Goodbye, Mr. Regret

He'd always thought she looked delicate, but deep down, she was tough and relentlessly optimistic.

He never imagined she could fall apart like this-crying, helpless, her strength stripped away.

A memory flashed through his mind: a tear-stained little face.

"Timothy, you promised me back when Yates and I were playing house that you'd come and steal me away to be your bride. Why did you lie to me? Sob... Now Yates and I have had our pretend wedding, and I'm his wife. What am I supposed to do? I like you more, Timothy..."

Timothy frowned, closed his eyes, and only after a moment did he open them again.

This was only the second time he'd ever seen a girl break down and sob in front of him.

How did he comfort that little Zimmerman girl back then?

He told her he'd go with her to break off her "marriage" to Yates.

But there was no way he could use the same trick with Jessica. Promise her a divorce? That was impossible.

When Jessica looked up again, her tears were gone. Determined, she signed her words to him, her expression unwavering. "Timothy, no matter what you do, you can't stop me from divorcing you. Don't think freezing my accounts will make me back down. For seven years, I never once told you 'no,' but I have the right to now."

She finished speaking, turned, and reached for the door handle.

Timothy stepped forward and pressed his

I'll make it public that you're Mrs. Lawson. As for the divorce, let's put that aside for now. I know

when

were different

herself to hold on for another six months, she knew she'd end up walking

married him at twenty, and the seven best years of her life

only had six months

to think time could warm Timothy's heart, that if their marriage slowly improved, she'd have time to work on her animation, to make her

weekend class, teaching kids how to make paper crafts-carry

never imagined life would suddenly run

That

even have enough

still, Timothy wouldn't give her freedom,

could she possibly expect from a man like

hard, but Timothy

with no way out, she rose up on her toes and bit down, hard, on his

couldn't push him away; she

she poured all her frustration and regret into