Goodbye, Mr. Regret

"Jessy, listen to me, will you? I really think he's a good guy-rich, handsome. Why on earth would you want to divorce him? Wouldn't marrying him be a good thing?"

"If he's so great, why don't you marry him yourself?"

"I wish I could! But I'm a man, and not exactly young anymore. For you, as a young woman, marrying well could change your whole life. Be sensible, stop talking about divorce, alright?"

Of course, he was here to cozy up to her father. Absolutely shameless.

"If you still want to call me your daughter, you'd better not accept anything from him. Not so much as a cup of coffee."

"Jessy, listen to your old man-"

"Enough." Jessica Greene cut him off, her voice cool and sharp. "You really think he's being sincere? Can't you see the kind of man he is? If you get involved with him, he could sell you out and you wouldn't even know it until it was over."

"But I've already promised him."

"I'll take care of it. You just stay put and keep your nose clean-don't get into any more trouble and risk a longer sentence."

"Alright."

Hollis could only nod, resigned.

Jessica was right. Timothy Lawson looked every bit the calculating type.

If he really did end up getting chopped into pieces, it wouldn't be worth it. He was finally about to get out of prison-he wanted to live a few more years in peace.

After sorting things out with Hollis, Jessica left the visitation room.

Vince Zimmerman was waiting for her in the hallway.

"Vince, I need your help with something else."

Jessica explained Timothy's reasons for approaching her father and asked Vince to intervene and help handle the situation.

"Jessy, it's nothing. I'll take care of it."

"Let me know if you need any money. I can't let you pay for my father's mess."

"Alright, I'll let you know once things are sorted out."

Jessica needed to get back to The Gilded Whisper Estates. Vince drove her home and left soon after.

When she walked into the house, Timothy was already there, clearly waiting for her.

Jessica walked straight over to him, her elegant face unreadable. "Timothy, stop wasting your time with these pointless games."

Her voice was low and melodic, even when she was angry and calling his name. It was the kind of voice that lingered in your memory.

Timothy wondered, if one day she called him "darling" in that same tone, would it sound even sweeter?

Back when they were

together-really together-she never made a sound. The way she would tremble, the tears at the corners of her eyes, it always drove him wild. If she ever did make a sound, he imagined it would be soft, broken sobs, pleading for him to slow down.

Just thinking about it left him hot and restless; he loosened his tie without even realizing it.

All three legs were braced, though sadly, one was injured.

"Timothy, I'm talking to you. Did you even hear me?"

Snapped out of his thoughts, Timothy looked at her. The icy indifference on her innocent face only made her more striking.

"I heard you," he replied flatly, as if it meant nothing.

"Stay out of my father's business."

"We're not even divorced yet. He's my father-in-law-I can't just let him rot in there. Whether you ask Vince to help or I do, what's the difference? Why draw these lines?"

"At a time like this, you still want to put on a show? Don't you think that's a little pathetic?"

Timothy actually found it amusing.

She used to never say a word. Now, at least, she was talking-it made her seem more alive.

"Jessy," he said, his voice soft and gentle, "there's only a little over twenty days left. Can't we just get through them quietly, like before?"

Jessica pressed her lips together, about to retort, but Timothy cut her off. "Please, I'm asking you. Just get through these next twenty days with me. After that, I won't make things difficult for you anymore."

"And how much is your word worth?"

"Have you ever kept a promise?"

"How can you say things like that with a straight face?"

Whenever there was a parent-child event, if he wanted her there, she had to

show up. If he didn't, all it took was one text telling her not to come.

Dinner at The Silverthread Eatery-he'd invite her, then cancel with less than two hours' notice.

When they signed the marriage

license, they stood in front of thenoveldrama

flag and recited their

vows-promising, with all due ceremony, to love and honor each other for life, to remain faithful through good times and bad, wealth and poverty, sickness and health, until death parted them.

Had he ever truly honored that?

Timothy looked guilty. "I admit, I've neglected you. This is my first marriage my first time being a

husband I made mistakes. Andmet

about Sheila Howard, I know I Rever really explained. There's nothing between us. Back then, I only

wanted to marry her because-"

"Daddy!"

Henry Lawson burst through the door, back from school, and cut Timothy off before he could finish.

Jessica turned away, heading for her room. She had no energy to face Henry just

now.

Henry came in holding Sheila's hand, face lit up with a bright smile. But as soon

as he saw Jessica, the grin vanished. He even stepped in front of Sheila protectively, though he still couldn't bring himself to let go of her hand.

He lifted his little face and said, "Mom, what are you doing here? Um, I was the

one who invited Miss Sheila over, so you can't make her leave."