Goodbye, Mr. Regret

So Jessica wouldn't have a chance to press further, he continued, "Around two or three in the morning, the hospital called me. They said you'd made it through surgery and needed someone to look after you. They tried your husband's number but "

Herbert stopped short, the rest of his sentence hanging in the air.

Timothy's phone hadn't connected, and since Jessica had Herbert's number in her contacts, the hospital called him instead.

Jessica lowered her gaze, her long lashes casting delicate shadows on her cheeks.

"Jess," Herbert began, wanting to ask if things were falling apart in her marriage, but he hesitated and changed course. "Try not to overthink it. Maybe he was just busy at work and missed the call. Anyway... I'll go buy you some breakfast. Anything you want?"

Jessica looked up and signed to him that she wasn't hungry-he didn't need to fuss over her, and he should just go back to the hotel to rest.

"You're still recovering. You can't just skip food. If I didn't know what you were going through, that'd be one thing, but now that I do, I can't just leave you like this," Herbert said, his voice tinged with frustration.

Jessica didn't want him to worry any more, so she stopped trying to refuse and agreed to let him bring breakfast.

Once Herbert had gone, Jessica pressed the call button for the nurse. When the doctor arrived, she asked about her condition.

The doctor explained she'd suffered shock from severe emotional stress, but fortunately, they'd gotten her to the hospital in time. With some rest, she'd be able to go home soon.

typed out another question on her phone: Who brought

was the police," the doctor replied. "There was a thunderstorm last night— power outages everywhere, roads flooded. Most of the city's officers were out

Jessica thanked the doctor.

she'd forgotten to call the police herself. Instead, she'd sent a distress message

breakfast. Jessica ate a little, just enough to reassure him, and started getting

worried, Herbert double-checked with the hospital before

and when he returned, Jessica already

to the

Jessica nodded.

said, and he'd already arranged for a

sat in the front seat, scrolling idly through

our stores had a limited edition brooch for every region, and a handsome, wealthy gentleman just bought all twenty-three of them! I wonder which lucky lady is getting this gift.

included a photo: a heart-shaped brooch set with diamonds, two swans entwined, their red beaks holding a teardrop-shaped pearl. It

to the second picture,

just the back of a