Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Her darling son was now siding with outsiders to deceive her...

And yet, just a sliver of kindness from Timothy was enough to make her doubt everything she'd believed.

She even caught herself hoping to hear his explanation, longing for him to make it all clear.

But what kind of explanation did she expect, really? He'd taken Sheila on a business trip and they were staying together. What was there left to explain?

She felt utterly useless.

A single gentle word from Timothy, and she crumbled.

If Timothy truly cared about her, why had it taken him seven years to remember her birthday?

Love really was a master illusionist, blinding people to the truth.

Jessica picked up her phone, left the bedroom, and handed it back to Mabel.

Mabel noticed how pale Jessica looked. She wanted to ask if there had been a fight with Mr. Smith, but didn't dare press further. Ever since Sheila had appeared in their lives, the whole house felt tense and on edge.

Jessica typed a message on her phone.

"Mabel, I'm craving those crystal dumplings from Velvet Fork. I'm heading out for a bit."

"Please be safe, ma'am."

wedding ring and set it gently on

her except her

the curb, she waited for

a familiar car pulled up beside her. The window rolled down halfway and Herbert

Mute, where you

signed, "Why are you

through. Hop in-wherever you're going,

passenger door. Jessica hesitated, then

car pulled away, Herbert glanced over. "So, Little Mute, you still haven't told me where you

breakfast so she could rush back to the hospital

so angry she'd almost passed out, and then everything at home had

felt as if all her energy had been

weakly as she

He didn't

anyway. Let

three

"What, don't trust my

"It's not that. I

urgent I need to do. Last time I visited home, I hardly had time to

nodded silently,