Regrets

"Chloe...no way. She wasn't this beautiful. Perhaps they just bear a resemblance," Ryan replied, but his heart was pounding hard. He couldn't help but think about what he had done to her. Over the years, he had thought of her more than he cared to admit. She was just a village girl, nothing special. He repeated these thoughts to himself over and over again.

There was no way his brother's wife could be his ex-girlfriend, or so he desperately tried to convince himself.

Ryan stood in the brightly lit room, his mind racing with conflicting emotions. The sight of Chloe, or someone who looked strikingly similar to her, had stirred up a whirlwind of memories and regrets. He couldn't deny the undeniable pull he felt towards her, even after all these years. It was as if fate was playing a cruel joke on him, bringing her back into his life in the most unexpected way.

Chloe had always been a cold woman. They had met in college when they just joined, where life moved at a leisurely pace and dreams were often confined to the boundaries of the college life. Ryan had been drawn to her from the moment he laid eyes on her, her natural beauty captivating him in a way he couldn't explain. She may have been cold but somehow he felt it was just what she wanted others to see.

Their relationship had blossomed quickly, like a wildflower in the springtime. They spent endless hours together, exploring the fields and sharing secrets under the moonlit sky and the lights in the streets of Mali. Ryan had felt a sense of belonging with Chloe, as if she completed a missing piece of his soul. But as life often goes, circumstances had pulled them apart.

Ryan's ambitions and desires had led him away from what he saw in her, seeking a life beyond the familiar. He ended up seeing her as a thorn in his flesh with her stubbornness. If only she could behave like a woman and submit to his desires and whims. He wanted a woman that would do what he wanted and wished. Someone who could be at his beck and call. But she didn't give him a choice when he had an option with her friend. She was everything Chloe was not. Even though they were close, they had nothing in common.

But as he sat there, staring at the woman who bore a striking resemblance to Chloe, he realized how foolish he had been. Love doesn't simply fade away with time, it lingers in the depths of our hearts, waiting for a chance to resurface. Ryan couldn't deny the undeniable connection he felt with her, the way his heart skipped a beat whenever their eyes met. It was a bittersweet reminder of what he had lost.

He desperately tried to convince himself that it was all a coincidence, that Chloe and his brother's wife were two different people. He clung to the hope that his past mistakes wouldn't come back to haunt him. But deep down, he knew the truth. He knew that fate had brought Chloe back into his life, testing his resolve and forcing him to confront the consequences of his actions.

Ryan stared at Chloe intently, trying to find any trace of her former self in her cold demeanor. He couldn't help but feel irritated by the tender care and love that Leo was showing her, but he was unsure of how to react. Zoe Kindiki, on the other hand, looked at Chloe with a mix of disbelief, confusion, and jealousy. The entire party was captivated by her presence, admiring her from every angle. Even Ryan's own grandfather was eager to meet her, which was quite surprising considering the reception she had received upon entering the venue. Ryan couldn't help but wonder how his brother could marry the very woman he had rejected and dumped. It was a perplexing situation, leaving Ryan in a state of utter confusion. His parents noticed his bewildered expression and joined in the collective confusion when he failed to respond to Leo's question.

Right before his eyes stood his brother Leo, hand in hand with his wife Chloe Richards. To everyone else, Chloe was a woman with a mysterious background, but Ryan knew exactly who she was and where she came from. His heart skipped a beat as he saw her up close, and his breathing became rapid and erratic.

Leo reached out his hand to hold Ryan's shoulder, concern evident in his eyes. "Are you okay, Ryan?" he asked, but quickly withdrew his hand when Ryan snapped back to reality. 

The room was filled with tension and unspoken questions. How did Chloe manage to win Leo's heart after their tumultuous past? What had changed between them? Ryan's mind was flooded with memories of their shared history, and he couldn't help but feel a pang of envy. He had once been the one by Chloe's side, the one who knew her deepest secrets and fears. But now, she seemed like a stranger, an enigma that he couldn't decipher.

As the night wore on, Ryan observed Chloe from a distance, trying to piece together the puzzle that was her life. She moved gracefully through the crowd, her every move captivating those around her. It was as if she had an invisible aura that drew people in, making them yearn for her attention. Ryan couldn't deny the allure she possessed, even though it frustrated him to no end.

The party continued, and Ryan found himself engaged in conversations with various guests. They all seemed fascinated by Chloe, asking him questions about her past and how she had come to be Leo's wife. Ryan did his best to answer their inquiries, but deep down, he wished he had the answers himself.

Finally, the moment came when Ryan had the chance to speak with Chloe alone. He approached her cautiously, unsure of what to say. She looked at him with those piercing eyes, and for a moment, Ryan saw a flicker of recognition. But just as quickly as it appeared, it vanished, leaving him even more confused.

"Chloe," Ryan began, his voice filled with a mix of curiosity and frustration. "How did you and Leo end up together? How did you meet? Are you doing this to screw me over? Don't even think of revenge in this family. It will not end well with you."

Chloe's expression remained calm, her lips curved into a slight smile. "Sometimes, life has a way of bringing people back together," she said cryptically. 

Ryan was taken aback by her response. It was not the answer he had expected, and it only deepened the mystery surrounding their relationship. He wanted to press her for more details, to understand what had transpired between them, but he knew it was futile. Chloe was a closed book, and he was left with more questions than answers.

As the night drew to a close, Ryan couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that lingered within him. He watched as Leo and Chloe bid farewell to their guests, their love for each other evident in their every gesture. It was a bittersweet sight for Ryan.