He regrets it

Ryan unexpectedly went to Sandy's house with a package containing baby supplies. He remained silent for a long time until Sandy came from the opposite direction and then entered the house as usual without the slightest suspicion of his surroundings.

Ryan also blocked Sandy's path until Lily's best friend flinched.

"Sandy, is Lily still inside? I want-"

Sandy took a breath. He saw Ryan's flat face with a slight crease on his forehead. Ryan looked older than his real age.

"That's too bad. Lily has been gone since this afternoon."

Sandy's answer made Ryan's shoulders slump. He seemed to have lost his zest for life. His wish to meet his daughter was gone.

"She left already? With my kids?" Sandy nodded. "Where?" Sandy shrugged her shoulders.

Desperate, she turned to leave Sandy's house, returning home. But not even five steps away, Sandy called out to her.

"Do you want to leave something for her?" Sandy asked in a loud voice. Ryan stopped his steps, then nodded slowly, and his smile grew. "Just leave it with me. As long as it's not food, I can deliver it on the weekend."

"I brought baby clothes and supplies for Lily." Ryan showed two packages to Sandy. Unable to look at Ryan's pitiable face, Sandy invited him to enter the house.

"Sit down. I'm going to get a drink first."

Ryan nodded enthusiastically. While waiting for Sandy, he sat on the sofa in the living room of Sandy's house, which was quite spacious and wide. The house looked quiet. There was no sound other than the chiming of the wall clock in the corner of the room. Soon Sandy arrived with a warm drink and some snacks for her guests. "Have a drink first. Let's talk for a while."

"I had intended to meet Lily and apologize to her in person. I-"

"Lily has already forgotten the past. She is happy with her new partner and your child. Since you already know about it, I will tell you about it," Sandy said.

The woman, who was older than Ryan, opened a photo album that was kept near a small shelf beside her. There was one medium-sized album that she pulled out and placed on the table to show Ryan.

She opened the first page. One photo caught Ryan's eye. Sandy showed it right in front of his best friend's ex-husband.

"This is a photo of when she held a baby shower. At first, she didn't intend to, but with Steve's mother's persuasion, she finally agreed. Invitations for guests were limited, and only relatives and friends came. At that time, I wanted to invite you but was forbidden by Lily. She said she was afraid of disturbing you and her new family." Sandy ended her story. Her eyes were wet as she recalled the times when Lily was down. Only she and Steve were willing to help her.

Ryan was also the same as Sandy, who was now silent, holding back tears. He bowed his head, trying to imagine how difficult it was for his ex-wife to live alone as a mother without a husband to accompany her.

"Did she eat well back then?" Sandy nodded. "Thank you for helping her."

"That's my job, Ryan. I should return the favor for Lily's good deeds in the past."

Sandy opened the next sheet. Two sheets of photos also came to his attention at this time. A photo of a pair of twin babies whose faces were still red They were very beautiful and handsome, just like her as a child.

"Is this a picture of my two children?" asked Ryan, who was again nodded to by Sandy.

"They are still your children. Don't worry, Steve is not taking away your rights."

"Even if Steve recognizes them as his children, I have no problem," said Ryan, whose face was now red. Tears suddenly spilled down his cheeks. He wiped them away slowly.

"No, Steve's not that bad. Someday, when things get better, maybe he'll introduce his kids to you."

"I'll leave this gift for them. Tell them that their father is coming to visit." Ryan handed over the package he had brought earlier. Sandy accepted it with open arms. His annoyance and anger suddenly overflowed when he saw Ryan's sincerity today. I wonder if he'll act up again.

"Thank you. I'll tell him later."

***

Sarah stood in front of the door of her house with her waist ruffled. Her eyes kept checking the watch in her hand. It was already nine o'clock at night, and her husband hadn't come home. She had called many times, but there was no answer. Sarah was afraid that her husband had turned to another woman.

"Where is Ryan?" Sarah walked towards the front gate to see if any of her husband's cars had entered their housing complex. It was quiet, and Sarah chose to go back inside.

Not long after, the car driven by Ryan pulled into their yard. Sarah looked back. "Where have you been, Ryan?"

There was no answer. Ryan chose to enter the house without saying a word. But his puffy face and red eyes could not lie to Sarah, who was very good at covering things up.

"You bought baby supplies? For whom?" Sarah asked in a harsh voice. Sarah blocked Ryan's path by spreading her arms. "Who are you buying for?"

"None of your business," Ryan snapped. His hand brushed off Sarah's rudeness, and he didn't care that she almost fell backwards.

"You have to tell me!"

"This is for my son. Why, you don't like it?"

Sarah turned her face to challenge Ryan and then replied to his words with a sentence that was no less rude. "Yes, I don't like it. Even if it's your own biological child, I still don't like it."

"It's none of your business!" Ryan snapped back at Sarah.

"Where's your credit card? Here!" Sarah reached into Ryan's pants pocket, looking for the wallet that was usually kept there. Sarah managed to retrieve it and pulled out two credit cards belonging to Ryan. "From now on, anything you want to buy must be with my permission."