Too Late for Regret novel Chapter 34

You’re Half Right

Chapter 34

Seth’s POV

“What else, Ana? I know that’s not all of it. Tiffany is obviously psychotic. When did this happen?” I asked.

“It’s not all of it, but I don’t know if I can handle discussing it all today. It’s not going to be easy for you to hear. Just know that I have evidence, much more than I’ve just shown you. I guess it’s time to move forward and tell you all of it,” Ana replied.

Tiffany has always been jealous of Ana since she was born. Tiffany had been the baby, and she was doted on by both our families. Holden and I thought she was a little angel. Once Analise was born, we naturally included her in our affections; everyone did. It took a couple of years to find out that Tiffany couldn’t stand

Ana. She hated that she wasn’t the main focus anymore once Ana got here. That’s what she wanted, for all of

our attention to be on her. She would push Ana down or take things from her.

As the years progressed, Tiffany upped her game, before one day pushing Ana into the pool before she

turned three. But when Ana turned five, things finally started to improve. Tiffany convinced all of us that it

was just a childish phase she was going through, and she became much nicer to Ana from then on. It worked

out so well that we honestly believed that she would help protect Ana while we were at college.

Tiffany’s always been competitive where Ana was concerned. The only thing she felt she had over Ana was the fact that she was slim. Tiffany always mentioned Ana’s weight any time she could. So it makes sense

that she would target her there. Ana was honor roll and incredibly talented. There was no way that Tiffany

could surpass Ana in what our parents valued.

Tiffany probably could have got a scholarship in cheerleading, but Tiffany wasn’t interested in going to college. She was interested in marrying me, but I wasn’t interested in making her my wife. I shuddered at the thought of it. I wanted to punch Holden in his face for what his sister has done. So what if he’s my best friend? His f*****g sister has emotionally scarred mine. No wonder she couldn’t stand to be around them. It brought up painful memories.

When there was a knock at the door, I stiffened up, suddenly remembering something. One of her bodyguards

opened the door, but thankfully, it wasn’t Holden; it was a member of Hospital Security, with Ana’s doctor right behind him. The doctor entered the room after I apologized for causing a disturbance a few minutes ago. I couldn’t stop myself. I felt like I’d ruined my sister’s life. No wonder she didn’t want to marry Holden.

His sister had bullied her relentlessly for years.

I sent Holden a text telling him not to come here, that I would talk to him tomorrow. He replied that he was

already here. I can’t do this right now. I was so furious at his family right now. I honestly might do something

to him in anger. I tried to make him understand he needed to leave. That Ana didn’t want him here. All

without telling him what was about to happen to his sister. He didn’t respond. I know him, he’s just going to

show up.

I can’t believe I was stupid enough to give her his room number. But how could I have known what had happened to Ana? I hadn’t known that she was in the hospital. I had been so angry with Ana, thinking she

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You’re Half Right

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had lied to us last night. That she told us what we wanted to hear, so she could leave. I thought she was avoiding us again, and I let my emotions get the best of me when she called.

I was so hateful to her when I answered. I said things I didn’t mean because of it. Now I felt like the worst

brother in the world. I deserved the dressing down the officer had given me, but I honestly didn’t know Ana

was hurt. I had to come clean because it’s only a matter of minutes before Holden gets here.

“Ana, I’m so sorry. You can punish me later, but Holden is here, at the hospital. I called him and gave him your

room number as we were coming here. We were just worried you were cutting us out of your life, and we didn’t want that to happen. I was only trying to get everything worked out between us. You never say a word about what you had suffered. I thought it was just a petty difference of opinion. I see that you had more than enough reason to do what you did. I’m so sorry, Ana. I never intended to hurt you like this,” I told her.

One of her bodyguards opened the door, and Holden’s voice immediately said, “Why are you even here? She’s safe. She’s inside a hospital. Who would try to hurt her in a hospital?”

“Holden, don’t cause a scene. Get in here, we have things that we need to discuss,” I told him.

He entered the room with a beautiful vase of red roses, containing at least two dozen stems. A classic bouquet, and I knew that he was trying to win her over. I’ve pulled the same move myself on a girlfriend who had been angry with me. But it isn’t going to work on Ana. Over the years, she has seen us both do this too many times. She knows it’s only a show.

+15 Points 2

After the video, as Ana picked up her phone, Holden asked, “How did you get that footage? Someone

tampered with my surveillance system last night. Was it you?”

“Just listen, Holden. You’re about to find out who tampered with it,” Ana curtly replied.

I watched as Holden listened to the recording. I saw him getting upset as Tiffany spoke. When it was over, he

said, “I’m sorry, Ana. I will cover the hospital bills and support you in however you choose to handle the

situation with her. She obviously assaulted you, or you wouldn’t be here. I knew it wasn’t me. I watched your

reactions to Tiffany. I told my mother it had to be something that Tiffany had done all along.”

“You’re half right,” Ana said. “Gwen, can you and Emily take Mom downstairs to get some coffee. Charlie, can

you and Drew go with them?”

“I don’t think you need to be left alone. Drew can go with them. I think I need to stay here in case you need

me,” Charlie answered. He knew things were about to get a lot worse, and they were. But my mother didn’t

need to hear what I was about to say.

“I appreciate what you are saying, Charlie. I know you and Drew take your job protecting me very seriously.

But I will be fine. Dad’s here. If anything, what happens next with be between my brother and Holden. It won’t

affect me. Despite what’s happened, I know that neither of them would intentionally hurt me. Just give me twenty minutes, okay?” Ana replied.

“Ana, I would like to stay and hear the whole story, even if it hurts. If I don’t know, how can I decide what I

need to do next?” my mother responded.

“That’s the reason I stayed quiet. Naomi didn’t do anything wrong, Mom. Dad can fill you in on what you need to know later. Tiffany banked on my staying quiet. I avoided your little get–togethers. I stayed to myself. I thought Roger was gentle, which is why I chose him, but I made another bad decision there, too. I have terrible taste in men, or I wouldn’t have been hurt so badly. I’m done following instructions. I’m done hiding myself, because the truth of the matter is, none of this was ever my fault. So many have broken my trust, and I’m not just going to forgive and forget. Those who hurt me can never be trusted again. This time, I’m going to make sure that Tiffany gets what she deserves,” Ana announced.

I knew she was talking to all of us, but she was looking at Holden when she said it. I’ve never seen her look so hurt before. Even when I came up with my bright idea for her to go through with the arranged marriage to Holden.

“What did you do to my sister?” I growled out in anger.