Goodbye, Mr. Regret

The weather had turned crisp after the harvest moon, a lingering chill in the air.

The water was colder than in summertime-a fine, relentless spray that left Jessica shivering in the tub, goosebumps rising on her skin. She couldn't stop trembling, no matter how hard she tried.

Timothy held her firmly in the bath. Jessica struggled, but he was unmoved, his eyes alight with an angry fire, as if determined to scrub her clean of something he couldn't bear.

Her whole body shook from the cold, damp strands of hair clinging to her forehead and tangling in her lashes.

At last, the water warmed, and Jessica's shivering eased a little, the heat seeping into her limbs. But nothing could reach her heart; it remained frozen.

Noticing her resistance had faded, Timothy seized her wrist, squeezing tight. He pumped liquid soap into his palm and began to scrub her hand, rough and unyielding.

His lips, usually soft and inviting, were pressed into a hard, thin line.

He scrubbed until the back of her hand burned, then grabbed the showerhead and rinsed away the suds.

Suddenly, the bruised, purplish marks around her wrist came into view, glaring against her pale skin. Even the back of her hand was flushed raw.

Timothy's movements stilled.

realize how rough

tub, expression blank, her beautiful eyes

hand, clattering against the porcelain. He

"I'm sorry... I”

He'd never laid a hand on a woman before. There had been times when Jessica's words pushed him to the edge, when he'd nearly slapped her, but he always

now, he'd hurt

He'd left marks.

her necklace

she fumbled to unfasten the chain at her throat. As she cupped the

away.

been racked with

taken it to be repaired, and now,

softened Timothy's temper vanished

it, choosing instead the necklace Herbert gave her. He hadn't

with a cold, iron grip, his voice low and dangerous. "Is his gift