The Regretful Housewife: Divorce and Rise Again novel Chapter 5

Chapter 5 This Time, You Pay Your Father’s Debts Yourself

Marvin fell silent at his daughter’s question.
Seeing her husband’s awkward, guilty expression, Esther frowned and said, “Honey, are you still supporting the Mercers?”
“I’ve known Chase’s father for years. I just… helped them out privately.”
“Marvin! How can you still care about them? If Chase’s father hadn’t lied and cheated you behind your back, we wouldn’t have lost so much money. There’s no good person in that family. When will you learn?”
Nina’s eyes darkened as she listened.
It was just like her past life.
Back then, her father had secretly kept funding Mercer Group because of his old friendship with Chase’s father. The company should have collapsed, but it survived another half-year because of him.
Cecilia had counted on her father’s soft heart—that was why she’d been so determined to marry Nina into the Mercer family.
In the end, the Mercers had drained the Tanns dry. Once they were no longer useful, they’d thrown the Tanns away like trash.
That was the Mercer family. That was Chase.
“Dad, we need to cut off their funding immediately. I heard the Mercers are failing fast and have a lot of debt. If their creditors find out we’ve been supporting them, they might come after us.”
Marvin’s face paled at the mention of creditors. In their line of work, he knew how ruthless creditors could be.
Nina went on, “Besides, after how Chase acted tonight, he clearly doesn’t want our help. So why should we bother?”
Esther nodded firmly. “Our daughter’s right. Chase is ungrateful and hurts our girl. We shouldn’t be kind to him.”
Hearing that, Marvin finally agreed, “You’re right, Nina. I’ll have the funding stopped right away. I won’t let those ungrateful Mercers drag us down with them.”
Nina nodded.
Her words weren’t empty. In her past life, she and Chase had gotten officially engaged after that dinner. Only days later, creditors had stormed their house, smashing everything. Her father had paid off the Mercers’ debts to calm them down—but Chase had never thanked him. Instead, he’d hated the Tanns even more, thinking they were throwing money in his face to humiliate him.
Fine then. This time, Chase could pay his father’s debts himself.
That evening, Nina returned home with her parents.
Looking at her soft princess bed and warm, spacious bedroom, Nina felt her throat tighten.
After her previous life, she finally understood what truly mattered.
The people she could never let down were the parents who loved her.
The one she must never abandon was herself.
Knock knock—
Esther knocked on the door and said, “Nina, you didn’t eat at the restaurant, so I asked the cook to make your favorite food.”
As she spoke, she set a plate of rich, glossy steak on Nina’s desk.
Nina’s mouth watered at the sight.
She hadn’t eaten all day and was starving.
She stared at the juicy steak, then touched her round stomach.
She wanted it… but she couldn’t eat it.
Nina kept her eyes fixed on the plate. “Mom, I’m not hungry.”
“Silly girl, of course you’re hungry. I know you love meat. You’re still growing—you have to eat.”
“Mom, I’m going on a diet.”
Nina’s voice held a determination she’d never had before.
Esther stared at her in surprise, then quickly nodded and picked up the steak. “Being too heavy isn’t healthy. We won’t eat this, then.”
Before Nina could say anything, Esther hurried out with the steak.
Just as Nina thought her mother was upset, Esther returned half an hour later with another dish.
Nina blinked at the plate of boiled shrimp and steamed broccoli in front of her.
Esther smiled gently, “Even on a diet, you can’t skip meals. From now on, I’ll have the cook make you healthy low-cal meals.”
Esther stroked Nina’s hair, and Nina’s eyes stung.
Her parents were still here… it was perfect.
After everything she’d been through, she finally understood how precious family was.
In her past life, she’d been insecure about her weight and completely ignored her parents’ love, looking for warmth in the wrong places.
“Thanks, Mom.”
Nina lowered her head, holding back tears as she ate the broccoli.
She made up her mind—she would lose weight in three months.
The next morning, Nina felt dizzy from hunger. When she stepped on the scale, she saw she’d already lost five pounds overnight.
She was thrilled, but she knew it was only water weight. Losing weight took persistence—she couldn’t let her guard down.
At school, Nina arrived and left in a fancy car every day, making the other students green with envy.
In class, watching Nina run laps on the field during break, some students mocked her.
“Is Nina crazy? Break’s only 15 minutes. Why is she pushing herself so hard? Isn’t PE class enough?”
“She’s probably trying to lose weight. She does look a little thinner these days.”
“So what? Even if she loses weight, she’s still ugly. Chase will never like her!”
After saying that, Tara Clay pulled Katrina’s arm. “Katrina, right?”
Katrina looked uneasy, then forced a smile, keeping up her kind act. “Don’t say that. Maybe she’s just losing weight for the fitness test, not for Chase.”
“Katrina, you’re too nice. Everyone knows you knew Chase first. Nina’s only using you to get close to him!”
Katrina forced a smile as she listened.
The truth was, she’d approached Nina on purpose after finding out Nina knew Chase.
But everyone thought she was the real Sawyer heiress and would naturally know someone like Chase. Add in Chase’s kindness toward her, and people assumed they were close.
Still, she had no intention of correcting them.
As the girls talked, Nina appeared at the classroom door. She was overweight, so even a few minutes of running left her breathless. Climbing the stairs had made her sweat heavily.
Seeing this, Katrina walked over and held out a handkerchief.
“Nina, wipe your sweat,” she said softly.