Goodbye, Mr. Regret

The rich aroma of red wine lingered on her lips, heady and intoxicating.

Jessica had barely registered what was happening before she tried to push Timothy away, only for him to let go of her first.

He could sense he was losing his grip on her, that coaxing her back was slipping further out of reach.

If he pushed any harder, he knew he'd only drive her farther away, maybe ruin whatever was left between them. All he wanted was to bring his wife home, to live like a normal couple again—he never wanted things to end in utter ruin.

Swallowing his pride in front of his own wife didn't feel shameful to him.

Right now, his desire was almost overwhelming—so close to breaking through— but somehow, he managed to rein it in. His voice was rough, trembling just a little as he murmured, "Jessy, it's been so long since we've been together. Don't you miss it—not even a little?"

His lips nearly grazed her earlobe, his hot breath trailing slowly over her skin. He was trying to tempt her, to draw her in with every ounce of charm he had.

His deep, seductive whisper might have worked once, but Jessica was stone-cold sober now. All she felt was disgust. How could he say something so shameless and not even flinch?

Pinned by his weight, Jessica couldn't move. She furrowed her delicate brows, lifted her hand, and pushed back. "No, not at all. I never want to have anything to do with you again, Timothy. Please, just let me go."

Timothy reached out, gently tilting her chin with his thumb and forefinger, his voice husky. "Seven years, Jessy. How can you be so heartless—just walking away from your husband and your son?"

Heartless? Who was really the heartless one here?

to turn things around never failed

then so

locked onto hers, unblinking, searching. He didn't know it yet, but

years before he truly understood what heartless

won't let you walk away from this family,

a helpless laugh. The one doing

stern brow

don't even know why we're in this

plea, his admission of defeat, made Jessica's eyes sting

Too late.

was already hardened, immune to

her lips with a fleeting

felt as if something inside him-something he thought he'd lost-returned the

playing the role of

again and again, always in different

still remembered those lessons, every one of them. There

on the top of her head, nuzzling her soft, fragrant hair-the scent he'd

gentle, melodious voice trembled as it drifted down to her. "Jessy, it's been too long. I can't take it anymore. Please just