Lost Me, Gained Regret (Jane and Bryant Ferguson) novel Chapter 4

"Fine." I pursed my lips, ultimately deciding to leave a shred of dignity for him before Margaret. Or perhaps it was for my own sake.

For the moment, I couldn't quite pin down Margaret's purpose for her visit. Was she genuinely feeling she shouldn't accept the necklace? Or was she there to declare something?-

A flicker of emotion passed across Margaret's face too swiftly to be caught. She smiled. "I was worried this necklace might cause some misunderstanding between you two. Seems like it hasn't, so I'll be heading back now."

Emma escorted her out.

As soon as the front door closed, I stepped away from Bryant's embrace, "You said it was for Steven, right? And Margaret's married, isn't she? Since when did she become one of Steven's flings? Hmm..."

Bryant silenced me with a kiss, fierce and urgent, almost as if venting some frustration.

Only when I found it hard to breathe did he slightly loosen his hold, caressing my head as he admitted his fault. "I lied to you."

He pulled me close. "Margaret's divorced. I was worried about her, so I gave her the gift."

I was startled. Then I got what Bryant meant by "Congrats on your fresh start" in the video.

I bit my lip, half-doubting, "Is that all?"

"That's all." His voice was firm and soothing as he explained, "You know Margaret's mother saved my life at the cost of her own. I couldn't just ignore her."

I had heard about that from Emma. Bryant's biological mother died during childbirth, and when he was five, his father remarried Margaret's mother.

Despite being a stepmother, she was kind to Bryant, treating him as her child. She even went so far as to risk her life to save Bryant, ending up in a vegetative state for many years.

If it was for that reason, it made sense.

I felt a weight lift off my shoulders, yet I couldn't help but gently remind him, "Bryant, I believe you just wanted to repay a debt of gratitude, and you only see her as a sister."