Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Vince hauled Timothy to his feet and, furious, landed a punch squarely on his jaw. The veins on Vince's forehead bulged with anger.

Yates was right.

As long as Jessica stayed single, Timothy would never let her go.

The Zimmermans could forget about having peace.

Jessica lay motionless, refusing to give Timothy any reaction at all.

"Outside. Now." Vince's voice was low and icy, every word edged with warning.

Timothy glanced back at Jessica, but she kept her eyes closed, shutting him out completely. She didn't want to think about him anymore. Her heart wasn't just cold -it felt frozen.

Outside, dawn was just beginning to pale the sky.

Vince and Timothy stood facing each other in the early morning light.

"Are you planning to make my family's life hell forever?" Vince demanded.

"There's been a misunderstanding between me and Jessica," Timothy argued, desperate. "Things aren't what you think."

He was still trying, still clinging to the hope that he could save their marriage.

"No matter what misunderstandings there are, they don't erase what you've done! Why can't you just let her go? All this hounding-don't you realize how pathetic you look?"

expression tightened. "It's not easy to build a family. We've had so many misunderstandings, and letting them ruin everything isn't right. I know how

want to fix things? People can't just keep waiting for you to get your act together.

flared. "Leave. I don't want to see

the type to scream or make scenes; it was Timothy's relentless

didn't argue anymore. He stepped past Vince and walked

held a place for him. Sooner or later, the truth would come

still

ached

still cared about Timothy. If she didn't, she wouldn't have run from their

people only leave when the pain becomes

He gently felt her forehead-her fever

towel. ecool

always seemed to run fevers at night,

to disturb anyone further.

Instead, he drove to The

the ballroom at

wedding. Everything was ready, decorated

every detail

it was

the month-Jessica would never show up