Lost Me Gained Regret



Christine made the decision to leave Vista Town with Merritt, not out of a profound trust for him, but because she suddenly felt that even living in Elmwood Villas wouldn't shield her from bumping into Dailey.Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.

She knew Gregory wouldn't be a solid barrier against Dailey. He always seemed to enjoy watching the drama unfold from a safe distance, occasionally stirring the pot just to see what would happen. He liked to pacify Jane without really taking sides.

So, she wanted to put some distance between herself and the whole situation.

Of course, there was another reason for accompanying Merritt to his hometown. She wanted to uncover the truth about that night. She could wait for Dailey to finish his investigation, but who knew how long that would take. She felt Merritt wanted to tell her; he just had his reservations. Once they were in his hometown, she planned to coax it out of him.

Mistwood was a picturesque and comfortable city.

Merritt was returning home because his grandmother's illness had taken a turn for the worse. The old lady wanted to spend her last days in her hometown. Plus, the movie he was working on had some scenes to shoot in Mistwood.

Vista Town was on the cusp of winter, while Mistwood still retained its warmth. Aside from the chilly mornings and evenings, sitting out in the courtyard under the midday sun was a delightfully warm experience.

Helena, Merritt's grandmother, had already left the house when Christine woke up. Merritt must have gone off to shoot his scenes. The trust they placed in her was surprising, but then again, their cozy home, despite its beauty and comfort, had little of material value to tempt a thief.

"Sweetie,"

Helena walked in, "I dug up some sweet potatoes and mushrooms. How about I make us some mushroom soup and bake these sweet potatoes for lunch?"

The countryside had its charms, and Helena's cooking on the wood-fired stove was one of them. The stove's design allowed for cooking on top while baking sweet potatoes underneath, filling the air with a delightful aroma.

Christine reminisced about her own childhood which, despite its hardships, included similar moments of warmth shared with a neighborly grandmother who cooked in much the same way.

"I'll help you," she offered.

Helena brought in the mushrooms and sweet potatoes, and by the time they reached the kitchen, Christine had already got the fire started.

Helena's impression of Christine had primarily come from Merritt's descriptions. Now that she had

l.n

given up on treatment to spend her last days back home, she was getting to know Christine firsthand. The girl's genuine kindness and savvy, yet unworldly nature

impressed her. It was clear why her grandson was so fond of Christine.

"Merritt always tells me he made a mistake that hurt someone's trust," Helena shared as they prepared the meal. "I've told him to clear the air, to apologize and seek forgiveness, but he says the time isn't right to tell the truth Sweetie, in all these years, you're the only one who seems to truly care for Merritt. If you know something, could you share it with me? I've only got Merritt, and I can't bear to see him unhappy."

Christine believed in keeping things separate. Merritt might have erred, but that was no reason to involve his grandmother. Besides, Helena was kind and caring, never prying into Christine's past, always making her feel welcome and well-fed.

Facing her own mortality without bitterness or blame, Helena still treated the world with kindness. But everyone's time comes, and not everyone can stay forever.

Christine decided to be honest.

After hearing everything, Helena said, "Merritt was wrong in this matter. Sweetie, when he comes back, I'll talk to him. He needs to apologize to you and tell you everything about that night, every little detail."

Christine nodded, "Thank you, Grandma."

"I'm ashamed to have raised a grandson who's lost his way."