Regrets

Part 50

Hugo had already emigrated to Canada, where he managed a modest grocery store while his new wife pursued a career as a local educator. He found solace and contentment in his new life.

Claire made numerous attempts to contact him, but her efforts were met with disappointment. She cursed Hugo incessantly, day and night. Their children, sequestered in schools, remained uninvolved in her turmoil. Hugo had left everything with Claire, a gesture meant to atone for his guilt.

"Hugo, no amount of money can ever compensate for the transgressions we've committed against Claire," Phillipa always felt a deep sense of remorse.

"I concur, Phillipa. After witnessing the pain of betrayal, I would never want our daughters to endure such agony. Claire's selfishness and arrogance precipitated the demise of our relationship. Phillipa, I exhausted every effort to salvage our marriage. I implored Claire to change her ways repeatedly, but as soon as her mother intervened, she reverted to being her pawn."

"Don't torment yourself, Hugo. With a mother like Lisa, Claire is destined to remain unhappy. We should focus on raising our children to be virtuous individuals."

When Claire discovered that Hugo already had children and her sons were forming bonds with his paramour and their half-siblings, she was devastated. She felt utterly betrayed by her own flesh and blood.

"Mother, what did I do to deserve such contemptible children? Look at Zach and Rose-they stood by Heather. They severed ties with Aaron, but my children are playing happy family with the other woman."

Claire teetered on the brink of insanity, and Lisa was aghast at her daughter's condition.

"Claire, try to maintain your composure. Why don't you start a business or something to occupy yourself?"

"What kind of business could I possibly undertake?"

"If Heather can start one, so can you."

"Mother, Heather has Daniel to support her. Who do I have? I believe this is my penance for condoning Marissa's affair."

Lisa endeavoured to be brave, but she knew both her daughters' lives were in shambles. All her meticulous planning had been for nought. The wealth she once prided herself on was rapidly depleting, and sustaining their lavish lifestyle was becoming increasingly arduous.

Marissa forfeited a significant portion of her fortune to settle the lawsuit Daniel initiated. They were left with mere remnants of their former affluence. Women like them, accustomed to opulence and extravagant spending, would never comprehend the true value of money. Consequently, they had to liquidate numerous properties to appease their creditors.

The suggestion to sell their house was a crushing blow for Marissa.

"Aaron, why do we need to sell our house? This cannot be happening," Marissa argued incessantly.

"Heather is simply exacting revenge on us. She's envious of our lifestyle."

"What is there to envy, Marissa?"

Aaron was mired in depression, having made a grievous error during surgery that led to his temporary suspension.

"Please, Marissa, don't add to my burdens."

They downsized to a more modest home, reminiscent of the one where he and Heather had begun their lives.

Marissa was so distressed that she gave Aaron the cold shoulder, refusing to communicate with him.

"Marissa, together we can rebuild what we've lost."

"How? I'm struck off the medical register. I cannot work, and you're suspended pending an inquiry. How do you propose we manage?"