Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Chapter 9

Timothy was a man at the very top of the pyramid-every aspect of his life, from what he wore to what he ate, reflected his impeccable taste.

Determined to be the perfect wife for him, Jessica tried to master everything.

When their son Henry was born, she wanted even more to be someone who could care for him in every possible way.

Throughout her pregnancy, Jessica honed her culinary skills and poured her sense of style into decorating their home. She transformed their house into a cozy, elegant haven-every room spotless, every surface gleaming.

Yet, even with all her efforts, Timothy rarely wanted to come home.

It was Henry, instead, who adored her cooking. He was always praising her meals, insisting nothing he ate elsewhere ever compared.

Jessica used to think Henry couldn't even eat without her. But when she stopped making his breakfast and lunch for two days straight, he didn't even call.

It dawned on her that she'd overestimated her place in Henry's heart.

Just then, her phone buzzed with a video call. Carlisle's name flashed on the

screen.

A sudden thought struck her: it had been nearly six months since Carlisle last asked her for money.

Carlisle couldn't speak, but he had formed a team of animation enthusiasts, all of whom were mute, and they worked together on animated films.

dried up and the team was on the verge of falling apart, Jessica came through

hadn't managed to fulfill her own dreams,

the call and signed, asking

back, "No, no, we have enough. I just heard from a friend that you went to the hospital the other day. Are you alright? We

ago she'd gone to pick up

finishing up post-production on their film and didn't want them to worry. Smiling, she signed, "I'm

a little

put her phone away, Jessica thought of

poured herself into her family, never

Timothy without a wedding, without a ring, without even

or on trips, she was expected to stay

he was, she always greeted him with

other women's names across sheets of paper, she pretended

him, she thought—just for a moment that he'd recognized her for who

after the wedding that

was his wife. She convinced herself that

But...

her eyes, her lips curling into a bitter,

It didn't matter anymore.

now on, she could live