Ben Affleck has never shied away from speaking candidly about the ups and downs of his personal life, but in a recent and emotional revelation, the actor confessed that his divorce from Jennifer Garner remains his “biggest regret.” The Hollywood power couple, who were married for 10 years before officially divorcing in 2018, share three children—Violet, Seraphina, and Samuel.

Affleck’s reflection on his past marriage with Garner highlights the pain and loss that comes with such life-changing decisions. “People don’t appreciate what they have until it’s gone,” Affleck admitted during a recent interview, clearly grappling with the emotional weight of his words. Garner, who has always been admired for her grace and strength through their public separation, appeared genuinely saddened in the aftermath of the split.

The couple, once regarded as the epitome of a wholesome Hollywood family, faced several challenges that led to the breakdown of their marriage. Affleck has been open about his struggles with alcohol and how it affected his relationships, including his marriage to Garner. He has often credited her with being an anchor during his darker times, especially as he worked through rehabilitation and recovery.

“I hurt my family with my drinking,” Affleck previously shared, reflecting on how addiction played a role in the demise of their relationship. He’s been vocal about how deeply it affected him, stating that the end of their marriage brought him profound sadness and regret.

Garner, meanwhile, has always handled the divorce with poise, even when the spotlight was on their private lives. Despite the end of their marriage, the two have maintained a united front when it comes to co-parenting their children, often seen attending events together for the sake of their family.

Affleck’s honesty about his regret seems to speak not only to his own personal growth but also to the realization that relationships and family are irreplaceable. While it’s clear the divorce weighed heavily on him, it’s also evident that Garner’s absence in his life left a significant void. “She was everything to me,” he admitted, expressing his grief over losing someone he loved deeply.

For her part, Garner has remained largely silent about Affleck’s recent admissions, but she has always made it clear that her priority is their children. She once said, “We’re all doing our best. My children are my everything, and I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure they’re happy.”

While Affleck’s regret is palpable, it seems to serve as a reminder that the value of a relationship, and the people in it, can sometimes only be fully realized in hindsight. For Affleck, losing Jennifer Garner—the woman who stood by his side for so long—has become a somber lesson in appreciating love and family while you still have them.