Secretly Married for 4 Years, He Regrets to Tears After the Divorce

Chapter 282: Chapter 282: Sweetness and Bitterness Intertwined

The moment Sean Sterling’s words left his lips, a scalding, surging warmth exploded from the softest part of Isla Griffith’s heart, coursing through her veins and into every limb.

Happiness, emotion, reassurance, the sweetness of being cherished—countless joyful feelings rushed in all at once, threatening to envelop and melt her completely.

In that moment, she was more certain than ever that Sean Sterling truly, deeply cherished her above all else.

He disregarded the Sterling family’s opposition, his father’s cold slap, and the pressure and criticism from the outside world.

Even if he got battered and bruised, even if it meant standing against his own family, his every thought, his every ounce of effort, was dedicated to giving her a safe and stable home.

Isla Griffith gazed at the man before her, whose eyes saw only her, and knew with absolute certainty that Sean Sterling was the one she could entrust her life to, the one she would grow old with.

He loved her deeply, and she loved him just as deeply.

She was willing to marry him, willing to have his children, willing to share every meal and every season of their lives together, never to be parted.

But beneath this joy, so overwhelming it nearly spilled over, was a heavy, suffocating layer of heartache and reluctance she couldn’t bear.

Isla Griffith slowly closed her eyes. Her fingertips tensed, her nails digging gently into her palms as she used the faint sting of pain to steady the storm of her emotions.

How could she not understand how difficult, how painful, how agonizing it was for Sean Sterling to be caught between his family and the love of his life?

On one side were the parents who had raised him for decades, a bond of blood and family. On the other side was her.

No matter which side he chose, he would be torn apart and left scarred.

For her sake, he had already endured the harshest slap from his father today, pushing his relationship with his family to the brink of collapse.

If he really went through with it tomorrow, ignoring everything and everyone to get their marriage license at the Civil Affairs Bureau, she feared it would completely infuriate Simon Sterling and Yvonne Donovan, burning the last bridge and destroying any chance of reconciliation.

At that point, Sean Sterling would be completely alienated, facing the utter estrangement and condemnation of his parents and the pressure of the entire family.

Isla Griffith couldn’t bear to imagine it, and she couldn’t bear for it to happen.

She couldn’t bear to see Sean Sterling turn against the entire Sterling family for her.

She couldn’t bear to see him receive cold shoulders, accusations, or even be disowned by his own parents.

Even more, she couldn’t bear to see him caught in the middle, torn and tormented by his predicament.

Her heart was in turmoil. Two opposing thoughts warred within her, threatening to tear her apart.

"Okay?"

Sean Sterling’s cautious question pulled Isla Griffith back from her thoughts.

Isla Griffith looked up at him, a gentle smile in her eyes.

She hid all her struggles, conflicts, heartache, and unease beneath that smile.

She didn’t want to spoil his mood, shatter his current joy and relief, or let him see her inner turmoil. She didn’t want to add even the slightest burden to a heart that had just found some peace.

Isla Griffith raised her arms, wrapped them around Sean Sterling’s neck, and buried her face deep in the warm crook of his neck.

The air was filled with his unique, reassuring scent.

Filled with joy and dependence, she nodded emphatically.

"Okay."

"I’m willing to marry you. I want to be with you for the rest of my life."

Sean Sterling tightened his arms, almost as if trying to merge her into his very bones, his heart and eyes overflowing with joy.

He lowered his head, kissing her cheek again and again.

"Honey, I promise I’ll be good to you and the baby. I’ll never let you suffer the slightest grievance in this life."

"Mm, I believe you," Isla Griffith replied softly.

Sean Sterling eagerly began to plan their future, his voice full of longing and adoration.

"Whatever style of wedding dress you like, whatever kind of wedding you want—it’ll all be exactly as you wish."

"And our marital home... You love the ocean, so I’ll buy a villa by the sea. You’ll be able to see the water just by opening the window. What do you think, hmm?"

Isla Griffith kept her head down, the corners of her lips curved in a happy, gentle smile, but a film of moisture quietly welled up in her eyes.

"Okay," she still answered softly, but she was thinking, ’I’ll just have to delay this for as long as I can.’

It wasn’t that she didn’t love Sean Sterling. It was that she wanted his relationship with his family to improve first, so she could become his bride without him being torn and burdened.

...

A new day began.

Sunlight filtered through the blinds, casting dappled shadows on the solid wood dining table.

The air was filled with the sweet scent of hot milk and the savory aroma of fried eggs, along with other delicious and exquisite breakfast dishes.

Sean Sterling sat beside Isla Griffith, the two of them chatting and laughing as they ate breakfast together.

"Honey, you’re pregnant now, which is tough. Your body needs double—no, triple—the nutrients. Eat more."

He was afraid she wasn’t eating enough and kept piling more food into her bowl.

Isla pushed her bowl aside and waved her hand. "I’m full, I can’t eat anymore. If I eat any more, I’ll turn into a little piglet."

"I’d love you even as a little piglet," Sean said, his tone doting.

Isla beamed and huffed playfully. "That’s only because I’d be a pretty little piglet."

"That’s right. My wife is the most beautiful woman in the world."

With that, Sean Sterling pulled Isla’s bowl toward him and finished all the food she couldn’t eat, not minding at all.

Isla was a little embarrassed. "There’s fresh food in the pot..."

Sean said, "I know, but I just want to eat what’s in your bowl."

"..." A mix of helplessness and sweetness filled Isla’s heart.

Breakfast ended in a warm and cozy atmosphere.

Sean Sterling glanced at the time and eagerly took Isla Griffith’s hand, leading her toward the bedroom.

"Get changed, baby. We’re going to the Civil Affairs Bureau."

"...Oh."

Isla dawdled, choosing a loose-fitting casual outfit. Sean squatted down and personally put on her shoes for her—a pair of comfortable and stylish flat white sneakers.

"Honey, I’ve put away all your pretty high heels for now. You can wear them again after you have the baby."

"And if you don’t like them anymore by then, we’ll just buy new ones."

Isla looked down at the man before her and blurted out, "Sean Sterling, you’re so good to me."

Sean lifted her up from the bed and gave her a kiss. "I’m only good to you. Let’s go."

They walked out together, hand in hand.

As they neared the door, Isla braced herself and let out a sound that she tried to make sound as unintentional as possible. "Oh!"

"What’s wrong?"

"My household registration book and ID card are at my other apartment. I didn’t bring them with me."

Hearing this, Sean Sterling gave an indulgent, doting smile and couldn’t resist gently scraping her nose with the pad of his finger.

"That’s okay, we can just stop by and grab them on the way."

Sean turned to get the car keys from the entryway, his black suit jacket draped over his arm. His steps were light, his heart soaring with the joy that everything was about to be settled.

He didn’t notice the fleeting look of struggle and guilt in Isla Griffith’s eyes at all.

On the drive to the apartment, a soft, elegant piano piece played in the car.

Sean glanced over at Isla Griffith from time to time, his attention always on her.

"The sun is bright and the sky is so blue today. It’s like even the heavens know we’re getting married and are happy for us."

Isla smiled. Her heart felt as if it were filled with honey, yet also blocked by a lead weight—a mix of sweet and bitter.

Sean took her hand. "Your hand’s a little cold. I’ll turn on the heat."

Isla chided him playfully. "Focus on driving. No hand-holding."

Sean feigned being wronged for a moment, then reluctantly let go. "Alright, whatever my wife says."

Before long, the car came to a smooth stop in front of Isla Griffith’s apartment building.

Sean thoughtfully helped Isla Griffith out of the car, holding her hand firmly.

When they opened the apartment door, a familiar scent mixed with a faint, clean fragrance washed over them.

"I remember keeping the household registration book and my ID in the bedroom drawer."

Isla led the way into the bedroom, her voice deliberately confident, but her steps felt a little unsteady.

She went straight to the nightstand, pulled open the top drawer, and quickly took out the documents, hiding them in her bag.

Then, she rummaged through the drawer again, deliberately making a RUSTLING sound and pretending to accidentally knock a few magazines onto the floor.

"That’s strange, I can’t find them. I was sure I put them here."

Isla frowned, her face a mask of anxiety as she bent down to pick up the things on the floor.

Sean came in when he heard the noise.

"Don’t worry, take your time. Maybe you just misplaced them. I’ll help you look."

He was even more invested than Isla. He rolled up his shirt sleeves and got to work.

First, Sean emptied all three drawers of the nightstand, sorting the contents and laying them out on the bed. The household registration book and ID card were still nowhere to be found.

Next, he turned to the closet. He took out the neatly folded clothes one by one, from the seasonal coats on the top shelf to the underwear on the bottom, not even sparing the storage boxes in the corners.

Still no household registration book or ID card.

"They’re not in the bedroom. Maybe they’re in the living room or the study. Let’s split up and search."

"Okay," Isla agreed guiltily.

Sean pulled out every book from the bookshelf and shook it, worried the documents might be tucked inside. He also searched every drawer thoroughly.

The TV stand, the shoe cabinet, the storage closet on the balcony, and even the spice cabinet in the kitchen—he checked them all.

Bright sunlight shone through the window, illuminating the dancing dust motes in the air.

The once tidy apartment was now a complete mess.

The bed, the sofa, the floor, the cabinets, and every available surface were piled high with miscellaneous items.

The entire morning passed in this frenzy of turning the place upside down.

Sean straightened up, gently pounding his aching back. His gaze swept over the messy room, his brow furrowed slightly.

"We’ve looked in every corner and still haven’t found them."

Isla felt a pang of guilt. She took a tissue and gently wiped the sweat from his forehead, then brought him a glass of warm water.

"It’s my fault for being so careless and forgetful. I didn’t even realize I’d lost them."

Sean drank the water, put the glass on the table, and hugged Isla, not blaming her in the slightest.

"It’s okay. We can get the household registration book and ID card reissued."

After saying that, he glanced at the clock on the wall.

"It’s noon. Let’s go get lunch first, and then we’ll go get them reissued."

Isla’s heart was pounding with anxiety. She stood obediently by Sean’s side, holding his arm with her head lowered, looking like a contrite elementary school student who had done something wrong.

"Is it a lot of trouble to get them reissued?"

Sean reassured her, "It’s not troublesome if you follow the procedure. Leave it to me. You don’t have to worry about it."

He casually took out his phone and opened a government services page.

"To get a new household registration book, we have to go to the police station where it’s registered. Your hometown isn’t in Aston, but that’s okay. We’ll just make a trip back and get it done."