Goodbye, Mr. Regret

That's how reciprocity works.

Ines wasn't the type to refuse easily, so she agreed.

Timothy stood up and said, "Please, come with me."

Jessica, unable to leave the villa and uninterested in meeting Timothy's guest, made her way down to the basement.

The basement housed the collection room.

Inside, Timothy's precious treasures were displayed-rare items he'd collected over the years.

Jessica rarely came down here, but the place was always spotless. She only checked in during the damp season to make sure nothing was getting musty; she never paid much attention to the objects themselves.

Her heart and mind were filled with thoughts of Timothy-these items were just his trappings, things that added to his aura.

She didn't want them, nor did she envy them.

The only thing she wanted-greedily, desperately was for Timothy to love her.

With nothing else to do, she wandered among the displays, letting her eyes linger on the items.

Suddenly, she heard footsteps.

was unmistakably Timothy's

And another set-his guest.

guests at home, Jessica always tried to stay out of sight. She'd heard Mabel mention that Timothy sometimes showed his collection to visitors-sometimes to sell, sometimes

people would bring things to sell to Timothy

a small storage room

led Ines into

moment Ines stepped in, she was visibly

it that Timothy Lawson was a man of impressive means, but seeing

was understated but luxurious, filled with treasures displayed with exquisite taste-paintings,

free to pick whatever

widened

guest today was

she'd

she was in after getting married, Jessica knew

with you-and now I see your reputation is well deserved," Ines said, her familiar voice carrying into

hard it hurt, her eyes filling

besides her grandmother, the person