Goodbye, Mr. Regret

"Easy now, don't make a fuss. Tonight, I'll give you what you want, alright?"

It was rare for Timothy to take the time to coax her like this.

He hoped she would realize her mistake and behave herself.

A little sulking now and then-he could tolerate that.

His breath brushed against her ear, his voice low and coaxing.

Jessica felt like she was losing her mind.

What had she done to make him think she was desperate for him?

She reached out, pressing her palm firmly against Timothy's chest.

He straightened up, his dark eyes fixed on her. The gentle, refined look from moments ago had clouded over, replaced by something far more somber.

Jessica glared at him, her hands moving swiftly in sign language: *"I don't want this. Stop forcing things. If you keep pushing, what happened last time will happen again."*

She couldn't have made her feelings any clearer.

He hadn't caught him cheating-at least, not physically.

But emotionally, that betrayal was just as real to her and just as unforgivable.

pretend to be his loving wife anymore,

surge of anger twisted

pushed him to the edge more than once. Not all of it was her fault, but she kept brushing up

her over the years, letting her get too comfortable,

He was done negotiating.

you take them to bed, they soften

make sure this time she didn't hurt herself, unlike the last time, when she'd bitten her own tongue till

but careful. He wouldn't let her get hurt again. Blood, after all, meant

react, he pressed

struggled, desperately trying to push him away, but the difference in their strength was absolute. He overpowered her, holding her jaw, controlling her every movement, stopping her from

from Jessica's wide, beautiful eyes, soaking her thick, fluttering lashes. The taste of salt filled

Timothy froze.

drew back, seeing the redness at the corners

them. Her cheeks were flushed, her lips trembling, her gaze fractured and vulnerable—so heartbreakingly

the tears from her cheek with

crying? Did I

jaw so hard

shout-she was mute,

she wanted to scream stuck in her

a trembling arm, signing slowly: *"Timothy,

lifting her as easily as picking