Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Chapter 2

"Henry's parents are such a perfect pair."

"No kidding-handsome dad, gorgeous mom. No wonder Henry's such a cute kid himself."

"Honestly, that family of three is enough to make anyone jealous."

Scrolling through those comments, Jessica felt nothing anymore. The emotions that once would have stung her heart had faded into numbness. What lingered was only a dull ache for the woman she used to be a woman who gave everything without reservation. Her eyes stung, tears pricking at the corners, threatening to spill over.

A sharp pain twisted in her abdomen, and cold sweat beaded on her forehead.

Mabel, the housekeeper, noticed something was wrong and hurried over. "Ma'am, are you feeling alright? Should I take you to the hospital?"

Jessica shook her head and quickly typed a message on her phone: "I'm fine. I just need to rest for a bit."

"Are you sure?"

Jessica nodded and tried to give a reassuring smile.

She got up, poured herself a glass of water, and slipped into the bedroom. From her bag, she took out the medication the doctor had prescribed for conservative treatment and swallowed a few pills as instructed.

on the wall —a blown-up image from their marriage registration. She had wanted to take proper wedding portraits for their new home, but Timothy had refused, claiming he disliked having his picture taken. If she really wanted a wedding photo, he'd said, she could just enlarge the registration photo. So, after seven years of marriage, that single, formal snapshot was the only photo

taken dozens of pictures

the camera, Jessica realized. He just didn't want photos with her. For seven years,

would tear away this paper-thin

sound of a car

few minutes later, Mabel called out, "Ma'am, sir

herself for the conversation ahead. As for her diagnosis, she had no intention of telling Timothy about the cancer. Even if she did, he probably wouldn't care and she had no desire

first, rolling two suitcases behind him, his steps measured and graceful. His tailored suit hugged his slender frame, the silvery fabric catching the light with a cold sheen. He lifted his chin slightly, his deep-set eyes scanning the room until they

skin, and he realized

His voice was calm, almost gentle. "We have a

him, Sheila stepped quietly into

slept soundly, his small face

Sheila home.

stood frozen in place. Mabel, sensing the tension, didn't

tugging Timothy's sleeve. "Timothy, you're married. Your wife is here. It wouldn't be right for me to stay. I was just dropping Henry off I have a room at the

furrowed. The way Sheila spoke-as if she'd

her arms and turned to Jessica. "Jessica, come