Goodbye, Mr. Regret

When Timothy saw Vince calling again, his eyes darkened; he tossed his phone aside in annoyance.

After a while, he reached for the phone and finally answered.

"Timothy, I got in touch with Jessica," Vince began.

Timothy's voice was cold and low. "Is she going to the party?"

"She refused."

"So you want me to help convince her?"

"No, no, it's not that," Vince hastily clarified. "She texted me, said you two are getting divorced."

Timothy's knuckles whitened as he gripped the phone tighter.

"She's that close to you?" he asked.

We only met once," Vince replied,

enough to spill news about their divorce. Clearly,

said, his voice steady but icy, "why are

But she said since you two are getting divorced, she doesn't want to show up at the party with you. So... how about you just don't come the day after tomorrow? Pretend I never invited you, act like you never heard about Grandpa's birthday. That way, I can try to talk

did his best to sound diplomatic, even a little apologetic. After all,

"Vince,

to find an artist who does the kind of paper cutting he loves. I'm just

call me in whenever you want, and toss me aside just as easily. And you want me to be okay with

talk

Vince get away with whatever he pleased.

solutions," Vince pressed on. "She's your wife, not someone else's. A real man knows how to be patient and considerate. That's how you

he

trying to piss me off. Is it because I didn't snap at you two years ago?

How about this —after the party, I'll tell her you made such a big sacrifice by not coming. Maybe