Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Jessica's beautiful eyes brimmed with despair.

She signed with aching hands, "I can do papercutting, and I can also—"

"That's enough."

Timothy cut her off mid-sentence. "Those little patterns you taught Henry to make -how much do you think they're worth? Could you even buy a bottle of water with that?"

Jessica's lips curled into a bitter smile.

For most people, a bottle of water costs just a dollar or two.

But Timothy was different. The water his family drank came from Hawaii-deep ocean water, drawn from a thousand meters below the Pacific, concentrated, then diluted a hundredfold for drinking. It contained dozens of trace minerals, the magnesium content was off the charts compared to regular water, and a 500ml bottle cost over five hundred dollars.

One could only imagine how extravagant the rest of their life was.

Jessica signed again, fingers dancing, "You were born into privilege. You don't know what struggle means. Most people in this world drink water that costs a dollar a bottle-why shouldn't I?"

The thought of Jessica drinking cheap water made Timothy's heart twist painfully. She was his wife! She didn't need to live like ordinary people.

He could provide her with water that cost five hundred, even five thousand dollars a bottle if she wanted it.

Timothy's dark eyes grew stormy. "You really want to make things hard for yourself?"

Jessica gave him a faint smile, her hands moving with quiet grace. "I don't see it as hardship. Everyone has their own idea of happiness and suffering. Being forbidden to divorce you—that's what's hard for me."

Timothy's patience was worn thin.

He leaned in, bracing himself on the sofa with his knees, pressing Jessica back until she was flush against the cushions, his striking features just inches from hers.

His presence was overwhelming, his eyes smoldering with a fire that flickered in the depths.

"Seven years of marriage-have I ever mistreated you? Have you truly suffered?" He let out a cold laugh. "You think you know what hardship is out there? You can't speak, you'd never land a respectable job. Even if you did find work, all you'd get is ridicule and those looks people give you when they don't understand."

He was so close now, there wasn't even room for her to sign.

Not being able to speak-there were so many things it made difficult.

She couldn't express herself quickly. And when she went out, yes, people would mock her, or stare at her like she was something strange. So what?

Hadn't she, as Mrs. Lawson, already faced plenty of that? Maybe even more than she would outside.

When she didn't answer, Timothy slid down beside her, sitting so close their shoulders touched.

He rested his chin on her shoulder, his voice low and tired. "I'm exhausted these days. Can you stop pushing for once? Let me rest a bit. Tonight I'll take you to meet someone."

Jessica raised her hands to sign, turning to look at him—but his eyes were already closed.

She let her hands fall, helpless.

That was the problem with not being able to speak; if someone wasn't watching, it didn't matter how clear her signing was no one would ever know what she wanted to say.

Jessica tried to slip away.

But as soon as she shifted, Timothy's long arm slid behind her neck, holding her close, giving her no chance to move.noveldrama

A moment later, she heard the steady rhythm of his breathing by her ear.

He'd fallen asleep.

So quickly.

Once, seeing him this tired would've made her heart ache, thinking he was worn out from work.

But lately, she hadn't seen him working at all-he'd been running nonstop, doing everything he could to help Sheila become a mentor's student.

All his exhaustion was for Sheila.

Why should she be his pillow?

She needed to leave.

As she sat up, Timothy murmured, "Don't move."

She wasn't going to listen this time.

She tried again.

Only then did Timothy open his eyes, frowning slightly. "Didn't you hear me? I said don't move."