Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Jessica's beautiful eyes brimmed with despair.

She signed with aching hands, "I can do papercutting, and I can also—"

"That's enough."

Timothy cut her off mid-sentence. "Those little patterns you taught Henry to make -how much do you think they're worth? Could you even buy a bottle of water with that?"

Jessica's lips curled into a bitter smile.

For most people, a bottle of water costs just a dollar or two.

But Timothy was different. The water his family drank came from Hawaii-deep ocean water, drawn from a thousand meters below the Pacific, concentrated, then diluted a hundredfold for drinking. It contained dozens of trace minerals, the magnesium content was off the charts compared to regular water, and a 500ml bottle cost over five hundred dollars.

One could only imagine how extravagant the rest of their life was.

Jessica signed again, fingers dancing, "You were born into privilege. You don't know what struggle means. Most people in this world drink water that costs a dollar a bottle-why shouldn't I?"

The thought of Jessica drinking cheap water made Timothy's heart twist painfully. She was his wife! She didn't need to live like ordinary people.

He could provide her with water that cost five hundred, even five thousand dollars a bottle if she wanted it.

eyes grew stormy. "You really want to make

him a faint smile, her hands moving with quiet grace. "I don't see it as hardship. Everyone has their own

was

with his knees, pressing Jessica back until she was flush against the cushions, his striking features just inches from

overwhelming, his eyes smoldering with a fire that

hardship is out there? You can't speak, you'd never land a respectable job.

close now, there wasn't even room

were

she went out, yes, people would mock her, or stare

already faced plenty of that? Maybe even more than she would

Timothy slid down beside her, sitting so close

shoulder, his voice low and tired. "I'm exhausted these days. Can you

sign, turning to look at him—but his eyes were

her hands fall,

speak; if someone wasn't watching, it didn't matter how clear her signing was no one would ever know what she

to slip

arm slid behind her neck, holding her close, giving her