From Housewife to His Biggest Regret

Bronte's POV

This year was our sixth wedding anniversary. For the first time in six years, Kaelen finally agreed to go with me to Veyra City to visit my parents.

Six years. I thought he was finally swallow his pride and making peace with my family.

But late that night, as I stood outside our daughter’s bedroom holding a warm glass of milk, I heard them speaking inside.

"Daddy, Lorie said you're going to marry her mommy soon. What about Mommy?" Lisette’s voice was timid and small.

"It’s just a fake marriage, sweetie. Just to help Rosalind out," Kaelen chuckled softly. "Keep it our little secret, okay? Don't tell Mommy. If you promise, Daddy will buy you that Barbie Dreamhouse tomorrow."

I stood frozen in the hallway, the glass of milk cold against my fingertips.

Since he still clung so desperately to his past, it was time for me to take back the life I had thrown away.

"Daddy, Lorie said you're going to marry her mommy soon."

My daughter's sweet, innocent voice drifted through the half-open door.

I stopped dead in my tracks, almost spilling the warm milk on the carpet.

"Don’t talk nonsense, sweetie," Kaelen’s voice followed, tender and comforting. "It’s just a fake marriage. I’m just helping Rosalind out. But you have to promise to keep it a secret from Mommy, okay? As a reward, Daddy will buy you that Barbie Dreamhouse tomorrow."

Six years. He still couldn't let go of his first love, Rosalind.

I forced down the lump in my throat, my face blank as I walked back to the master bedroom.

In the corner of the closet, my suitcase was already packed. Looking at it, a bitter smile touched my lips.

If he was still so hung up on her, I would gladly step aside.

The door opened.

Kaelen walked in, carrying a perfectly rehearsed look of exhaustion and guilt.

"Bronte, I'm so sorry, but plan has changed." He sighed, wrapping an arm around my shoulder. "There’s an emergency at headquarter. The Cleveland acquisition went sideways. I have to fly out tomorrow morning. I’m afraid I can’t go to Veyra City with you."

In three days, it would be our anniversary—the first time Kaelen had ever volunteered to visit my parents.

I had foolishly believed he was willing to make peace with my family.

In reality, he was just desperate to get me out of the way. He wanted me out of Thalyn City so he could spend the night with his precious Rosalind.

"It's fine. Work comes first," I said calmly, slipping out of his embrace.

Kaelen let out a quiet sigh of relief and tossed his phone onto the nightstand.

The screen lit up for a second.

The lock screen wallpaper had been changed. The photo showed Rosalind hugging her daughter Lorie, who was dressed as a little golfer. Kaelen stood beside them, smiling like a real father.

He didn't notice that I had seen it.

"I’m going to take a shower," he said quickly, snatching his phone back with a guilty look before slipping into the bathroom.

This was the man I had loved unconditionally for six years.

For him, I had abandoned my graduate studies in design, giving up my career to be a stay-at-home housewife, slowly pulling him up to his executive position at the firm.

But in his eyes, I was always the lowest priority.

I pushed open Lisette's bedroom door.

My daughter was huddled in the corner of her bed, clutching a handmade doll I had sewn for her.

"Mommy..." She gripped my sleeve, looking up at me anxiously. "Will you and Daddy ever leave me?"

I swallowed the stinging pain in my throat and stroked her hair. "Why do you ask, sweetie?"

"Lorie bragged to me at school today. She said Daddy is going to marry her mommy." Lisette’s eyes shone with tears. "But Daddy said it’s just pretend. Mommy, please don't be mad at Daddy. He loves us. We'll be together forever, right?"

Looking at my daughter's terrified, pleading eyes, my heart wrenched.

I didn't answer. I just gently patted her back until she calmed down.

Just then, my phone rang.

The caller ID showed a high-end bridal boutique in town.

"Hello, Mrs. Ashworth? We're calling to confirm your appointment tomorrow at 10:00 AM for the custom wedding dress fitting with Mr. Kaelen..."

Suddenly, a panicked voice broke in the background: "Shoot! Wrong number! Hang up!"

After a brief, agonizing silence, the clerk stammered, "I am so sorry, Ms. Voss! It was a system error. We dialed the wrong number. I apologize!"

The line went dead.

I gripped the phone so hard my knuckles turned white.

In our six years of marriage, we had never had a wedding. Kaelen always said he was building his career, promising that once he got promoted, he would give me the grandest wedding imaginable.

This boutique was a place I had dreamed of entering for six years.

Now, he was finally holding a wedding. But the bride was Rosalind.

I didn't cry.

After the initial wave of humiliation and numbness, all I felt was a strange sense of liberation.

I dialed my best friend, Tamsin.

"Tamsin, that design offer in Veyra City. I'll take it."

Tamsin gasped on the other end. "Really? Bronte, are you sure? But... does Kaelen know? Thalyn City is so far from Veyra City. Will he let you take Lisette?"

"He doesn't need to know," I replied, staring out at the cold city lights. "Because I'm divorcing him."