Chapter 9 Past Events

The phone rang nonstop, its shrill tone cutting through the quiet bedroom. Regina stared at the name flashing on the screen, her heart pounding.

Philip, the man who had deceived her for six years, treating her like a mere stand-in, was calling now. Why?

She glanced up at Douglas, whose expression remained calm, though a flicker of something dark passed through his eyes. Regina took a deep breath and answered the call.

"Hello." She tried to keep her voice cold and distant.

"Regina, you finally answered." Philip's voice was slightly slurred but carried the familiar arrogance she knew all too well. "I've been thinking, maybe we can start over."

Regina was momentarily stunned, then let out a cold laugh. "Start over? Philip, have you forgotten what you said? I was just a stand-in for Claudia, a woman you couldn't even be bothered to touch."

"I was drunk that night, said some things I didn't mean." Philip's tone was dismissive, almost condescending. "Regina, let's both calm down. I can give you everything, except the marriage."

Regina could almost picture Philip lounging on his sofa, a superior smile on his face, as if his words alone could bring her back to him.

That arrogance, which she once admired, now only disgusted her.

She glanced at Douglas, who stood quietly, his face impassive. Despite their marriage being a mere transaction, Regina felt an unexpected sense of security from this stranger of a "husband."

"No need," Regina's voice was firm and clear. "We're done, Philip. I'm doing just fine without your charity."

Philip was clearly taken aback, silent for a moment before he responded. "Done? What are you talking about? Regina, I know you can't live without me. It's been six years, you're used to me. You'll come back."

"Philip," Regina said slowly and firmly, "what you couldn't give me, someone else can."

This time, there was a long silence on the other end. Finally, Philip spoke, his voice strained. "What did you say?"

"I'm married, to a man far more impressive than you," Regina looked into Douglas's eyes, somehow driven to make sure he heard these words. "So, please don't bother me again. Goodbye."

She hung up decisively, feeling a weight lift off her chest. Six years of emotions and deceit ended so cleanly. She sighed in relief, placing her phone on the nightstand, leaning back against the headboard, and closing her eyes to savor the long-awaited sense of liberation.

"Ex-boyfriend?" Douglas's voice broke the silence.

Regina opened her eyes and nodded. "Yes, my ex-boyfriend."

Douglas's expression darkened, his long fingers tapping lightly on the armrest. "He still comes bothering you?"

"Yeah," Regina gave a bitter smile. "He probably thinks I'll obediently go back to him, like a pet cat."

Douglas said nothing, just listened quietly.

Regina suddenly felt a need to confide. Maybe it was the emotions stirred by the call, or Douglas's patient listening. She began to recount her story with Philip.

"We were together for six years, and he never touched me," Regina said softly, her gaze distant. "I thought he respected me, truly loved me, and I was willing to wait. But in the end, I was just a stand-in for his first love, someone he couldn't even be bothered to touch."

She spoke of Philip's arrogant friends who mocked and excluded her, the so-called socialites who sneered at her, and the humiliation she endured at the Peace Club. Each memory was like a knife, but speaking them aloud brought a strange sense of relief.

Douglas sat across from her, his face calm, but his fists clenched tightly. Though he had learned of Regina's painful past through his own investigations, hearing it from her own lips filled him with a surge of anger and heartache. He wanted to find Philip and give him a lesson he'd never forget.

But he knew now wasn't the time. He needed to wait, to be patient, to earn Regina's trust step by step.

"Sorry, I said so much." Regina smiled apologetically. "You must find it boring."

Douglas shook his head. "Not at all."

Regina was taken aback. She had expected Douglas to be indifferent to her emotional baggage, but his calm acceptance of her confessions left her both surprised and a bit disappointed. Maybe to him, these were just the stories of strangers, irrelevant to their transactional marriage.

With that thought, Regina felt a sense of relief. No expectations, no disappointments.

"Thanks for listening," she said softly. "It's late, we should get some rest."

Douglas nodded, standing up to leave. "I'll stay up a bit longer."

"Okay, goodnight." Regina smiled slightly.

"Goodnight." Douglas's voice was low and gentle, with a hint of concern.

After Douglas left, Regina turned off the light and lay in the large, soft bed. The dark blue bedding was new, but it seemed to carry Douglas's cool, fresh scent. This was Douglas's bedroom, and his presence seemed to permeate every corner. The unfamiliar place and scent made it hard for Regina to sleep.

What troubled her more was the shame dream she had.

In the dream, she was back in that mysterious, passionate night.

In the darkness, she felt a pair of warm hands softly caress her skin, sending shivers down her spine. The touch was both gentle and commanding, an irresistible force that held her captive on the soft bed. Her eyes were covered by a red hair ribbon, and the loss of vision heightened her other senses to an extraordinary degree.

The man's breath brushed against her ear, warm and steady, with a faint scent of alcohol and cologne. The scent was both familiar and strange, making her heart race.

"Who are you?" she asked softly, her voice trembling.

The man didn't answer, just silenced her with a kiss. The kiss was both domineering and tender, as if trying to devour her soul. She could feel the anger and frustration in his every move, mixed with an unspoken deep affection.

His hands roamed over her body, each touch igniting a flame, making her lose her reason. In the darkness, she was completely immersed in the sea of desire, following his rhythm, her breath becoming rapid.

"Philip..." she whispered the name in her confusion.

As soon as the name left her lips, she felt the body above her stiffen. The man's actions became rough, filled with suppressed anger. The force made her wince, but there was a strange pleasure in the pain.

The man's kisses were no longer gentle, but punishing bites, as if venting his long-held anger on her. He pulled her into a storm of passion, leaving her unable to think of anything but his presence.

In the midst of the intense pleasure, she suddenly realized—this man could not be Philip.

Regina woke with a start, her body burning, her clothes soaked with sweat. She panted, her heart pounding, the dream too vivid to shake off. She wiped the sweat from her forehead, noticing her hand trembling.

She then saw a figure standing at the bedroom door. Douglas leaned against the doorframe, his brow furrowed, eyes filled with concern.

"Are you okay?" he asked softly. "I heard you call out and got worried."

Regina realized she must have cried out in her sleep. Embarrassed, she pulled the covers tighter around herself, avoiding Douglas's gaze. "I'm fine, just a dream."

Douglas didn't come closer, just stood at the door, giving her space. "I haven't slept, just been in the living room working. I heard some noises from the room, wasn't sure what was happening, so I didn't disturb you. But when I heard you call out, I came to check."

Regina felt a wave of shame. The dream was too private, she couldn't imagine what sounds she might have made or if she had said anything inappropriate. Douglas's concern made her feel even more self-conscious, and she kept her head down, unable to meet his eyes.

"Do you need some water?" Douglas asked gently.

Regina shook her head. "No, thank you. I'll be fine after I sleep a bit more."

Regina stared at the ceiling, her mind racing. The dream was too real, making her question whether it was a dream or a memory. Who was the man that night? Why did she always find traces of that night in Douglas?

The refined man before her seemed so different from the wildness of that night, yet her body and heart whispered that Douglas was that man!