Regrets Come Too Late (Sierra and Johnny) novel Chapter 3

John was still wearing the same custom gray suit from the divorce office that morning, sitting lazily on the couch with a cold, distant air. Even as he chatted idly with the doctor, it was clear that the divorce didn’t bother him at all.

When Sierra walked in, John glanced at her. Her hands clenched at her sides, her eyes full of obvious dislike and contempt.

“You’re here,” the doctor greeted simply.

Sierra looked away. “Yeah.”

“We already went over the details on the phone. Here’s a breakdown of the monthly charges. If everything looks good, just fill out your info and sign.” He handed her the list.

Sierra took it.

Her heart sank at the numbers. Each month’s medical bill was in the hundreds of thousands. If her father hadn’t taken all her pre-marital savings, she might have managed for a few more months. Now, with nothing left, there was no way she could cover that kind of expense.

“If that’s too much, here are some alternative plans,” the doctor added, handing her another document when he seemingly saw how difficult it was for her.

The cheaper options still ran over tens of thousands per month.

Seeing her still lost in thought, the doctor glanced at John.

John gave him a look, and the doctor got the message.

“I’ll give you some time to think it over,” the doctor said, standing up. “I’ll check on the patient. If none of this works, we can talk again when I get back.”

Sierra was completely absorbed in the proposed plans. “Alright.”

The doctor left, quietly closing the door.

Now, only Sierra and John were left. The room was so quiet, you could hear a pin drop.

“No matter how long you stare at those numbers, it’s impossible for you to pay for your mom’s medical bills with what you have,” John finally said, his tone as calm and indifferent as ever.

Sierra’s anger spiked. She glared at him, her eyes blazing.

“Not to mention, you’ll have to find a place to live and take care of Tommy,” John continued.

“What are you trying to say?” Sierra shot back.

“I can treat this whole divorce as you just throwing a tantrum,” John said, walking over to her. “As long as you don’t bring it up again, I’ll keep paying your mom’s bills, and you’ll still be my wife.”

“And what about Pamela?” Sierra asked.

“You two just stay out of each other’s way,” John answered coolly. “If you don’t want to see her, I’ll make sure she stays out of sight.”

Sierra’s voice turned mocking. “Should I thank you for your thoughtfulness?”

“You should know which choice is best for you,” John said, sounding like he was negotiating a business deal. “You’ve lived in luxury long enough to know that it’s easy to get used to comfort but hard to live a simple life.”

Sierra understood that all too well.

Before her family lost everything, she had never worried about money. After the disaster, John married her and gave her unlimited access to his credit cards. She never had to worry about a dime.

By all accounts, she should be grateful. Even with Pamela in the picture, John would still give her what she wanted, still treat her with the same attention as before.

But life wasn’t just about money. Dignity and self-respect mattered, too.

Sierra left the hospital with the treatment plans in hand.

Her first step would be to look for a job. If the salary was enough, she would keep her mom at that hospital.

The private hospital belonged to the Henderson Group. They had the best medical equipment and top experts. Because of John, her mom had always gotten the best care. If she had to move, her mom would never get that level of treatment again.

Her mom was the only family member left who truly loved her. Sierra couldn’t let anything happen to her.

With these worries on her mind, Sierra headed home.

All the way back, she wondered how to explain the divorce to Tommy. He had always been smart and mature for his age, and she rarely had to worry about him. Still, divorce was a big deal for any child, and she couldn’t help but worry about how he would take it.

But her concerns were nothing compared to what someone else had done.

As soon as she walked in, she saw something that made her stomach turn.

Pamela and John were sitting close together on the couch. Pamela looked apprehensive. “This is still your and Sierra’s home. Isn’t it wrong for me to be here?”

“It’s fine,” John said quietly.

“But…”

“Sierra’s moving out soon,” John reassured her. “After that, you’ll be the lady of the house.”

Pamela looked up at him, their eyes meeting. They were both full of longing. They were so caught up in each other, they didn’t even notice Sierra had come home.