(Rain Doesn't Wash Away Regret)
If life were a drama, Aria Larkspur would've demanded a script rewrite by now.
Unfortunately, reality didn't care about her preferences.
—
The top floor suite felt… different.
Higher. Quieter. Safer.
Or at least, that's what she told Dominic Reyes when she casually announced her "upgrade."
"Better view," she said, sipping tea like she wasn't low-key relocating because a certain persistent billionaire had mastered the art of illegal balcony entrances.
Dominic didn't buy it.
Not even a little.
But he didn't push.
Instead, he leaned back against the couch, flipping through Vale Corporation reports with a scowl sharp enough to slice steel.
"If something's bothering you, Aria," he said, voice calm but loaded, "I'm still here."
Inner monologue:
Wow. Emotional support with a side of intimidation. Love that for me.
She smiled anyway. "Relax. I just like being above everyone. Feels… symbolic."
Dominic snorted. "You've always been dramatic."
"Correction," she shot back smoothly, "I've always been right."
Savage. Casual. Effortless.
Lucas, who had just walked in with documents, nearly choked trying not to laugh.
—
Preparation for the memorial moved quickly.
Marie aunty handled everything like a general commanding troops—efficient, silent, slightly terrifying.
"Umbrellas packed. Flowers ready. Offerings arranged," she listed.
Aria nodded, trying to ignore the strange heaviness settling in her chest.
Not hers.
The original owner's.
That grief… it wasn't fading.
It was waiting.
—
The sky turned gray the moment they left.
Of course it did.
How poetic, Aria thought bitterly. Even the weather is committed to the aesthetic.
Rain fell in thin lines, quiet but relentless.
By the time they reached the cemetery, the world looked washed out—muted colors, blurred edges, like a memory already fading.
They walked side by side.
No chatter.
No jokes.
Just footsteps and rain.
—
Halfway up the stone steps, Aria paused.
Her instincts prickled.
Someone was watching.
She turned sharply.
Nothing.
Empty stairs. Silent air. Just rain tapping against stone.
"Problem?" Dominic asked, eyes narrowing instantly.
She forced a shrug. "Probably a stray dog."
Inner monologue:
Or a six-foot emotional disaster hiding behind a tree.
She didn't say it out loud.
Didn't need to.
—
The graves stood at the far end.
Quiet. Undisturbed. Final.
Aria's chest tightened the moment she saw the photos.
Smiling faces.
Warm.
Gone.
Not her parents.
But the body remembered.
And it hurt.
Badly.
She didn't speak at first.
Didn't trust her voice.
Dominic stayed back, giving her space, his presence steady like a shield.
Good man.
Too good, maybe.
—
"Give me a moment," she said softly.
He hesitated.
Then nodded. "I'll be nearby."
—
The umbrella slipped from her fingers.
Rain soaked through her clothes within seconds.
She didn't care.
Kneeling down, Aria bowed her head.
And just like that—
The emotions hit.
Hard.
"Mom… Dad…" her voice cracked despite herself. "You really picked the worst time to leave, you know?"
A weak laugh escaped her.
"Do you have any idea how messy things got after you were gone? Because I do. I've been cleaning it up."
Her fingers brushed the cold stone.
"I'll fix everything," she whispered. "Your name, your legacy… all of it."
Pause.
Then quieter—
"And I'll leave once it's done."
The rain hid the tears.
Convenient.
—
Not far away, behind a tree—
Ethan Vale stood frozen.
Every word landed like a punch.
He wanted to walk over.
To pull her out of the rain.
To tell her she wasn't alone.
But he didn't move.
Didn't dare.
Because the truth was simple—
He didn't deserve to.
Inner thought:
You lost that right the moment you chose manipulation over honesty.
His jaw tightened.
For the first time in his life, Ethan Vale—CEO of Vale Corporation—felt completely useless.
—
A shadow approached Aria.
She didn't flinch this time.
Dominic.
He gently draped his coat over her shoulders, shielding her from the rain without a word.
Classic Dominic.
Actions over speeches.
He helped her stand, steadying her when her legs wobbled slightly.
"You're freezing," he muttered.
"I've been colder," she replied dryly.
He gave her a look. "Not funny."
"Wasn't trying to be."
—
Then, without asking, he pulled her into a brief embrace.
Not possessive.
Not overwhelming.
Just… grounding.
And this time—
She didn't push him away.
Because right now, she needed stability more than pride.
—
From a distance, Ethan watched.
And something ugly twisted inside him.
Jealousy.
Sharp. Immediate. Unforgiving.
That should be me.
The thought came uninvited.
Unwanted.
Unavoidable.
His fists clenched.
But reality didn't care about what "should" be.
Only what was.
And what was—
He wasn't the one standing beside her anymore.
—
Rain intensified.
Neither of them noticed.
Eventually, Dominic guided her away.
Step by step.
Leaving behind silence.
And ghosts.
—
Only after they disappeared did Ethan move.
Slowly.
Like a man carrying something heavy no one else could see.
He stopped in front of the graves.
Bowed.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
No words.
Because apologies felt meaningless now.
—
Back at the villa—
Warm air wrapped around Aria the moment she stepped inside.
Marie aunty was already waiting.
"Drink this," she ordered, handing over a steaming mug.
"Is that… Chen Pi tea ?" Aria asked, suspicious.
"Yes."
"…You're trying to poison me politely, aren't you?"
Marie aunty gave her a look. "If I wanted that, you wouldn't taste it."
"…Comforting."
She drank anyway.
Regret was immediate.
"Why does it taste like betrayal?" she muttered.
From across the room, Dominic smirked. "Because it's healthy."
"Disgusting concept."
Lucas snorted.
—
Later, wrapped in a towel, hair still damp, Aria sat quietly.
Dominic approached.
"The jet is ready," he said. "We leave tomorrow afternoon."
She nodded.
So it was happening.
Leaving.
Again.
—
"You okay?" he asked.
She tilted her head, giving him a small, tired smile.
"Define 'okay.'"
He didn't answer.
Didn't need to.
—
Inner monologue:
He wants me safe.
Ethan wants me back.
And me?
She stared into her drink.
I want control.
And this time—
She wasn't letting anyone take it from her.