Lost Me, Gained Regret (Jane and Bryant Ferguson)

I couldn't help but laugh.

Bryant was going to take responsibility?

Why was she here bothering me? She should be chasing after Bryant.

Margaret caressed her belly, saying proudly, "You better speed up the divorce proceedings. I don't want any delays in getting my baby registered."

"Well, you might want to hurry Bryant along then."

The corporate tower's aircon system kept the air warm all year round. I took off my coat, hung it up, and picked up the watering can to tend to the row of plants by the floor-to-ceiling window.

Since Bryant wasn't keen on drawing clear lines, I wasn't in any rush either.

Margaret can keep pestering him.

Margaret scoffed, "Don't play this game with me, acting all indifferent on one hand and yet clinging to Bryant on the other."

"I get it, Jane. You're an orphan, latching onto the Ferguson family tree for security and comfort. It's human nature."

"But as a woman, you should have some dignity."

She crossed her arms and chuckled lightly, "Don't make a fool of yourself over a man. It's embarrassing."

I frowned, "... We've met several times before. Why are you still introducing yourself?"

Caught off guard, Margaret huffed and stood up to approach me.

"Don't think you're untouchable just because you have that old man backing you. You're just waiting for his grand eightieth birthday to pass, but I wonder what excuse you'll have then for not letting go." "Are you done?"

"What?"

"If you're done, please leave."

I pointed towards the office door.

She gritted her teeth. "Don't be so eager to see me out. What about the design competition? Don't you want to participate?"

"There are only two spots available. You're that generous?"

"Of course."

She lifted her chin in a gesture of benevolence, "One for me, one for you. How about it?"

I thought she was just stringing me along until she gestured for her assistant to bring in a document.

She handed it over, "Here, the requirements for the competition. Take a look. The submission deadline is next Friday. Send your design to my email by Wednesday."

I flipped through it, "But it says here that entries should be submitted directly to the competition's email under the company's name."

For some reason, handing my entry over to her felt unsettling.

Maybe it was because we were on opposing sides, naturally making me wary.

Margaret's expression briefly faltered before she scoffed, "You don't seriously think I'd copy your design, do you? That's hilarious. Have you ever heard of a director copying from an assistant director? You've got some imagination!"

"Fine, send it directly if you want," she said dismissively.

"Then off you go."

I gave her a dismissive smile.

Margaret remained still, her gaze probing, "Aren't you curious about who the father of my baby is?"

"Is it mine?" I replied with a mock smile.

"Stop spouting nonsense!"

"If it's not mine, why should I be curious?"

"It's Bryant's. I'm carrying his child, the fruit of our decade-long love."

She seemed proud, her slender fingers occasionally brushing her flat belly.

"Good to know."

"And that's your reaction?"

"What reaction should I have towards a bastard child?"

I tossed the document on the desk, puzzled, "Which affluent family doesn't have a few illegitimate children? It's quite normal, you're making a mountain out of a molehill."

Her eyes blazed with fury, "A bastard child?! You dare call Bryant's and my baby a bastard? Jane, I'm carrying the Ferguson family's first grandchild. Watch your words. Once I'm officially part of the Ferguson family, taking you down would be a piece of cake."