Goodbye, Mr. Regret

If it weren't for a situation like this, Jessica would never dream of troubling

anyone.

Both of them had always been there for her.

But now, she couldn't be sure if either of them was free-she couldn't risk letting Timothy carve his name into her skin.

She wouldn't allow it.

Not for anything.

Just to be safe, she texted them both.

[Gilded Whisper Estates. Help me!]

Timothy ended his call. Jessica stood, glaring at him, cold and unyielding.

He walked over, a frown pinched between his brows. "Didn't we agree on this? Are you backing out now?"

She had only come back to take her medication.

She had never agreed to let him mark her body with his name.

"If I say no, are you going to force me?"

Timothy couldn't help but remember-that other time, when he'd forced her, and how badly she'd gotten hurt.

The memory twisted something in him.

He realized that, even after all this time apart, he still hadn't done anything to win her back.

If anyone ever saw her birthmark, it would be truly over for them-there'd be no way back.

The thought of a future spiraling out of his control left him deeply unsettled. He just couldn't let go of his wife.

"Jessy, I don't want to force you. Please, just do what you promised me, okay?"

"But when have you ever kept a promise to me?" Her voice was raw, brittle with pain that cut deeper than bone.

All she wanted was a divorce, a way to set herself free.

But he kept pushing her toward a dead end.

"I'm sorry."

Sincerity filled his eyes.

at him and laughed a hollow, bitter

said he was sorry, and

had never

"I don't want this. We weren't always

to go back to how things

was obsessed

only cared about

out of sync; their minds would never meet. Maybe that

reason their marriage couldn't

Timothy didn't see

no

with grief-utter, hopeless

worth going back

Do either of you give

I met you. I'd walk away. Choosing you was the biggest mistake

darkened. "Stop.

want to

a plea. "Please, Jessy. Just listen, okay? Be good, like before. I promise I'll make you happy. Didn't

lifted

you out of your

simple marriage photo-and now

out of my mind. I'm sick-sick with

his arms,

her ear,

you want-love, companionship—I'll give it all

give you anything you ask

my own

embrace. Her voice was terrifyingly

realized how impossible it was to reach her. If she would just drop the divorce and stay-just like before-he'd give her the whole world, anything she

so simple,

The doorbell rang.

housekeeper, shrank back, hiding

know how to

was obvious Mr. Dawson wanted to save

Dawson and Mr. Dawson were a perfect match-they even had a son together. Now that Mr. Dawson wanted to change, maybe if Mrs. Dawson gave him a chance, the family

sŵnovel

been a

SWI