Goodbye, Mr. Regret

To him, she was always optional—there if he felt like it, invisible when he didn't.

On a whim, he might indulge her with a few sweet words. Most of the time, though, she was left to the sidelines, quietly waiting for attention that would never

come.

He would run himself ragged for Sheila's career, tirelessly working to open doors for her, while Jessica, as his wife, was expected to tag along-her presence merely another brick in the road to Sheila's success.

But Jessica was done being blind to reality. She was finished with this marriage. It had to end.

He would probably never understand that her heart was made of flesh and blood too, that even she could hurt.

"Timothy, is this really fair?" Ines' voice broke the tense silence. "I actually think she has a point. Jessica, more than anyone, needs the chance to prove herself. If she succeeds, her inability to speak fluently will become an advantage, a testament to how much harder she's had to work. Are you sure you won't let her pursue her own career?"

"It's not that I won't let her," Timothy replied, his voice deep and maddeningly smooth. "Jessica doesn't want to work, and honestly, she doesn't need to. Being Mrs. Lawson isn't enough of a crown already?"

His words, beautiful as they sounded, cut like glass. Jessica wondered if this was what it meant to be killed with kindness-Timothy was a master at it.

in, her tone carrying a hint of bitterness. "You're right, Timothy. Marrying you was

a moment, his voice softened. "Don't overthink it," he murmured. "Get some rest. We'll head

suitcase and

she left, Timothy returned to the bedroom. Jessica was curled up on the couch, arms wrapped around her knees, the corners of her eyes still

over and crouched in front of her, his voice low and rough with fatigue. "I've asked my assistant to book a flight for tonight. Henry's been

response, he scooped her up and laid her gently on the

jacket and suit with careful, practiced movements,

up, retreating to the far corner of

his lips pressed into a thin line. In the next second, he reached

commanded, his tone

He was exhausted.

He hadn't slept well in days, and he just wanted her beside him for a while before their flight to

want to look so small and defeated in front of him—but at least, this time, he didn't try anything. He just held

his breathing slowed and evened out. He was