Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Herbert gazed at Jessica, his expression uncertain. Was she only thanking him because she wanted to reconcile with Timothy?

"Jess, I'm not sure I understand what you mean. Can you explain it a little more?" he asked gently.

Jessica looked down, her voice soft but steady. "What I mean is, I'm about to divorce him. If I suddenly owed him my life, and something happened to him, I'd feel trapped by that debt. Now that he's safe, I can leave him with a clear conscience."

She patiently laid her feelings bare.

"So you're really set on divorcing him?" Herbert asked.

She nodded. "Yes, I've made up my mind. I don't want to waste another seven years, Herbert..."

This morning, he'd been busy saving Timothy. She hadn't even found a moment to talk to him properly.

She had given seven years of her life to Timothy. She knew too well what it meant to pin all your hopes on someone for that long.

Jessica had sacrificed seven years for Timothy. Herbert, too, had spent seven years—for her—trying to cure her muteness.

formed in Jessica's throat, and her nose turned pink. "You're such a fool. I never realized there could be someone in this world just as foolish as me. You know

up yourself... for someone

to be a police officer when you grew up. To fight for justice, protect your family, keep your

why did you give

are you so,

who've lived

gave it up. She stayed home, became his

his feelings hidden until after

just made up to get through the assignment..." Herbert

truth, he'd regret it for the rest

breath. "Because you wanted to speak, I became

dream changed. I wanted to be a doctor, because only by becoming one could I

tears slipped down,

bound to her by blood-who loved