Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Timothy's eyes were glued to the screen, unmoving.

Even as the credits rolled and disappeared, Jessica's name lingered before his mind's eye, floating there as if the darkness itself couldn't swallow it.

She'd married him just a few months after graduating college.

He'd never shortchanged her when it came to money, not once.

Still, she lived frugally, turning the Gilded Whisper Estates into a well-ordered, peaceful home. The household account always matched her meticulous budget down to the last cent.

He'd only discovered her ledgers by accident one day. He told her there was no need to keep such detailed records-it was all just for the house, after all.

She insisted, saying that even if money came easily to him, it shouldn't be wasted. Luck, she said, was fragile and easily squandered-the hardest thing in the world to regain.

Timothy never understood her thinking.

And he never wanted to argue about it.

So he let it go.

A few days ago, he'd opened the safe.

Everything was still there. Not a single thing missing.

So where had she gotten the money to invest in this film?

Timothy couldn't figure it out, no matter how many times he turned it over in his head.

And this animated film-he wasn't an expert, but even he could see it had all the makings of a hit.

Unlike the usual movies set in either contemporary or historical times, this one unfolded in the future—a unique blend of science fiction and tradition, with a style all its own.noveldrama

He'd never known his wife had this kind of talent-not just animating, but writing scripts too.

Even he, a man not prone to sentimental displays, had immediately thought of his own mother. There were several scenes that stung his eyes, made him blink back a sudden rush of tears.

Her stories of family, of love-they hit home, sharp and true.

The film's production was first-rate, too.

Soon, the theater seats around him emptied.

Only Timothy remained, still sitting alone.

He didn't move until the next group came in for the following show.

He missed her.

He missed her so much it felt like his heart might split open.

Truth was, he'd been missing her for a long time.

Ever since he'd come back from that business trip to attend Henry's father-son event, they hadn't really spent much time together. In a blink, more than three months had slipped by.

Even the simple wish to hold her felt like a luxury now.

Back at Gilded Whisper Estates, Timothy made his way to the basement storage

room, searching for their marriage registration photo.

He dug it out of a box.

In the frame, both of them wore crisp white shirts, the background a bright, cheerful red.

She'd always known how to savor life.

On the day they got their marriage certificate, she'd brought along a simple white veil, asking him to help pin it in her hair with a clip. Her long black hair was braided and draped over her left shoulder.

Her smile in that photo was the same as the one he'd seen in Vince's social media posts a smile that lit up her whole face.

Timothy felt the corners of his mouth lift.

She'd smiled at him like that, once-eyes soft, happiness shining through every gentle line.

Carrying the frame upstairs, Timothy went to the master bedroom, sat down, and took out a pack of wipes. He cleaned the glass until it gleamed, then hung the photo back in its place on the wall.

He stood before it, surveying the room.

With the photo back up, the bedroom looked just as it always had.

And yet, something was still missing.

He paced a slow circle around the master suite, searching for what it was.

Finally, he sank onto the couch, exhausted.

He knew what was missing.

Love.

Jessica's love.

Without her, this wasn't home anymore.

It wasn't warm. It wasn't peaceful. It wasn't the haven he could retreat to at the end of a long day.

He'd lost his wife.

He pulled out his phone, his fingers flying over the screen as he drafted a tweet.

Meanwhile, the credits had finished

rolling on Jessica's end as well. Vince had taken her to watch Carliste and the others' promotional livestream. The siblings laughed and chatted, both of them in high spirits.

Yates had spent most of the movie on his phone, jotting down notes. He still wasn't satisfied with what he'd written.

When the livestream ended, Vince called him to leave. Yates put away his phone and followed him out of the theater.

As before, Vince took the wheel.

This time, Yates didn't head to the passenger seat but slid into the back instead.

"Come sit up front and keep me company," Vince called out.

"I need to write a review," Yates replied, settling in, "and there are a few things I want to ask Jessy."

At that, Vince fell silent.

Jessy's film was important, and Yates always managed to push his luck with her.

Jessica had no idea about these little games between the two men.

She'd already told her mother and brother about the childhood engagement. They would handle the annulment.

Besides, Yates and Vince got along

well, and there was no need to

explain things to Timothy's side. She'd been married to Timothy, the Bryant family was

respectable—there was no way they'd get involved in this mess.

No need.

"Jessy, how did you come up with the idea for this movie?" Yates asked.

Talking about her work always brought Jessica joy.

"I wanted to do something different with the theme," she said, her eyes lighting up. "So I set the story years into the future, with a touch of science fiction. The Fetal Ferryman, the Fetal Sea-those concepts blend in a bit of my own background. As for the emotions, well, the bond between a mother and her child is the greatest in the world. It's just like..."

A sharp ache pricked Jessica's heart, but then she smiled again. "Just like my

mother loves me."

Her love for her son was every bit as strong as her mother's love for her.

Even when she was trapped, even after Henry broke her heart, she hadn't said a

word against Timothy.

What she cared about was Henry's future.

He'd let her down, but she would never let him down.

Because she was a mother.

No mother ever wants to hurt her child.

And if there are any who do, they are the rarest exceptions in the world.