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.

met once," Vince replied,

she felt comfortable enough to spill news about their divorce. Clearly, she wanted to make things awkward

his voice steady but

"My granddad really wants to meet her. 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

little apologetic. After all,

glacial. "Vince, you've got

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

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

would dare talk

get away with whatever he pleased.

special solutions," Vince pressed on. "She's your wife, not someone else's. A real man knows how to

felt like he could barely

just trying to piss me off. Is it because I didn't snap at you two years ago? You think I'm a pushover

only looking out for you. What, you want you and Jessica to show up, both scowling at each other across the table? How about this —after the party, I'll tell her you made such a big sacrifice