His Regret Can No Longer Touch My Heart Chapter 03

The next morning at breakfast, Delilah approached with a bowl of lobster bisque.

“Hailey, try this. It’s divine.”

“No, thanks.”

I declined politely.

But she acted like she couldn’t hear rejection, insisting on bringing it over.

Suddenly, she tripped.

Scalding soup splashed all over my thighs.

The porcelain bowl shattered across the floor.

Red burn marks bloomed instantly on my skin. I gasped, biting back the pain.

Delilah’s tears came faster than my agony.

“Hailey, I’m so sorry.”

“I really didn’t mean to…”

Donna Rachel’s voice cut through first, dripping with blame.

“Why didn’t you catch it?”

Don Hunter frowned. “So slow and dull. You’re a useless idiot. Completely clueless.”

Caleb arrived right then.

Delilah immediately threw herself into his arms, sobbing so hard she could barely breathe.

Caleb patted her back, his expression tender with concern.

But when his eyes shifted to me, they froze solid.

“Delilah just tried to do something nice for you.”

“Show some damn gratitude.”

I looked up and met everyone’s stare.

“Did I spill the soup?”

No one answered.

Don Hunter waved his hand dismissively.

“Enough!”

“It’s just soup. Spill it, get another bowl.”

“Delilah’s distress is the real issue.”

To soothe Delilah, Don Hunter made an on-the-spot announcement.

“The trading company we planned to hand over to Hailey goes to Delilah first.”

“She’s the Principessa raised by the Hayes Family. She’s more capable and knows our family rules better.”

Caleb looked deeply satisfied with the outcome.

“The Moretti Family will add a batch of port resources. My engagement gift to Delilah.”

He looked at me like a predator eyeing his prize.

“Hailey, don’t let me catch you bullying her again.”

“Or I’ll show you exactly what an Ohio mafia means.”

I nodded calmly.

“Whatever.”

Back in my room, Caleb wired me more money.

With a note: [Stop targeting Delilah.]

I didn’t turn down the money.

Then I slowly typed out a line:

[Caleb, do you remember I’m allergic to seafood?]

A long silence on his end.

Then another transfer came through.

I smiled and accepted every cent.

Free money. Why the hell not.

It was my well-earned compensation for wasted youth.

And his price for my silence.

…

That evening, after Caleb took his fiancée shopping, they returned.

It didn’t take long before Delilah came sobbing into my room.

“Hailey, my pink diamond necklace is gone!”

“It’s the engagement gift Caleb gave me…”

She held up her phone to show me a photo.

My pupils shrank.

I had seen this necklace before.

A year ago, Caleb took me to an auction.

He said, “Pick something you like.”

I chose that pink diamond necklace.

He sat in the second-floor VIP box and never hesitated, raising his paddle over and over.

“Five hundred thousand.”

“Seven hundred thousand.”

“One million.”

In the end, he won it for one point eight million dollars.

I thought it was a gift for me.

But I waited and waited, and he never gave it to me.

When I finally asked, he said, “Gave it to my cousin.”

Now, staring at the photo on Delilah’s phone.

There was never any cousin.

From the very beginning, it was always meant for Delilah.

All along, his heart only held her.

Caleb definitely knew I’d seen that necklace before.

He automatically assumed I stole it.

Eyes fixed on me like ice, his tone left no room for argument. “Hand it over.”

“I didn’t take it.” I met his stare.

“Hailey.”

He stepped closer, threatening me.

“Don’t make me have my men search your room.”

“My guys aren’t exactly gentle when they search.”

I shrugged.

“Fine.”

“The living room and hallways all have security cameras.”

“Want to check them now?”

Delilah’s expression flickered.

Just as Caleb was about to order the staff to take him to the security room, Donna Rachel rushed in.

She blocked Caleb’s path and immediately lashed out at me.

“No need to check the footage. We all know you stole it.”

“After all, even the Hayes staff are all highly trained. You’re the only one here who’d steal.”

“Don Hunter was right.”

“That’s trash for you. You’ll never be one of us.”

“Oh, Mama, don’t be upset.” Delilah smoothed Donna Rachel’s chest and played peacemaker. “It’s just a necklace. If Hailey likes it, I can let her have anything.”

Donna Rachel squeezed her hand with pride. “That’s my Delilah. Always so thoughtful.”

I couldn’t stomach their mother-daughter theater any longer.

“Are you searching the room or not?”

“If not, I’m going to bed.”

Delilah scrambled to stop the search.

I shot her a dry, humorless glance and shut the door in their faces.

Then I booked a flight to London.

And searched online for an expert photo editor.