Goodbye, Mr. Regret

He couldn't afford to back himself into a corner.

So he stepped aside and let her pass.

Jessica swept into the room, her heels clicking against the hardwood. With a sharp bang, she slammed the door shut behind her.

A wave of helplessness washed over Timothy.

He remembered how easily she'd agreed to marry him all those years ago. Back then, winning her hand had been effortless. She'd always been so quiet, so undemanding-until she lost her temper. When she did, coaxing her back was nearly impossible.

Ever since she started this latest argument, he hadn't managed to comfort her, not even once.

The only time she'd softened was on her birthday, and even then, it lasted just a couple of days before she stormed out again.

Frustrated and restless, Timothy left The Gilded Whisper Estates and got into his car. He pulled out his phone and called Yates Bryant.

"Want to get a drink?" Yates chuckled. "Are you out of your mind? It's not dinner, it's not even evening-it's the middle of the afternoon. Shouldn't we be having tea, not whiskey?"

"I need a drink," Timothy replied.

"Well, I don't," Yates said flatly. "Not in the mood."

"I'm in a lousy mood. Can't you keep me company, just this once?"

Something in Timothy's voice made it clear he was at a low point.

Yates sighed. "Fine, fine. Since you're about to get dumped, I'll do you a favor and join you."

"Anywhere you want. My treat.”

"How about The Velvet Ivy? I'm nearby."

Timothy instructed his driver to head to The Velvet Ivy. The place was across town, so it took nearly half an hour to get there. As they neared the entrance, Timothy sent Yates a quick text.

Yates replied that he was already waiting in a private lounge.

pulled up outside The Velvet Ivy, Timothy stepped out-and immediately spotted the Bentley Jessica had been chasing earlier

owner

out his phone and called his assistant,

to check a license plate for me," Timothy said, rattling

same time, Jessica was messaging Vince, asking him to look into the

car.

the Bentley once more, Timothy ended the call and

he entered the private suite. Yates glanced up

twenty days since the surgery.

Four to eight weeks on crutches, the doctor said, but he could hardly wait to walk on

each a drink. "So, what's got

with a wry smile. "She's

honestly, I can't win

actually had

a second-she can talk? She's not actually

trauma when she was a kid. Caused her to

a doctor who could help her?" Yates

Timothy's face clouded. "No."

on her

"Yeah," Timothy said quietly.

yet. Are you sure you should be drinking? Maybe we should just have a smoke

have a little.

Yates shook his head. "You're something else, you know that? She lost her voice for years, married you for seven, and you never once took her to see a doctor. That's cold,

me forget my troubles. Why

one likes hearing it. We've known each other forever, I'm not here to

his glass against Timothy's

after a moment. "You've got perspective. Tell me, what can I do

him up and down. "You want the truth or the kind

"Of course I want the

in her shoes. If you were her, would

someone mistook her for Henry's mother, and she