All Chapters of When Regret Isn't Enough: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

Excitedly, I left the department store where I'd purchased a beautiful dress that I knew my husband, Holland, would love. It's our third anniversary, and we are going to a special place to celebrate. When I got home and turned on the television, I was surprised to see Holland on the news. The reporter congratulated him on acquiring a costly ruby necklace at a renowned auction. “So, Mr. Halston, do you have anyone special in mind to whom you plan to gift this necklace?”Holland looked so handsome on my seventy-inch television screen. He was tall and well dressed in that charcoal gray suit and crimson tie I selected for him this morning. My husband was clean-cut, with remarkable sharp features that looked perfect and symmetrical. High cheekbones blended into a lean jaw and strong chin. He flashed that million-dollar smile that made my heart swoon. Without warning, he gazed directly into the camera and told the reporter. “I plan to give this necklace to someone very special to me. That

After I made that phone call, I broke down emotionally. “Why is this happening to me?” I couldn't stop the fall of my tears as they leaked from under my closed lids. I sat in a daze, staring at the ripped-up check at my feet, resembling my marriage. A swirl of mixed emotions came in and out of my heart and mind. I’m furious at him for abandoning me on our anniversary day for Susie Hubbard. “How could he treat me this way! After putting up with him and all he’s done in this marriage!”I had to leave, so I went into the bathroom. I quickly looked into the mirror, seeing the mascara running from my eyes down my cheek. I hop into the shower to clean up. Afterward, I patted myself dry, moisturized my skin, and got dressed. I brushed my hair and secured it at the crown of my head with several pins; peering into the mirror, I noticed some swelling around my eyes had gone down. My friend would notice the slight puffiness under my eyes. That’s when I heard the doorbell rang.I went down the

Holland's POVOn the day of my anniversary, I left work excited. I had made it to that auction just in time to bid on the perfect pair of earrings. I saw them a few days ago, and they reminded me of my wife’s beautiful eyes. I just had to have them. But nothing went the way I had planned it that day. Once I won the bid to purchase this expensive jewelry, I knew reporters were at the event and would swarm around me to interview me. So, to disguise my wife's natural gift. I ended up bidding on the ruby necklace at the auction and won that bid, too. So, I knew that the bid would attract reporters to me. And Amanza would probably see me on television talking about the necklace. So, I never mentioned the earrings because I planned to surprise her with them as my anniversary gift. I got a phone call when I was getting ready to leave work. Susan said, “Hey Holland, what are you doing?” “Oh I’m on my way to meet Amanza at Rochesters, it’s our anniversary today.” “Did you forget what else

“Amanza! Who's in the car? Your lover? Answer me!”I refused to answer as I stormed away from that house and the man I had lived with for three years. Holland kept calling my name: “Amanza! Amanza!” “Leave me alone! I’m not coming back! We have ended this charade of a marriage.""What?""Isn't this what you want so you can get back with Susie? I'm not stupid, Holland!" I continued to walk to the car swiftly. It was in the middle of winter, and it was cold outside. But I was too upset to feel anything. My blood was boiling, thinking about how he had slept with Susie and no doubt made passionate love to her the way he did with me and gotten her pregnant. When I had never shared myself with any other man except the man I had claimed as my husband. I wanted to have his child, but the constant badgering from his mother and his father made sly remarks about my style of dress and appearance. Living under the roof with someone who spoke up on my behalf or even tried to defend me was too st

I was worried about how my family would receive me, and it made me concerned, for the first month I had returned, wondering what everyone thought now that I was back home. I wouldn’t blame my family for their reactions. Since her broken marriage, especially with her father, Clinton. He didn't take my idea of marrying Holland too well. He knew Holland’s family and what he knew he didn’t like. But finally, I returned to the home where I grew up. I had missed the eight-bedroom, six-bath house and the many people here I had known since I was a child. What I missed the most was those early morning hours I had with my father before he would leave to go to the office. It had been three years since I left, and I wondered how he would react or what he might say now that I was back home. She had been avoiding everyone by sleeping late. It felt familiar and good to be home, yet strange, so I avoided everyone by sleeping late most days. I didn't know where the time went, but when I emerged from