Too Late for Regret novel Chapter 86

We’re No Longer Friends

Chapter 86

Ana’s POV

“Small?” I couldn’t hold that word in. “Are you seriously saying what I went through was so small, so insignificant, that it’s not worth mentioning? Are you saying that I should have just kept sucking it up and

allowing her to continue to abuse me?” I asked. Their level of delusion was alarming.

“But you’re fine now, that’s what matters. No real scars or visible injuries. No harm done, and look at you now. A successful business owner. You managed to thrive despite what you went through. You’re stronger than

Tiffany. She needs you to let this go. You don’t need our help or your parents to succeed. But Tiffany doesn’t

have that. She needs our help to survive. Surely you won’t condemn her to prison? Why would you punish her

by having a record that would stay with her for the rest of her life? Please let her go, Ana,” Hudson pleaded.

“What, scared to deal with me, Hudson? Ignoring what I said and trying to guilt–trip my daughter into letting your devious daughter go? I hope you don’t think ignoring what I said will make it go away; it won’t. You and

your wife were the very reason that my daughter has suffered for so long. I don’t take that lightly. Alicia and I

were talking in the car. We both remember you and Naomi making digs at Ana’s expense. Talking about her

as if she were the problem, when in fact, the issue has always lain with your daughter. I’ve already done what I needed to do. I’m no longer a shareholder in your company. Maybe you should go and put out the fire at your

business, Hudson. I can assure you that nothing that you or Naomi say will change our minds,” my father

coldly replied.

“Reid, there is no reason to take things that far. Tiffany messed up, but I believe her when she said that it was

all just childish teenage behavior. She just took things too far, but Lean assure you that she will never do

anything like that again. We will punish her, just not publicly. What purpose would that actually serve? It

would damage our reputation, for both our family and our companies. I think you’re taking this much too seriously. Think of how this is going to affect our families moving forward,” Hudson replied.

“We already thought about it. Then we realized that I’ve helped you from day one. But what have you or Naomi ever done for us? We’re still trying to figure that out. You’re still riding my coattails, using me and my money, and exploiting our friendship to grow your business. Well, that stops today. You’re no longer welcome

in my home. You need to stay away from my family, especially Ana. You need to remember that she still

treated you and Naomi with kindness and love. She didn’t speak about what she was going through because

she was trying to protect us. In my opinion, this reckoning is ten years too late. There is no need for discussion, it’s done,” my father replied,

Hudson’s phone pinged, and after checking it, his face paled. “Reid, did you announce that you’re no longer supporting me?” he asked hoarsely.

“Yes, I took a page from my daughter’s playbook. It’s the quickest way to get the message out,” my father replied.

“You would ruin me, over this? I could lose everything,” Hudson replied, his shock evident.

“You gained everything you have from my help; you’re losing it the same way. The fact that you would be unforgiving if the roles were reversed is mind–boggling. You want me to forgive Tiffany for what she’s done. But you wouldn’t have felt the same way if Ana had bullied Tiffany. So why should I accept what Tiffany did?

We’re No Longer Friends

Please refrain from attempting to contact any of us again. I won’t allow you to hound my daughter into letting Tiffany go. You need to look at this situation for what it is, a punishment that should have been served years ago,” my father replied.

“Alicia, are you going to let Tiffany be sent to prison over this? She loves you, this is going to hurt her so badly knowing that her godparents have turned their back on her, the moment she made a mistake,” Naomi’s soft voice added.

“A mistake? Naomi, that implies it was just one. Your daughter committed hundreds of mistakes. All of them focused on assaulting and humiliating our daughter. You remember, don’t you, my daughter whom you claim to love as your own? You and Hudson are Ana’s godparents. Yet clearly, your love is contingent on our financial backing. I wished I’d known that sooner, Naomi. I wished I had been there for Ana, while your daughter was hurting her,” my mother replied.

Her voice carried a hardness that I’ve never heard before. My mother was dangerous right now, as she is ready to throw down over what I’ve suffered. Naomi needs to realize that my mother is a fighter. She trained before she got married, and stayed with it my entire life. I should have trained. I should have gotten stronger and been able to defend myself. But there’s no way to go back and change that now.

“Alicia, we do love Ana. We always have. Yes, we appreciated your financial help with getting Hudson’s business off the ground. We will always be appreciative that you did that for us. You know I love you like a

sister, Alicia. Please don’t do this. I know that you’re angry with us, with all of us, but our friendship has

lasted for over thirty–five years. Surely that has to mean something to you. I know what you mean to me,”

Naomi tried again.

see where Tiffany learned to manipulate people so well now. In this moment, I lost all the love and affection

I had for them. I had been so focused on how Holden and Tiffany had hurt me that I never even looked at

their parents. I see it now that I’m no longer blinded by their false affection. It had to be false, as Tiffany was always the most important child in the room. The most valued daughter between the two families. The one who was doted on solely because of their appearance. I remember the ‘kind‘ digs Naomi gave me about my

weight now.

She might not have known the reason why I had gained weight, but she always managed to tell me that I wouldn’t amount to much if I didn’t value my appearance more than I did. I suddenly realized that the arranged marriage had been the biggest lie of all. Naomi kept pushing for it because she wanted Holden and Tiffany to be a part of the Caldwell family by marriage. It was never a love connection like she implied it to be. She knew I liked him, and she wanted to capitalize on it. The arranged marriage was purely driven by greed. The need to bind us together, which made me furious. But before I could speak, my mother beat me to

1. it.

“It used to, until I saw your true colors, Naomi. Where is your outrage at what Ana was put through? At all of the injuries she sustained? Reid is right, we’re both disgusted by Tiffany’s actions. She lied right to our faces, for years. Then twisted things around to make Ana look bad. The worst part? I fell for it. I believed that Tiffany was better than my own flesh and blood for too long. I was disappointed that nothing I did got through to Ana. I was resentful, and I wasn’t there for her when she needed me the most. I can’t get that time back, Naomi. I can’t go back and make it right, because there are no do–overs in life. I believed you were my friend. I trusted you completely, Naomi, and I shouldn’t have. This relationship was always one–sided; I was just too blind to see it at the time. But I’m rectifying that now. We’re done. No more drop–ins, no more visits, and no more calls,” my mother replied.

We’re No Longer I rends

This time, when Naomi sobbed, it was real. My mother never spoke to her like this. But flaomi knew as well as I did that when my mother made up her mind, you couldn’t change it. I could tell that my mother had been hurt by what Naomi had done, but this was a stand. One that showed me who meant more to her. Charlie wrapped his arms around me. When I looked up, I felt tears slide down my face. My mother had finally chosen me. Not Naomi, and not Tiffany. She chose to stand behind me, and that felt wonderful.

I walked over to stand between my parents, with Charlie trailing behind me. My brother stepped behind our parents as we walked up. My parents quickly put me between them and then wrapped me in a hug. Charlie was standing next to my mother, ready to intervene if needed. The message was clear. We were a united front. I looked right at Naomi before I spoke.

“I know why you pressed for the arranged marriage so hard. You wanted to be tied to our family. Everything you did was strategic, and I only realized that today. You tried to guilt–trip Mom into back down. Reminding her of all the years that you’ve been friends. It suddenly hit me. You knew. All this time, you knew exactly who my mother was when you met her. Just like with Charlie’s first fiancée. She targeted him, too, because she wanted a rich husband, and you wanted a rich friend. It’s sad because I know just how much my mother loved you, Naomi. My whole life, she believed your friendship was real. She helped you at every turn,” I advised.

I’m sure Hudson knew what she had done, but I doubt my family did. They were the ones I was actually speaking to at the moment. I knew that Naomi was going to deny it, vehemently. That’s what she did. She was Mom’s best friend since college. She would never admit she latched onto Mom to be connected to a powerful family.

I watched as she flushed in embarrassment. That was as good as an admission in my opinion. I felt both my parents stiffen next to me, and the realization hit them that they had both been played. This information was not going to go over well.

“Alicia, you’re my best friend. My only friend. I love you, just like I love Ana. I didn’t befriend you to gain anything other than friendship. Ana, what you just said is hurtful and untrue. I knew how much you cared for Holden: We all knew you had a huge crush on him. Why wouldn’t I want to have a smart and kind daughter–in–law? I thought it would make you happy to have a built–in set of in–laws who already loved you. There were no underhanded dealings going on. I’ve never asked you for anything, Alicia. I’ve never done anything to make you think I had ulterior motives. It hurts me to hear you would think that of me,” Naomi said, giving a well–timed sob as she spoke.

“No, you never asked for money, but you would hint about something you wanted. A meal here, an outfit there, a new pair of heels to match mine. I never saw it before, but it is glaringly obvious right now. You did know, and you planned this from the very beginning. I hope you enjoy all your gifts, because I’ll never be giving you anything ever again,” my mother told her.

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Kat VonBeck

#Vote# It’s just one chapter tonight, guys. I had to visit a friend who is very ill. Two chapters tomorrow. I’m sorry, I know, things are getting exciting. I’m sorry. There will definitely be two tomorrow.

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