Chapter 86 Despair
Regina still remembered the last time she saw Dougal at the tenth anniversary event of the Dubbing Club at Normon University. She recalled how Dougal spoke about his relationship with his wife, and their story sounded so sweet. But now, it had barely been any time at all, and Dougal was talking about having relationship issues.
Although Regina felt that they were merely collaborators and didn't have the kind of deep connection required to discuss personal matters, she couldn't help but be surprised by the sudden shift.
Regina: [What's the issue? Communication is key in a relationship. Honest and sincere communication is crucial.]
She didn't know why she typed such a long message. Dougal responded a lot too.
Dougal: [I've hidden many things from her. I don't know if she'll hate me after I tell her everything. So, if you were in my shoes, would you choose to communicate honestly and sincerely?]
Their deep conversation made Regina feel closer to him. Honestly, she wasn't sure if she'd choose to communicate openly in such a situation. Over the years, she had gotten used to keeping her problems to herself.
Regina stared at the chat history. She could tell Dougal was really in a dilemma.
After thinking from his perspective, she finally typed:
Regina: [Yes, I suggest you try to communicate with her honestly and sincerely.]
She had expected a quick reply, just like before, but an hour had passed with no response.
Regina found it a bit odd but didn't press the issue. Glancing at the clock, she realized it was almost eleven. Remembering that she had an early flight the next day, Regina set her phone aside and decided to get some sleep.
The next morning, the alarm at seven o'clock jolted her awake.
Regina got up, freshened up, and planned to grab some breakfast before heading to the airport. She figured Douglas would still be asleep, so she tried to be as quiet as possible. But to her surprise, she saw Douglas walking out of his bedroom, already dressed and ready for the day.
Regina was puzzled. "It's still early, why don't you sleep a bit more?"
"I'll take you to the airport."
"No need, I contacted Jason last night."
"He can't make it."
"Why?"
Dougal had called Jason and told him not to come.
"He has some things to do today, so he can't make it."
Regina had no choice. "Alright."
"Have your breakfast, and I'll take you to the airport after you finish."
"Okay."
Regina didn't say more and started having breakfast. Afterward, they went to the airport together. Dougal took her all the way to the boarding gate.
Just before boarding, Regina checked her phone and saw Dougal had messaged her at three in the morning. She was in such a rush that she hadn't checked her phone earlier.
Dougal thanked her for her advice and said he would talk to his wife honestly and sincerely.
Seeing that message, Regina couldn't help but smile.
The plane landed in Normon City at one in the afternoon. After getting off, Regina snapped a photo and sent it to Douglas, letting him know she had arrived.
The "Post-Nuptial Passion" team picked her up and took her to the hotel. After settling in, Regina tried to video call Douglas, but he didn't answer.
Instead, he messaged: [Sorry, something came up. I'll reply later.]
[It's okay.]
Regina had no idea Douglas's flight to Normon City was just an hour later than hers. When she called, he was at the airport and didn't want her to suspect anything.
According to the schedule, Regina was supposed to meet Dougal at the recording studio the next day. It was snowing, so she decided to stay in, sleep, and read the script.
The next morning, Regina got ready to head out. Despite the snow making traffic tricky, the studio was close by, so she planned to walk.
Unexpectedly, she ran into Philip outside the hotel. Shocked, she instinctively stepped back.
Philip didn't approach aggressively. He just smiled and said, "Long time no see."
Regina was baffled by his presence in Normon City but knew he must have had a reason.
"You changed your number, didn't you?" Philip's calm tone sent chills down her spine.
No matter how she tried to avoid him, she couldn't escape his grasp.
"Since you won't talk over the phone, let's do it face to face," he said quickly, not giving her a chance to respond.
"I know you've wondered if it was me at the Seasons Hotel that night. It wasn't."
The memories she tried to forget came rushing back. She felt like an empty shell, staring at his lips.
Philip's words were merciless, cutting deep into her wounds.
"You were drunk that night and ended up with a rapist."
The word "rapist" hit her like a knife. Regina felt her heart shatter.
Standing in the snow, she turned pale and trembled uncontrollably.
Philip wanted to hug her but continued, "I don't care about your past. I just want you back. I can pretend nothing happened, including that night."
His words, though seemingly generous, felt despairing.
Regina's vision blurred. She remembered that night vividly—the man with a strong sense of possession, pinning her down, her broken pleas for help, and the unbearable pain.
Though she stood in a snowy world, it felt like her sky had suddenly darkened.
