Watching You Burn In Regret novel Chapter 92

"Whichever of your children obeys, you shower them with affection; whoever defies you becomes the family scapegoat."

"You've built a picture-perfect life—successful career, strong and capable, a loving marriage, kids anyone would envy. Every box is checked, every mark hit. Except for me."

"I'm the only stain on your otherwise flawless record. And all these years, you've been desperate to scrub me out."

"Well, today you finally got your wish. And I've finally stopped hoping for anything different."

As she finished speaking, Seren let out a long, slow breath.

These were words she'd kept bottled up for years—resentments, heartaches, all finally pouring out. It felt like a release, a weight lifted. For the first time in ages, she felt almost free.

Suddenly, a pair of hands reached out and clasped hers tightly.

She looked up and saw Lennon. His gaze was full of complicated emotion—shock, sadness, but above all, a deep, aching tenderness.

Susan and Hollis were watching too, their faces a mirror of the same emotions.

Even Nadine, who never cried, had red-rimmed eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

Seren realized there was more she wanted to say to Zena. Years' worth of things, really. But suddenly, she just… didn't want to anymore.

It struck her, all at once, that airing these grievances wouldn't make Zena feel guilty. It wouldn't spark regret or remorse. All it would do was embarrass her for a moment, let Seren vent—nothing more.

And the only ones truly hurt by it would be the people who loved her.

The past should stay in the past. There was no sense in letting it poison the present.

Across the room, Slater sat silent, rattled to the core. He'd had no idea how much pain Seren had carried over the years.

For once, he forced himself to look back at everything that had happened. And as he did, he realized Seren's every word was true: it wasn't just Zena who'd wronged her. He had too.

He'd said things he never should have said, done things he never should have done. Things he could never imagine saying or doing to Carla.

A wave of shame washed over him, leaving him restless and uneasy.

Her eyes drifted past Susan, settling coolly on Zena's face.

Her voice was steady and cold. "The agreement's signed. From now on, there's nothing between me and Mrs. Bradley. No more ties, no more entanglements with anyone in the Bradley family."

"From this day forward, I hope we never see each other again—even in death."

Finally, Seren glanced briefly at Carla, standing not far away.

She knew exactly what Carla wanted—the whole Rutledge Group for herself.

But she wouldn't bother warning Zena.

She'd just wait for the day when Zena had to swallow the bitter fruit of her own choices.

Let her see for herself what kind of person her so-called perfect daughter really was.