Watching You Burn In Regret novel Chapter 121

7 p.m.

Seaview Heights.

Sheridan stood on the ocean-facing balcony, gazing out at the endless horizon. The villa's prime location offered sweeping views of the coastline, the waves stretching as far as the eye could see.

A voice called him back to the present.

"Sheridan."

He blinked, pulled from his reverie. When he saw it was Willa approaching, a flicker of disappointment—almost too subtle to notice—crossed his face.

Willa spoke softly.

"Sheridan, you know that show, *The Talent Gauntlet*, the one everyone's talking about lately? Could you pull some strings and get me in?"

*The Talent Gauntlet* was the hottest reality show online, blowing up across every platform. Even the guests from its first season were still basking in the afterglow of viral fame. Now, with the second season filming, social media buzz was reaching new heights. Every up-and-coming star was desperate for a ticket onto the show—after all, a single appearance meant a flood of exposure and all the perks that came with it.

Willa knew she didn't stand a chance of competing her way onto the show, which was why she turned to Sheridan—her most powerful connection.

After what happened last night, Willa felt a creeping sense of urgency. Sheridan was starting to slip away, his attention more and more on Seren. There was no way she could win him over in the short term—not enough to secure her place in the Powers family.

She couldn't afford to bet everything on Sheridan—especially not when he was proving to be so unreliable. If she wanted a future, she needed to invest her time and energy elsewhere. She needed to make her own mark.

But while Sheridan still cared for her, Willa intended to squeeze every bit of benefit she could from his influence. Even if she couldn't marry into the Powers family, she could use Sheridan's connections to become a star in her own right—someone the whole world adored.

"I told you, I'm busy these days. Let's wait until I've sorted things out with Seren," Sheridan replied, impatience creeping into his tone. He turned on his heel and strode away without another word.

For the first time, Sheridan found Willa's persistence genuinely exhausting. It was like she never listened—he had to repeat himself over and over.

Just like yesterday, when he'd told her in advance to get up early, pack her things, and leave The Golden Age. Instead, she'd been hungover and sluggish all day, only now finally moving into Seaview Heights.

Was he the one who'd made her drink herself sick?

He couldn't help but compare her to Seren. Seren had always been the well-behaved one—never smoked, never drank, never lost control. No matter what he said, she'd listen quietly, never defiant or difficult.

As Sheridan's car started up and pulled away, Willa's frustration boiled over. She grabbed a glass from the table and hurled it to the floor, where it shattered with a sharp, satisfying crash.