Goodbye, Mr. Regret

"Mr. Lawson."

Timothy's voice was cool and detached. "Check the balance on the card I gave to my wife. How much is left?"

"One moment, sir."

A brief silence. Then Secretary Allen spoke up. "Twelve million."

Timothy's brow furrowed. Twelve million wasn't much by his standards. If Jessica wanted to return to a normal life, that sum would be more than enough for an ordinary person to live comfortably for the rest of her days.

But she was Timothy's woman. How could she settle for an ordinary life?

"Freeze the card."

His words were cold as ice.

Secretary Allen hesitated, caught off guard, but knew better than to ask questions. "Understood. I'll do it right away."

"And look into what happened at the Wheeler Group."

With that, Timothy ended the call.

He strode across the room to the balcony, his long legs carrying him to the glass doors. He lit a cigarette, exhaling slowly into the night.

Outside, darkness pressed in, thick as velvet.

This house, this life-so many years of stability, almost to the

up some waves in his otherwise placid existence? Jessica hadn't been feeling well that day. As soon as she returned to the hotel, she collapsed onto the

her eyes again, she was gasping awake from a

and back were

that fire, the one from seven

had been knotted with fear-afraid Timothy would be

now, she could still feel

calm down. Timothy's affairs, from

only to remember she hadn't brought any luggage with

to go out and buy

had no idea what exactly had happened with the Wheelers. Once she was sure Timothy wouldn't

simple outfits, then

card through the reader. Jessica entered her PIN

Transaction failed.

screen flashed:

seven years. She'd been using it these last

card isn't working. Do you have another

on her phone, asking

PIN once more. Still, the reader flashed the same message:

little smile

belonged to

it enough for a shopping spree. Not long after, he'd transferred another two hundred thousand, urging her

happy. She thought he was worried she'd be