Goodbye, Mr. Regret

If it weren't for a situation like this, Jessica would never dream of troubling

anyone.

Both of them had always been there for her.

But now, she couldn't be sure if either of them was free-she couldn't risk letting Timothy carve his name into her skin.

She wouldn't allow it.

Not for anything.

Just to be safe, she texted them both.

[Gilded Whisper Estates. Help me!]

Timothy ended his call. Jessica stood, glaring at him, cold and unyielding.

He walked over, a frown pinched between his brows. "Didn't we agree on this? Are you backing out now?"

She had only come back to take her medication.

She had never agreed to let him mark her body with his name.

"If I say no, are you going to force me?"

Timothy couldn't help but remember-that other time, when he'd forced her, and how badly she'd gotten hurt.

The memory twisted something in him.

He realized that, even after all this time apart, he still hadn't done anything to win her back.

If anyone ever saw her birthmark, it would be truly over for them-there'd be no way back.

The thought of a future spiraling out of his control left him deeply unsettled. He just couldn't let go of his wife.

"Jessy, I don't want to force you. Please, just do what you promised me, okay?"

"But when have you ever kept a promise to me?" Her voice was raw, brittle with pain that cut deeper than bone.

All she wanted was a divorce, a way to set herself free.

But he kept pushing her toward a dead end.

"I'm sorry."

Sincerity filled his eyes.

Jessica stared at him and laughed a hollow, bitter sound.

He said he was sorry, and it almost sounded real.

But his actions had never shown an ounce of regret.

"Jessy..." His voice broke, trembling. "I don't want this. We weren't always like

this, right? Isn't it possible to go back to how things were?"

He was obsessed with the past.

She only cared about the future.

Their hearts beat out of sync; their minds would never meet. Maybe that was the

real reason their marriage couldn't survive.

But Timothy didn't see it.

"There is no going back."

Jessica's eyes glistened with grief-utter, hopeless despair.

"Tell me, what's worth going back for?"

"You? Or Henry? Do either of you give me a reason to return to the past?"

"If I really could go back, I'd go back to before I met you. I'd walk away. Choosing you was the biggest mistake of my life."

"Jessy!" Timothy's voice darkened. "Stop. Don't say another word."

He didn't want to hear it.

He gripped her shoulders, his voice lowering almost to a plea. "Please, Jessy. Just listen, okay? Be good, like before. I promise I'll make you happy. Didn't you say you wanted wedding photos? A ceremony? I can arrange it right now— photographers, a beautiful wedding-everyone will know you're my wife."

Jessica calmly, almost languidly, lifted his hands from her shoulders.

"Are you out of your mind?"

You couldn't even let us take a simple marriage photo-and now you're talking about a grand wedding?

"Yes, I'm out of my mind. I'm sick-sick with needing you, Jessy..."

He pulled her into his arms, holding her tight.

Murmuring in her ear, "Don't leave me."

"Whatever you want-love, companionship—I'll give it all to you."noveldrama

"I'll give you anything you ask for."

"Except my own will, right?"

She didn't struggle in his embrace. Her voice was terrifyingly calm.

For the first time, Timothy realized how impossible it was to reach her. If she would just drop the divorce and stay-just like before-he'd give her the whole world, anything she wanted.

Something so simple, yet so impossible.

The doorbell rang.

Mabel, the housekeeper, shrank back, hiding herself away.

She didn't know how to help Jessica.

It was obvious Mr. Dawson wanted to save their marriage.

In her eyes, Mrs. Dawson and Mr. Dawson were a perfect match-they even had a son together. Now that Mr. Dawson wanted to change, maybe if Mrs. Dawson gave him a chance, the family could be happy again.

sŵnovel

It should have been a perfect home.

SWI

But Mrs. Dawson's heart was broken beyond repair-she wanted to leave.

What could she do?

Should she call Sheila, get her to stir up trouble, chase Mr. Dawson away, and give Mrs. Dawson her freedom?

Sigh...

Mabel felt helpless.

It wasn't that she didn't want to help Mrs. Dawson.

But she really didn't want to let Sheila win, either.

For now, she'd just have to wait and see-find a quiet moment to ask Mrs.

Dawson if she really, truly wanted to leave for good.

If she did, then Mabel would give her full support, no matter what.

Timothy, seeing that no one had answered the door, let go of Jessica and went to

open it himself, ushering in two tattoo artists.

Jessica instinctively backed away.

Timothy tried to soothe her. "Jessy

it'll be quick. The design I picked is simple and elegant. It'll be over before you know it."

"No, Timothy. No. If you dare do this, I'll never forgive you."

Just then, Jessica's phone rang.

She fumbled for it, heart pounding. It was Vince he was already on his way with

backup.

She was about to answer when Timothy snatched her phone away.

"Give it back!"

She reached for it, but he held it high out of her reach.

If Vince was calling right now, it had to be urgent. This wasn't just a casual call.

Timothy unlocked her phone, scrolling through her messages. He saw the SOS she'd sent to both Vince and Herbert.

They'd be here any minute.

Without a word, Timothy switched off her phone and tossed it onto the sofa. Then he swept her up into his arms.

Jessica pounded her fists against his back, desperation in her voice. "Let me go!"