Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Yates spoke with an easy, indifferent air. "Figure out who you're looking for before

you accuse me of stealing your woman."

Vince couldn't help but silently give Yates a nod of approval.

It was the kind of question Timothy simply couldn't answer.

He could only try to find his wife, Jessica.

But when he arrived at the Zimmerman house, there was no one named Jessica.

He asked for Salome, but Salome had nothing to do with him.

Timothy's expression darkened. "So you're against me too?"

"No," Yates replied calmly, "I'm just trying to protect my fiancée. Timothy, if you

can't answer that question, you should go. Your wife isn't here. The only people in

this house are Vince's sister, Mrs. Zimmerman's daughter, and my fiancée."

Inside the house, Jessica and Mrs. Zimmerman emerged from the study. Zachary

set a steaming dish on the dining table and called out, "Salome, your brother and

Yates are outside. Go call them in for dinner."

"Okay."

Jessica opened the front door, surprised to see snow quietly falling outside.

Wonder lit up her delicate features.

She tilted her head back, gazing up at the sky.

She hadn't even looked toward the front gate yet.

But before she could, a familiar figure unexpected and unguarded-caught

Timothy's eye.

Only then did he realize just how much he'd missed her.

"Jessy!"

Her name, spoken in that familiar yet foreign voice, cut through the biting wind

and found Jessica's ears. She turned toward the gate.

There was Timothy, kneeling just outside the iron fence, his dark hair dusted with

snow, as if it had turned white overnight.

Jessica's eyes froze for a moment, her heart pausing before settling back to its

steady beat.

She stepped to the doorway, calling out to Vince and Yates, "Dinner's ready-Dad

asked me to come get you."

"Let's go," Vince said, wrapping an arm protectively around Jessica's shoulders as

the two siblings turned to head back inside.

Timothy scrambled to his feet, gripping the wrought-iron gate with both hands.

"Jessy, wait-please! I need to talk to you."

Jessica stopped, turning back.

Vince let go, quickly shrugging off his coat and draping it over Jessica's

shoulders, worried she might get chilled outside.

"If you have something to say, say it. Everyone's waiting for us to eat," Jessica

said, her eyes as soft and as cold-as the falling snow.

Her voice was gentle, almost melodic, but every word landed on Timothy's heartnoveldrama

like a stone.

Once upon a time, she had waited for him at home every night.

He had wasted so many nights and days they could have spent together. And

now, even seeing her face felt like an impossible climb.

"I'm sorry."

"Alright, message received. Anything else? Dinner's getting cold," Jessica replied,

her tone as detached as if she were speaking to a stranger.

"That day at the courthouse-you

promised me you'd stay home for

this month of reflection. The month

isn't up yet. I've come to take you

home."

At this, Vince bristled. "Timothy-"

"Let me handle it, Vince," Jessica

said softly, shaking her head. She

looked at Timothy, her lips curving in

a cool, distant smile. "There is no

home for us anymore. It's over

Timothy. Where do you plan to take

me? Lawson Mansion? Or The

Gilded Whisper Estates?"

Timothy's mouth opened, but no answer came.

Jessica went on, "Don't forget, we

had a deal. You were supposed to

bring Vince's sister home, and I

would stay at The Gilded Whisper

Estates for a month. But you broke

your promise, so I'm not obliged to

keep mine. So, go. On the day we

finalize the papers, I'll see you at the

registry office."