Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Chapter 259

She shrieked and collapsed to the floor.

But as she fell, she made sure to hold the pearl necklace in the hand that would hit the ground first.

The pearls scraped against the floor. The string snapped. Pearls scattered everywhere, rolling across the tiles.

Timothy's hand, which had been holding a paper bag of breakfast, suddenly went slack. The bag tumbled from his fingers, spilling food onto the ground.

Jessica frowned, barely pausing, and made to walk away.

Sheila, still on her knees, grabbed desperately at Jessica's pant leg. Her voice trembled. "I'm apologizing to you so sincerely-can't you just accept it?"

Timothy stared in shock at the pearls strewn across the floor. For a long moment, he couldn't move. Then he forced himself forward.

His lips pressed into a thin, bloodless line. He radiated a cold, cutting rage.

He reached Sheila in two quick strides, yanked her up, and pulled her into his arms. His eyes, sharp as glass, fixed on Jessica with unyielding fury.

He raised his hand, aiming a slap at Jessica's face.

Sheila, terrified, buried her face in Timothy's chest, unable to watch.

Timothy's palm stopped just short of Jessica's cheek, the air from his swing whispering across her skin.

bring himself

after she'd slapped him before. Not even now, after she'd ruined his mother's most

from her face, close enough that she could feel the cold draft brush her

Her husband.

she had once loved

hit her, for the sake of the

on her cheek-but it landed squarely

his words low and

turned

after this, Timothy would finally

her, she could just make Sheila's voice.

fault. I was

apologize "

think she can accept

Jessica was his wife.

his aunt. Jessica's

the right to accept

into the elevator. The doors slid

go of Sheila and slowly knelt

box under the chair. I opened it and saw it was your mother's necklace. I ran out to give it back to you, but then I

my fault.

was low and heavy. "It's not your fault.