Goodbye, Mr. Regret

A few pearls had already begun to peek through the cake.

Following the direction of the hidden box, Timothy sliced into the cake again. This time, nestled inside, was a pearl necklace.

No wonder she'd felt resistance when she tried to cut through earlier.

Timothy slipped on a pair of disposable gloves, carefully retrieved the little box, and opened it.

Lustrous pearls shimmered, their iridescent surface casting delicate rainbows in the light.

They gleamed brilliantly.

He peeled off the gloves and lifted the necklace from the box.

Without asking Jessica's opinion, he gently swept her glossy black hair over one shoulder and fastened the pearl necklace around her delicate, pale neck.

"Pearls suit you much better. No more diamond necklaces from now on-they're far too harsh."

Jessica's eyelids fluttered.

Hadn't he just given her a diamond ring not long ago?

Didn't the diamond on that ring count as "hard"?

She dropped her gaze as Timothy picked up a disposable plate with a slice of cake and held it out to her.

She immediately shook her head.

She didn't want any more.

She was full.

turn to

an eyebrow, his gaze lingering on

heart hammered in

years of marriage, aside from their time in bed, they'd never shared such intimacy during

That sort

that maybe they

always stayed in

felt awkward and shy,

her hand

over.

and under her knees, then effortlessly lifted her

idea what she

over to the

cake from her

down and rest for a bit. I'm going to take a

away, he reached out and ruffled her

was a tenderness in that simple gesture that made Jessica's

drifted from

as she clenched her

happening

She was dazed, scattered.

get a

could she let

and

she needed