Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Vince knew all too well-getting Timothy thrown in jail wouldn't be easy. Still, the evidence they had would be more than enough for a divorce.

Jessica agreed.

She couldn't speak; she'd been mute since birth. That made her a person with a disability, and when something like this happened, the social services took the matter seriously.

She'd made her wishes clear-she didn't want to blow things up into a public scandal. She just hoped the relevant authorities could help mediate the divorce quietly.

The women's advocacy group also filed an application on her behalf.

After the incident, Jessica hadn't changed her clothes or tried to clean herself up —she'd preserved all the evidence, knowing it would be needed.

She wanted out. The old evidence might have been twisted by Timothy's expensive lawyers, but after last night, even the best attorney in the city couldn't talk their way out of this.

Once everything was in motion, Vince drove Jessica to a hotel.

After settling her in, he went out and bought her several sets of clothes— everything from pajamas to comfortable daywear.

When he returned, Jessica was still in the shower.

Vince took a set of pajamas out of the bag. "Jessy, I'm leaving some clothes for you right outside the bathroom door, okay? You can grab them when you're done."

Jessica knocked the showerhead lightly against the wall, letting him know she'd heard.

where

was nearly noon. Given her state, he doubted she'd want to go out for a

a message popped up on his phone. It was

*Where are you?*

hardened.

was Timothy's friend. By all logic, he

he couldn't help

the other day

be that he actually... cared about her?

have a name

When Jessica talked about divorce,

And this time...

wanted to

didn't know what

her torn clothes, exposed skin, long legs-his only instinct was to protect her, to shield her. There was nothing else.

heard the bathroom door crack open-a soft

the shower, his thoughts didn't

her