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.

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