Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Or maybe, after all these years of living as a wealthy socialite, she'd simply grown too used to a life of comfort and privilege too unwilling to go back to working

hard.

That had to be it.

All that talk about divorce, about being able to support herself, about making delicate paper cuttings and drinking cheap bottled water-it was all just a show for his benefit, a ploy to get his attention.

No wonder, this time, she'd left Henry sick at home, and came alone to Capital City without asking his permission.

That comic-style painting of *The Grand Canal, Venice*-she'd seen it in their house before. She must have kept quiet about it, saving it for this very moment.

If Ines was her mentor, how could Jessica not be following Ines's recent exhibitions?

He realized, with a jolt, that he'd never truly understood his silent little wife.

So calculating. So composed.

For seven years, everything between them had been quiet and uneventful. He'd thought she was content being his dutiful, behind-the-scenes wife.

All because he hadn't taken her to that school event for parents and children.

That's when it started.

it hadn't

it was clear-she was no longer satisfied with being

actions, every last one, were meant

closing the

presence chilled the air, as if a thin frost had suddenly

demanded, voice cold. "Do you really not want to work?" "No. No. No!"

against the cold,

follow my lead. And while you're at it, tell

felt her heart

her to go

man have to be, to say

signed furiously at him. "I'll do it. But you have to promise

the edge still in his

was his wife; if she had a reasonable request, he wasn't above granting it. He'd

gifts, status. She hadn't even lifted a finger, and just by catching his eye, she'd become Mrs. Lawson, the most distinguished woman in Riverside City-a leap in status most people would never achieve, no

"Divorce."

with the same

turning away. He pressed his

he spun back