Lost Me Gained Regret

Edith leaned in, teasing him with a playful raise of her eyebrow, "What's the matter, not interested in marriage?"

"I have someone in mind I'd like to marry, not really into arranged marriages." Gregory responded coolly, his gaze briefly flickering inside. "Is Jane in there?"

I was standing behind the door, out of his line of sight.

Seeing the triumphant smile on Edith's face, I couldn't help but chuckle, about to speak up when Edith looked my way, "My dear niece, come here. My brother is looking for you."

I could almost see the confusion spreading across Gregory's face.

Standing up and walking over, Gregory's cool, dry hand took mine. He glanced at Edith, his tongue pressed against his cheek before he suddenly smiled, "Since when did my Jane become your niece?"

Before I could reply, Bella wrapped an arm around my shoulder. Seeing through the teasing between Edith and Herbert, she couldn't help but laugh. "Because Jane is my daughter, what do you say?"

Gregory straightened up instantly, his usually nonchalant demeanor faltering as he addressed Bella seriously, "Ms. Taylor, you're not joking, are you?" "It's true, Greg."

I squeezed his hand, explaining, "It happened yesterday, but you didn't come back to Elmwood Villas last night, and I hadn't found the right moment to tell you."Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

-Though, even if I had the chance, I probably wouldn't have told him. After all, I was sworn to secrecy to win over his cousin.

Bella, amused by his adaptability, smiled. "So, from now on, you don't have to call me Ms. Taylor, you can call me..."

Gregory was quick to correct himself, "Mom."

Me, Bella, and both Herbert and Edith were all flabbergasted.

Herbert, from an angle Bella couldn't see, gave him a thumbs up.

I quickly tugged at his hand.

"...Cough." Gregory, trying to maintain his composure, said, "No worries, our relationship is so steady, calling her 'Mom' is just a matter of time." Edith, enjoying his attempt to ingratiate himself with his future mother-in-law, laughed, "Why not go ahead and call me 'Auntie' while you're at it?" Gregory gave her a sidelong glance, "You first reconcile with Herbert...ahem, I mean, my uncle, then we'll talk."

Mid-sentence, he cleared his throat, awkwardly changing his wording.

Edith, arms crossed, watched him with amusement, "Oh, so now you're rooting for us to get back together? You used to be so worried he'd mistreat me."

Gregory chuckled, "Well, you wanted me to call you 'Auntie'."

After a while, Herbert brought up the dinner Bella planned to announce Jane's true identity.

He was skeptical, "Sis, Jane is the

daughter you've finally found,

shouldn't we host a separate, more formal dinner? In the name of the Taylor family, or in your name, either works. It'll show everyone how much we value Jane, ensuring no one dares to mistreat her in the future."

"I've considered that."

Bella, gripping my hand earnestly, said, "I just can't wait to tell everyone who my real daughter is. I don't want her to suffer in silence anymore." Herbert, seated in a leather chair, his normally serious demeanor softened by his affection for his niece, "Jane, what do you think?"

When he asked for my opinion, I smiled softly, "I'll go with what you think is best. Whether it's sooner or later, it doesn't change the fact that I'm my mother's daughter, and that's all that matters."

"Bella," Gregory continued smoothly, "As far as I know, Summer Taylor is still filming Slow Life, and you haven't announced your relationship with her to the public yet..."

He speculated, "Including her, she probably doesn't know yet, does she?"

"You're right." Bella nodded, curious about his angle, "Go on."

"Why not..."

Gregory glanced at me before suggesting, "Play the long game."

"Summer's background, I looked into it two years ago, an orphan with no significant connections. How did she come to know you were looking for your daughter and manage to present herself to you?"