Lost Me Gained Regret

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I gave a light chuckle, "Guess?"

Gregory clicked his tongue, "Taking advantage of the fact I can't reach through the phone to get you, huh? You've really got the player game down."

"Who's playing?" I shot back, but my thoughts quickly returned to Ramona, "What if Grandma never recognizes me again?"

Deep down, I had braced myself for the possibility that Ramona might never remember me, but expressing these fears to someone close still felt suffocating.

Gregory tried to comfort me, "Ramona loves you too much to forget you forever. She's just sick, and with treatment, she can get better."

"Jane, what are you up to?" Bella called out to me. After a few more words with Gregory, reminding him to take care of himself, I ended the call. Stepping out of the bedroom, Bella asked with a grin, "Did I interrupt your phone date?"

"Not at all, we said everything we needed to," I replied.

"Let's watch a movie then," suggested Bella, spotting a projector. "Sounds good," I agreed, linking arms with her. "I always thought it'd be nice to watch a movie with Mom."

"I'll grab some snacks; you pick the movie."

"How about the one you starred in?" I teased.

Bella shivered at the thought, quickly declining, "Watch that one on your own. I can't sit through my steamy scenes with my own daughter."

I couldn't help but laugh.

Eventually, we settled on a comedy, starring one of Bella's protégés. She even shared some juicy gossip with me.

Suddenly, the movie lost all appeal.

"No way, he has a kid? With his agent?"

"But he's a heartthrob, started from a talent show. Aren't they not supposed to date so early?"

"If this gets out, so many fans are going to jump ship," I mused, remembering Christine used to be quite the fan of his work.

Despite his reality show origins, his acting was genuinely good, enough to make it onto the big screen without feeling like just another pretty face.

Bella offered me a piece of candy apple, saying, "There are plenty who've hidden marriages and kids. When love comes knocking, you can't stop it."

"As long as it doesn't leak, they can keep their single image and keep raking in the cash."

Biting into the candy apple, I couldn't resist more gossip, "Given his status, paparazzi must be on him round the clock, right?"

"Absolutely, and they're making a killing off it."

I was shocked. "They've got photos already?"

Bella tapped my forehead, chuckling, "Didn't expect you to be such a gossip."

...

That night, I ended up sharing a bed with Bella.

I dreamt I never left her side when I was a kid that she used to take me to her film sets, showed me the world and its sunsets. The next day, Gregory came back to Elmwood Villas to pick me up for my check-up.

Seeing his tired eyes, I frowned and said, "You should go upstairs and get some sleep. I can manage the hospital visit on my own."

After all, I was headed to the Ford family's private hospital, with bodyguards in tow; nothing was going to happen in such a short span. "You don't get to decide that."

Gregory helped me into the car, then

settled himself, sprawling his long legs carelessly. Hearing my plan, he glanced at me, "Choosing friends over your man, huh?"

"Not at all."

My heart ached seeing the dark circles under his eyes, "I just want you to rest, Gregory. I hate seeing you so tired."

"Jane Webster, you have no idea what real tiredness is," he said, confusion evident in my gaze.

"The nights of not knowing where to find you, or if you were even still out there."

Gregory reached over, pulling me

close, his hand gently caressing my

head, "Those were the truly

verbet

exhausting times. Now, having you here, it's a blessing, silly."

"Having you by my side, I feel content, not tired."