Banished Omega, Reborn as His Biggest Regret

Chapter 5

Charles blinked, as if he hadn’t expected the question. Then the corners of his mouth lifted slightly, his tone turning soft. "You forgot? It’s the marriage alliance between Ember Hide and Moon Shade."

I blinked once before the memory surfaced. "Do you still want to marry me?" I asked, my voice rough.

He tightened his grip on my hand, expression earnest. "Of course, I do. My biggest wish since we were kids was to marry you."

I looked at him for a long moment, then suddenly smiled. The smile was so light it barely felt real.

"But… I don’t want to marry you anymore."

I hadn’t even finished the sentence when a shrill scream cut through the hallway outside.

"Charles!" Sophia’s voice tore through the air like something ripping apart.

He jerked, set the bowl down, and bolted from the room.

I followed him out.

In the downstairs hall, Sophia stood clutching a fruit knife, the blade pressed against her wrist. Blood had already begun to seep out, sliding down her skin and dripping onto the carpet.

Lisa, Henry, and Kane were all there.

Panic was written on every face.

"Sophia, calm down!"

"Don’t do this, sweetheart. Whatever it is, we can talk."

She lifted her head and saw me. Her eyes were rimmed red, but her lips curved in a fragile smile.

"I’m sorry," she whispered. "Let’s be family again in the next life."

The knife sliced down. Blood sprayed, blooming scarlet across the pale carpet.

"—Sophia!"

Charles practically dove forward, catching her as she collapsed. Lisa shook so hard she could barely stand. Henry’s face went bone-white. Kane was already on the phone, calling for a doctor.

As Sophia’s hand slackened, a folded note slipped from her fingers and fluttered to the floor.

There was only one sentence written on it—"Charles, I like you. Please don’t marry someone else."

The world seemed to freeze solid.

For a long second, no one moved.

It was Kane who snapped out of it first. "Get her to the hospital!"

The four of them scrambled to lift Sophia and rush her out the door.

I just stood at the top of the stairs, watching their retreating backs, saying nothing at all.

I already knew how this would end.

…

When I woke up the next day, they were all back.

Every last one of them was gathered around my bed, faces full of concern.

"Karen, does anything still hurt?"

Lisa’s tone was impossibly gentle as she dabbed ointment on my wounds, hands cautious and light.

Kane sat nearby peeling an apple. Henry set a plush toy beside me on the bed.

"You couldn’t sleep without one of these when you were little. I bought you a new one."

Charles walked over with a tray of food, smiling. "I made this. It’s all your favorites."

I looked at them and, for a split second, almost let myself believe we’d gone back in time.

But deep down, I knew better. This tenderness was nothing but a temporary illusion.

When I finished eating, they all visibly relaxed, as if a burden had been lifted.

Lisa hesitated, then finally spoke. "Karen, there’s… something we want to discuss with you."

"Go ahead." I set my spoon down.

The four of them exchanged looks, each waiting for someone else to start.

In the end, Lisa took a breath and forced the words out. "Sophia has liked Charles for a long time. When she found out you two were getting married, she couldn’t take it, and that’s why she hurt herself."

I stayed silent.

Her voice dropped even lower. "Her condition is unstable now. The doctor said we can’t upset her again. Her only wish is to have a wedding with Charles. It would just be a fake ceremony, nothing legal. It’s just to put her heart at ease. Do you think you could agree?"

Charles rushed to add, his tone so gentle it was almost coaxing, "It’s purely symbolic. You know you’re the one I love."

Kane chimed in. "We just want to fulfill Sophia’s wish. You and Charles grew up together—you know there’s no one else in his heart."

Henry’s voice was low and heavy. "Karen, help her get through this. If something else happens to her, we won’t be able to take it."

I looked at each of them in turn, saying nothing.

The air grew thick with their expectation, their insistence.

After a few seconds, I nodded. "Okay. Do whatever you want."

They all froze, clearly thrown off—like they’d been bracing for a fight I had no interest in giving them.

I didn’t explain. I just asked them to leave the room.

A few days later, Moon Shade’s territory was lit up like it wasn’t the middle of winter at all.

Beige ribbons trailed down the corridor and out onto the lawn. Candles flickered in the wind. The air was thick with the scent of flowers and hot mulled wine.

Lisa held Sophia’s hand, eyes shining with tears.

Henry paced with the event planner, double-checking every detail. Kane was on the phone, notifying guests one by one.

Charles walked back and forth, his expression composed, like he really was preparing for his own wedding.

I descended from the second floor, my heels tapping against the stone steps.

They brushed past me, busy and excited. Not one of them looked up.

That day was Sophia’s birthday.

They said they were throwing her a "gentle ceremony."

Her wedding dress was a soft beige—the exact color she’d always loved.

Gift boxes piled up on the tables. In one corner lay a "blessing charm"—a small token that symbolized union and eternity.

Charles opened a velvet ring box and offered it to her. "These are our wedding bands. I had them made in your size."

Sophia laughed as tears spilled down her cheeks, her voice shaking. "Thank you… thank you all. And thank you, Charles."

They gathered around her, singing happy birthday.

Laughter and the smell of wine rose together, filling the whole hall.

Then she turned her head, her eyes still bright with tears.

"Karen," she said softly, "will you let him kiss me?"

I lifted my gaze toward that warm pool of light over the main table. "Do whatever you want," I said.

Sophia’s tears fell even faster.

Kane spoke up. "It’s her birthday. Let her have what she wants today."

Henry and Lisa both nodded along.

Charles went quiet for a few seconds. In the end, he still leaned down and pressed a kiss to the corner of her lips.

Applause burst out. They laughed and embraced, as if celebrating a perfect happy ending.

I just smiled faintly, snagged a random glass of wine from the table, and slipped away.

The kitchen lights were dimmer than the ones outside. The wine tasted far more bitter than I’d expected.

I leaned against the counter, listening as the noise from downstairs slowly faded, one cheer at a time.

Three days later, I started packing.

Photos, gifts, old letters—everything went into a single box.

I didn’t hesitate. I carried it outside and dumped all of it into the trash can by the door.

Dust clung to my fingers. Hugging the empty box to my chest, I turned around—

and walked right into Charles.