence, I slowly grew irritated with him. Until one day… I did something terrible. In front of many people, I humiliated him and hurt his feelings deeply. I still remember the way he looked at me that day — the pain in his eyes, the silence in his face. The moment haunted me. I wanted to apologize, but pride kept my lips sealed. I thought maybe someday I could make it up to him. But it was already too late. I had hurt him too much, and he disappeared from my life completely. Months passed without seeing him, yet strangely, I began to miss him. I missed his annoying little messages, his awkward smiles, and the way he never stopped trying. Little by little, the boy I once pushed away became the person I could never forget. Then one cold night, around eleven in the evening, while I was walking home alone, someone suddenly grabbed me from behind. Fear consumed my whole body as they dragged me into a car. My hands trembled, my heartbeat wild with terror. They brought me to a secluded place far from the city — a quiet mansion surrounded by breathtaking lights and the sound of the wind. And there, standing in front of me… was him. The boy whose heart I broke. The boy I humiliated. The boy I could never forget. His eyes were no longer soft and innocent. They carried pain, anger… and something darker. He confessed that he planned everything because he wanted revenge for what I did to him. But what he didn’t know was this: From the moment he disappeared, I had already started falling for him. And now, standing before the man I once rejected, I realized the cruelest punishment was not being kidnapped… It was seeing how much I had changed the kindest person I ever met. Days turned into weeks inside the mansion. Marco remained cold and distant toward Shane. He rarely smiled at her, and whenever their eyes met, there was always tension between them — anger mixed with something neither of them wanted to admit. But despite his harsh words, Shane noticed the little things. Every morning, fresh coffee was already waiting outside her room. Whenever the nights became cold, someone silently left a blanket beside her bed. And every time she got into trouble around the mansion, Marco appeared before anyone else could hurt her. He acted like he hated her… yet loved her in every possible way. One evening, heavy rain poured outside while thunder echoed across the dark mansion. Shane sat quietly inside her room, unable to sleep. Her mind was filled with Marco — his angry eyes, his silence, and the strange sadness hidden behind his coldness. Then suddenly— The door opened. Marco entered the room. His black shirt was slightly unbuttoned, his hair messy, and the smell of alcohol filled the air. Shane immediately stood up. “Marco… you’re drunk.” He closed the door behind him slowly and leaned against it, staring at her with heavy eyes. For a few seconds, neither of them spoke. Then Marco laughed bitterly. “You know what’s funny?” he said in a low voice. “I brought you here to make you suffer… but in the end, I’m the one suffering every single day.” Shane’s chest tightened. Marco walked closer. “I tried to hate you,” he whispered. “God knows I tried.” “Marco…” “But every time I look at you…” his voice broke slightly, “…I still want you.” Shane’s heartbeat became wild as he stopped right in front of her. She could see pain in his eyes. Pain, longing… and love he could no longer hide. “Don’t do this,” Shane whispered nervously, though her voice sounded weaker than she expected. Marco gently touched her face. “You have no idea what you’ve done to me.” Before Shane could respond, Marco suddenly pulled her closer and kissed her. At first, Shane’s eyes widened in shock. She pushed lightly against his chest, trying to stop him, confused by the storm of emotions crashing inside her. But Marco kissed her like a man who had been starving for her love for far too long — desperate, emotional, trembling with years of hidden feelings. And somehow… Shane stopped resisting. Her hands slowly loosened against him as her heart betrayed everything she once believed. She didn’t understand why her chest ached whenever he looked hurt… or why his touch made her feel safe despite everything. The rain outside grew louder as the tension between them finally broke. Marco rested his forehead against hers, breathing heavily. “I hate that I still love you,” he whispered painfully. Shane looked into his eyes, her own trembling with emotion. Then softly… almost like a confession she was afraid to admit— “I think…” she whispered, “…I love you too.” For the first time since the night he brought her there, Marco’s anger faded. And in the middle of the stormy night, inside the lonely mansion filled with revenge and heartbreak, the two broken hearts finally stopped running from each other. The next morning, Shane slowly opened her eyes as the soft sunlight entered her room through the tall windows of the mansion. For a moment, she smiled. She remembered everything that happened the night before — Marco’s trembling voice, the way he kissed her like he had been holding back his feelings for so long, and the painful confession hidden behind his anger. Her fingers softly touched her lips. But when she turned beside her bed… Marco was gone. A strange emptiness filled her chest. Still, Shane believed things would finally change between them. She thought maybe the cold walls between them had finally broken. But she was wrong. As the days passed, Marco became even colder toward her. He avoided her eyes. He barely spoke to her. And whenever Shane tried to approach him, Marco would suddenly leave as if being near her tortured him. It hurt Shane more than she expected. She didn’t understand why the man who kissed her so passionately that night now acted like nothing happened. One afternoon, Marco suddenly entered her room carrying several expensive shopping bags. “Wear this,” he said coldly, placing them on the bed. Shane blinked in confusion. “What’s going on?” “There’s a party tonight.” Before she could ask more questions, professional stylists entered the room behind him. Marco looked away awkwardly. “Get her ready.” Hours later, the mansion transformed into a luxurious paradise filled with glittering lights, elegant music, and wealthy guests from the city. When Shane finally walked down the grand staircase wearing a dark red gown, the entire room fell silent for a moment. Even Marco froze. It was the first time he had ever seen her like that. Her hair softly framed her face, her eyes sparkled under the chandelier lights, and the dress perfectly revealed her beauty and elegance. For a few seconds, Marco could only stare. And for the first time in years… he forgot how to breathe. One of his friends suddenly laughed beside him. “Marco… since when did your cousin become this beautiful?” Marco’s jaw tightened instantly. Before the party began, he pulled Shane aside into a quiet hallway. His face became serious. “Listen carefully,” he warned coldly. “Don’t say anything about what happened. To everyone here, you are my cousin. Understand?” Shane looked at him quietly. “You’re still afraid people will judge you?” she asked softly. Marco’s eyes darkened. “This isn’t a game, Shane.” Without another word, he walked away. But throughout the entire night, Shane noticed something strange. Every man in the party seemed captivated by her beauty. They kept approaching her, asking her to dance, making her laugh, trying to get her attention. And every single time— Marco watched from afar with dangerous eyes. Especially when one man held Shane’s hand a little too long during a dance. Marco suddenly slammed his glass down on the table. The loud sound silenced everyone nearby. His friends stared at him in shock. Marco immediately walked toward the dance floor, his expression dark and unreadable. Before Shane could react, he grabbed her waist possessively and pulled her away from the other man. “She’s with me,” Marco said coldly. The room became awkwardly silent. The man quickly backed away. Shane’s heart pounded wildly as Marco dragged her toward the balcony outside the mansion. The cold night wind blew against them as Marco pinned her gently against the wall. “What is your problem?” Shane asked breathlessly. Marco looked furious. “You were enjoying that?” Shane stared at him in disbelief. “Why do you care?” Marco clenched his jaw, trying to control himself. “Because seeing another man touch you…” his voice became lower, rougher, “…drives me insane.” Their faces were dangerously close now. Shane could feel the warmth of his breath. Then suddenly, Marco laughed bitterly and looked away. “You really don’t understand what you’re doing to me.” But before he could leave, Shane grabbed his hand. And for the first time— she was the one who pulled him back close. Marco froze the moment Shane pulled him closer. For a second, the cold and controlled man everyone feared almost disappeared. Her fingers holding onto his hand, the softness in her eyes, the way she looked at him like she truly wanted him near—it weakened every wall he spent months building around his heart. But Marco quickly looked away. He clenched his jaw and gently pushed her back. “Don’t do that,” he said coldly. Shane’s expression slowly fell. Before she could speak again, several of Marco’s friends suddenly arrived at the balcony. “There you are!” one of them laughed. “We’ve been looking everywhere for you two.” Another friend immediately smiled at Shane. “Come join us downstairs. The party’s getting more fun.” Shane glanced at Marco, almost waiting for him to stop them. But Marco stepped back instead. “Go,” he said quietly. His voice was calm, but inside, jealousy was slowly consuming him. The entire night, Marco stayed away from everyone. He sat alone near the bar, silently drinking while watching Shane from afar. And the more he watched her laugh with others… the more restless he became. By midnight, the party grew louder and wilder. That was when Marco suddenly noticed Shane stumbling near the staircase. She was completely drunk. Her cheeks were flushed pink, her eyes half-open, and she looked adorably confused while trying to walk properly in her high heels. Marco immediately stood up. “Shane.” She looked at him slowly, then suddenly smiled brightly. “Maaaarcooo…” she said sweetly, almost singing his name. Marco tried not to react, but his chest tightened instantly. Even drunk, she was dangerously beautiful. He walked toward her and held her arm carefully before she could fall. “You drank too much.” Shane pouted like a child. “It’s your fault…” “My fault?” “You keep acting cold,” she mumbled. “So I drank.” Marco sighed heavily, trying to stay calm despite how close she was. But Shane suddenly poked his chest. “You’re so mean.” Marco raised an eyebrow. “Excuse me?” “You kissed me…” she whispered drunkenly while looking up at him. “Then you ignored me after.” Marco’s expression changed. People nearby slowly began noticing the tension between them, so Marco quickly guided Shane away from the party and into a quiet hallway upstairs. The moment they were alone, Shane leaned against the wall and stared at him with watery eyes. “You know what I hate most?” she whispered. Marco stayed silent. “I hate that no matter how angry you are…” she continued softly, “…I still keep looking for you everywhere.” His heartbeat stopped for a second. Shane laughed weakly and covered her face in embarrassment. “This is so humiliating…” she murmured. “I rejected you before… but now look at me.” Marco’s chest tightened painfully. Then Shane looked directly into his eyes. And what she said next completely shattered him. “When you disappeared…” she whispered, “…that was the moment I realized I loved you.” Silence filled the hallway. Marco stared at her in shock. For months, those were the exact words he had dreamed of hearing from her. But hearing them now somehow hurt even more. Shane slowly stepped closer and grabbed the front of his shirt weakly. “I missed you every day,” she admitted softly. “Even your annoying voice… your stupid persistence… everything.” Marco closed his eyes tightly, struggling to control the emotions inside him. Because the truth was— he still loved her so much it terrified him. And hearing her confess while looking at him with those vulnerable eyes almost destroyed the last bit of control he had left.