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?

things around never failed

then so be

searching. He didn't know it yet, but

he truly understood

away from this family,

The one doing all the pushing

brow

still don't even know why we're in this cold war. Whatever the reason, fine-I give

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

Too late.

already hardened, immune

corner of her lips with a fleeting kiss,

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

again, playing the role of the devoted

for it before, again and again, always in

those lessons, every one of them. There was no way she'd be

head, nuzzling her soft, fragrant hair-the scent he'd grown so used to, the one

"Jessy, it's been too