Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Timothy pressed his hand to his chest. "I'll have your name tattooed right here- because in this lifetime, only you belong in my heart."

Not long ago, he'd told her he loved her.

And now, today, he wanted her name etched above his heart.

It was almost laughable.

Their marriage was already in pieces, shattered beyond repair.

Let him do as he pleased.

Without her medication, she would die.

When she'd found that box while preparing for the divorce-after every lawyer in town had refused to take her case—she'd been diagnosed with cancer. That was when she realized: maybe this was the only way out. The only road left that led away from him.

She'd tried. She'd tried so hard to change things.

But in the end, this was the path she had to walk.

The next moment, he spoke again. "So, I want you to leave my name on your skin

too. That way, we'll always be together, all right?"

At last, Jessica responded.

"No way!"

Death was the only escape she had left.

She wasn't going to let him leave any mark of himself on her, even after she was gone.

"Be good, Salome."

"Salome? Who's Salome?"

Jessica stared at Timothy in confusion. Did he have someone else besides Sheila?noveldrama

"Sorry, slip of the tongue. Jessy and Salome both mean sunshine."

Jessica didn't buy it for a second.

But what did it matter who he loved? She just couldn't let him leave his name on her body.

"Timothy, if you dare put your name on me, I'll tear the skin off myself."

"Don't fight me."

His voice was gentle, but there was a steel beneath it that brooked no refusal.

"No, I won't. I don't want your name on me, Timothy. Not even in death."

Her resolve to leave him was unshakeable.

So he changed his mind.

He couldn't let the Zimmerman family know she was Salome Zimmerman.

As long as she remained an orphan, he could keep her close. But if she became the daughter of the Zimmermans, Vince would stop at nothing to take her away from him.

Salome had been missing for twenty years; as far as he was concerned, Salome would stay lost.

She could only be Jessica.

That meant he had to get rid of her birthmark.

Without that mark, even childhood photos that looked similar wouldn't prove a thing.

With no suspicions, no one would ever think to request a DNA test.

"Jessy, just be good, and if you agree, I'll take you home right now."

"When has your word ever meant anything?"

Timothy frowned. "If you don't believe me, fine. We'll go back now. When we're home, I'll call in two tattoo artists, and we'll do it together. I'll be right there with you."

Going home-that was what she wanted. Once they were back, she might finally have a chance to escape.

"Fine, I agree."

A spark flickered in her eyes at last.

Timothy

the tattoo artists to

leave. He fastened his shirt

with

e care and

the

r to arrange for the fet

butler to arrange for the

As night fell, the helicopter landed on the island.

Jessica felt her heartbeat slow as she finally boarded the aircraft.

Shortly after takeoff, she drifted into sleep.

Timothy couldn't help watching her the small crease between her brows deepening as she slept. He reached out, gently smoothing

Wow.

But a moment later, the crease returned, her features tightening with distress.

Timothy's heart twisted in sympathy.

He bent down and pressed a soft kiss to her furrowed brow, as if he could smooth away her pain.

He didn't understand how things between them had come to this.

From the moment he'd decided to marry her, he'd never planned on letting her go.

The first time he saw her, his desire to marry her had been entirely sincere.

At first, even though they shared a bed, he hadn't touched her.

Every night, the temptation had been almost too much to resist.

He was afraid that if he gave in, he'd lose control.

The one time he got drunk, she'd tried to take care of him. She kissed him first.

He'd lost control, and she'd cried the whole night.

After that, he'd barely left her alone, night after night.

She fell pregnant soon after.

She'd forbidden him from touching her again, which annoyed him-he blamed her

for climbing into his bed in the first place.

Only then did he realize how addictive desire could be.

To get himself under control, he'd left on a business trip for over two months.

Absence only made him want her more. At the last moment, he'd managed to stop himself.

Blushing, she'd signed to him that the doctor said after three months of pregnancy, things could be gentler.

He found himself terrified by how deeply he'd fallen for her.

His grandfather had always taught him: never get attached to anything- attachment is weakness.

All his life, he'd prided himself on self-control. Only with her did he lose it, over and over.

So he buried himself in work, traveling constantly, hoping to outrun the chaos inside.

Jessica never complained about his absences. She was always gentle, always loving to him and their son.

His mother had given up her life for him and his sister; he'd grown up believing all mothers would do anything for their children.

Only when Jessica wanted to leave him—and didn't seem to care about Henry- did he realize how much he'd come to depend on her.

His mother had died young. His father remarried. His family had never felt whole.

With Jessica, he'd finally had a home.

He didn't know how long had passed when Jessica began to whimper in her

sleep.

Her brows twisted in pain, and sweat beaded on her forehead.

"No... please..."

She tossed and turned, murmuring, "It hurts..."

"Jessy, wake up."

Timothy's voice was hoarse as he gently shook her shoulder.

Slowly, Jessica opened her eyes and met his worried gaze. "You were

having a nightmare," he said sne

"Tell me where does it hurt?"