That evening, Leonel slumped his tired body into the office chair that had become his throne at Mountain. He worked hard to revive the company and bring it back to stability, just as his father had managed it. Although it wasn't easy and often left him exhausted, he never gave up. Being busy with work was better than being idle and regretting his past mistakes, which would only bring endless remorse.
After a few minutes of resting his body following his meeting with a business client, he glanced out the window and noticed it was already dark. He looked at the beautiful watch on his wrist, a symbol of strength. "It's already evening, it seems."
He wiped his forehead, resting his head with a slight tilt. His eyes briefly closed, and he truly felt tired and needed rest.
Letting out a soft sigh, he recalled his repetitive routine, like a broken record: go home, take a shower, soak in warm water, and then sleep until morning. Just imagining it made him smile faintly.
The repetitive activities could keep his mind somewhat sane.
Leonel leaned back in his chair, gazing at the ceiling of his office with empty eyes. He was tired, feeling empty as if there was something he longed for, but he wasn't sure what it was exactly.
The sound of a notification on Leonel's phone interrupted his empty gaze. He lazily picked up his phone from the desk. It was a notification about his mother's social media update. Instantly, he sat up, sitting upright with a sharp gaze.
Now he knew what he longed for—the presence of his former wife. The beautiful and kind-hearted woman who had become part of his past. His work and business had kept him so busy that he had no time for personal matters. He never thought of finding a replacement for Chloe, who was now in the arms of another man.
"What I did in the past was truly despicable! I don't deserve forgiveness, but why am I still unwilling to accept all this? I have changed, Sa." Leonel couldn't divert his gaze from the phone. "Now I know how precious you were in my life. I want you to be mine again, and I'll prove that I'm no longer the despicable Leonel. I will be faithful to you and redeem all my mistakes. I'll do anything for you, Chloe."
Regret always comes at the end, just like what Leonel was experiencing now. After separating from Chloe, he realized how valuable she was in his life. He also admitted that Chloe was different from other women, especially compared to Ester.
Oh God!
Why was he still thinking of Ester at a time like this? It felt like seeing heaven and earth, and now he could only regret wasting such a beautiful and kind-hearted woman like Chloe.
"Now... I have a throne and wealth but no woman I love. If this throne and wealth could be exchanged for a time machine where I could go back to the past, I would let go of everything. Because it feels empty, everything I have now can't make me happy." Leonel closed his eyes for a moment. "I want to return to that time and fix all my behaviors. I won't hurt Chloe even a bit; I won't let a single strand of her hair be harmed."
Leonel fell silent for a while, his eyes fixed on the office ceiling. "God, please give me even the smallest chance to be with Chloe again. Or at least help me forget her."
With deep regret, Leonel pleaded for something that seemed difficult to obtain—going back to Chloe? It was impossible. He truly hurt her, and there was no chance left for him.
Then, forgetting Chloe? Was that even possible? His regret for his past mistakes was deeply ingrained in his heart, and he only realized his wife's goodness after she filed for divorce and asked for the separation.
Forgetting? Ah, it was impossible. Now he yearned for Chloe because of the love that slowly tormented him.
It wasn't Chloe's fault that Leonel was now tormented by his emotions. Late love made his life feel empty, even though everything was right before him. But not the love he desired.
He hurriedly left his office in Leonel's night with a tired body and a cluttered mind. He left the company, but it wasn't his home that he was heading to. He wanted to find a friend, someone to fill the void that haunted him.
Chris is the only person on his mind. The only person he hoped could console him, not Ester or any other woman because now, there was only Chloe in his heart.
He drove his car with a troubled mind, at a reasonably high speed, and often with a vacant stare, so Leonel narrowly avoided accidents several times. Fortunately, he arrived safely at the home of the person he trusted.
Chris had never betrayed his family, nor Leonel, and the sad stories he had shared in recent times.
Chris welcomed Leonel's arrival as usual, offering him a canned drink he took from the fridge. "What's wrong? Isn't Mountain in a stable condition? Or is there any problem with work? You look like unironic clothes, Ben," Chris joked, greeting him with a chuckle. "Your face tells a story."
Leonel ignored Chris's remarks.
Chris sat on a different couch from Leonel as the latter stretched out on the most extended sofa in the room. With a furrowed brow, he looked at the owner of Mountain, who seemed different.
Leonel placed his right hand on his forehead, partially covering his face, and involuntarily closed his eyes. "What should I do, Chris?"
Chris didn't respond immediately; he waited for the following sentence from Grisham's beloved son's mouth.
"Mama and Papa went to Beverly Hills," Leonel spoke again.
Chris still needed to understand the direction of Leonel's conversation. "Why? What business do they have in Beverly Hills? Are you disturbed by their departure? I heard Mr. Robby brought his bodyguards."
"They met Chloe, Chris." Leonel sat up and let out a long sigh, observing Chris, who maintained a neutral expression.
"What's wrong with that? Isn't it normal? Mrs. Agatha often talks to me about Chloe. Sometimes I even want to visit her."
"You're such a jerk; you know that?" Leonel looked at Chris in disbelief.
"What's wrong with that?" Making Leonel even more despondent seemed quite fascinating.
Leonel didn't want to respond too much, but so far, Chris was the one who often listened to him. He immediately tossed his phone onto the table. The screen was lit, showing his mother's post, indicating her presence in Beverly Hills with Chloe and Darren.
Now Chris understood what was making his friend so distraught. "Are you jealous? Seeing your ex-wife with another man? I think Darren is a good guy. Haven't you forgotten the rescue he performed?"
Chris returned the phone. His eyes were also filled with sympathy as he looked at Leonel. Chris didn't like seeing Leonel destroyed because of the irretrievable past. He wanted Leonel to realize that Chloe would no longer return to him and that he needed to let go of everything.
"Stop thinking about Chloe, Ben! She's no longer your wife. You're the one who pushed her out of your life. If there's anyone to blame here, it's you!" Chris knew Leonel was at fault but hated seeing Leonel drown in feelings that he deemed futile.
Although he admitted that Leonel was skilled at hiding his anxieties, the fact that Mountain was thriving proved it. Its stocks were rising, and Leonel had forged many new business partnerships there. Leonel's accomplishments for Mountain were worthwhile.
However, it was different regarding one person—Chloe Delilah.
"I know I'm the wrong one. I know I'm the one to blame for all of this. I also know that Mama and Papa love Chloe so much. You know that for sure, right? Sometimes I feel like I'm Grisham's stepchild and Chloe is their biological child. But who would have thought I would still think about Chloe until now." Leonel let out a slow breath, and his eyes grew with tears.
"I regret it, Chris. I want to turn back time and fix everything." Leonel looked at Chris with teary eyes, showing how much he regretted his actions. Chris knew that Leonel cared, but he was also frustrated by it.
Chris scratched his head, ruffled his hair, and then let out a rough sigh. "No matter how often you say you're sorry, it won't make Chloe your wife again, Ben. Chloe deserves to live a happy life with whomever she chooses. And you should pray that she finds a partner who can make her happy instead of hurting her like you did." With a raised voice, Chris wanted Leonel to realize and open his heart, even to pray for Chloe's future.
Chris didn't want Leonel to linger like this. It had been a year, yet Leonel was still fixated on the same thing.
Leonel remained silent, listening to Chris, who appeared annoyed, with eyes still filled with tears.
"Why? Does it hurt to see Chloe with another man? Have you ever imagined how she felt, Ben? Now you're just an ex-husband, no longer anyone significant. You have no right to be hurt or jealous. But then, Chloe was still legally your wife, and you cheated on her with Ester. Even as an ex, you're this devastated. What about Chloe and Ben?! If you care about Chloe, put aside your feelings for her. Let her live happily with whoever she chooses, Ben. Whatever you do now won't turn back time. What's done is done, and it could be a complete mess. Now, savor the bitterness of that mess because you turned the rice into a burnt mess."
Indeed, Chris's words seemed harsh, as if cornering Leonel and continually blaming him. However, his words weren't just an outlet for his frustration due to the foolishness of the man he considered his son.
He wanted Leonel to realize quickly, so he wouldn't sink deeper into the never-ending guilt and stop hoping for the impossible.
"Do you regret it? You should apologize to Chloe, Ben." Chris spoke again as his friend remained silent, staring at him with a vacant gaze.
"Enough, Chris."
"Fine then. You're at fault; you admit your mistake and have already apologized. So why are you still like this? Do you think that by being like this, Chloe will come back to you? It's impossible, Ben! She won't care about you anymore. Whether you're happy or sad, you've gone your separate ways after your divorce. She won't care about you anymore, no more."
Chris let out a frustrated breath, the sound echoing loudly as he felt irritated. He didn't like seeing Leonel in such disarray and despair. He wanted his friend to snap out of it and accept the reality.
"And now you've seen it for yourself; she has someone else by her side. Sooner or later, she will get married again. There's no other chance for you, Ben. Wake up from your dream, don't hope for a woman who belongs to someone else." Chris started to lower his voice.
"I'm like this because I care about you, Ben. I want you to realize that your current behavior is pointless," Chris added.
Leonel remained silent, contemplating Chris's lengthy words. He stared at the floor before him with an empty gaze, his hands gripping each other tightly.
"Ben!" Chris called.
Leonel finally lifted his gaze. "I miss Chloe, Chris," Leonel whispered. His voice was filled with sadness and deep regret.
Chris felt it was pointless to speak at length or raise his voice. Expressing his frustration in front of someone drowning in overwhelming regret seemed futile. "If you miss her, meet Chloe. Go to her place, just like your parents did. Meet her, ask how she's doing, and inquire if she's been living well without you. Then, after you realize she has been living well, I hope you understand that Chloe is just a part of your past."
Chris's words sounded painful. Leonel suddenly pulled at his hair and then reclined back on the sofa. Closing his eyes, the vivid image of Chloe's beautiful face and Darren's intimate gestures appeared so vividly in his mind.
"Why is it so complicated? I've tried to forget her all this time, but just by looking at her photo, my heart shatters into pieces."
Chris let out a frustrated sigh. "Do whatever you want. If you want to stay here, don't forget to inform your mother. You know she's apprehensive about her child's state."
"I'm not done talking yet."
"I'm tired of listening to a man like you whine as if you've lost a war."
"Oh, God! Can you try to understand my feelings a little, Chris?
"For five years, I've endured your infidelity. Have you ever heard any complaints from me? Not at all." Chris gently patted his thigh. He then chose to return to his room. "Reflect on what you did in the past and what you feel now."