Goodbye, Mr. Regret

"Yes, it's over between us. Honestly, I wanted it to end six months ago—I just never imagined it would drag on this long."

Seven years of marriage had worn her love for him down to nothing.

She'd spent all those years waiting, never getting so much as a hint of affection in return.

At first, she'd told herself he was just reserved, that he struggled to show his feelings. She put up with everything: no wedding, no public acknowledgment, not even a simple word of reassurance.

But in the end, it wasn't that he was cold by nature he simply didn't love her.

His heart had always belonged to someone else.

He could fill notebook after notebook with Sheila's name, plan her wedding with painstaking care, and even handwrite every invitation for a celebration that would never be hers.

Even those invitations she'd found in the box-Timothy had addressed each one himself.

On them, there was a photo: Timothy and Sheila, cheek to cheek, dressed in their wedding best.

It was only then that she understood why he'd insisted on keeping their marriage a secret.

He'd never wanted a wedding with her; it was all for Sheila.

invitations, Jessica realized just how laughable her seven-year

what you've decided. It'll help me deal with

"When the month is up, I doubt he'll just sign the divorce papers like

he doesn't exist. Legally, you're still Salome, and he can't do anything about it if

in Jessica's chest eased a little. If she remained Salome, she could cut Timothy out of her life

grateful to have you,

tighter. "If I hadn't met you, I have no idea when—or

powerless. Orphaned, jobless, voiceless, and invisible-she

under the pressure,

contempt of

to lose

Vince said, his voice thick with guilt. "If I had, I would never have let your suffer like this. From now on, I'm here. No one-especially not him will hurt you again. You focus on your art. Leave

"Thank you, Vince."

gently smoothing her hair, then patted the back of her

is what

lives, Mom's spirits have soared. We're family,

Jessica. She couldn't keep