Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Jessica looked down at the ticket in her hand, her eyes glistening with tears.

Of course she wanted to go.

She had come all the way to the capital just to see her mentor. But she didn't dare approach openly-she'd resorted to disguises, hoping not to be recognized.

She'd been about to buy a ticket herself when Herbert handed her one, already purchased.

Since he'd gone to the trouble, she accepted it, curling her thumb in a small, grateful gesture.

Seeing her take the ticket, Herbert finally let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.

Jessica wasn't the impulsive type. If she'd decided to get a divorce, then she must have given it serious thought.

For a woman, divorce was no small matter-it changed everything.noveldrama

If she could find the strength to move forward and start over, nothing would make him happier.

Soon, his new treatment plan would finish clinical trials. If it worked and helped her regain her voice, then even if she was alone, she could still have a good life.

Above all, he just ached for her-seven years of hardship he could only imagine. If only things had been different back then...

But regret wouldn't change the past.

Now that he'd found her again, he wasn't about to let her slip away from his life.

As for those seven years, he didn't need to ask. She wasn't fighting for custody of her son; from that alone, he could guess she hadn't been living well.

After dinner, Herbert drove Jessica back to her hotel.

"Do you want me to go with you tomorrow?" he offered.

Jessica quickly signed, "It's okay. I can go by myself."

She needed to blend in, to keep her visit discreet. If Herbert went with her, her mentor would almost certainly notice.

With only half a year left to live, Jessica could still make paper art, but the chances of her returning to animation were slim. If her mentor saw her now, she'd only be disappointed—and perhaps even worried about Jessica's health.

Jessica didn't want to burden her.

"All right," Herbert said. "Just be careful. When you see your mentor, talk to her, really make the most of this chance. You can do it!"

He tried to encourage her as much as possible.

"Thank you."

This time, Jessica used both hands, curling her thumbs to show her gratitude.

Herbert gave her a gentle smile. "No need to thank me. Go on, get some rest. Goodnight."

Jessica had barely closed the door to her room when her phone buzzed-a message from Timothy.

[Feeling any better?]

Sheila had hit her head badly; when Timothy arrived, she'd already lost consciousness.

The doctor said it was a concussion.

Sheila was still asleep, and he couldn't leave her side.

Jessica had been discharged, so he assumed she was fine, but he wanted to check on her anyway. Once Sheila woke up, he'd go see Jessica in person. Jessica stared at Timothy's message and considered blocking his number again. But on second thought, she let it be.

She still needed to coordinate with her lawyer about the divorce, and that meant talking to Timothy.

Blocking him would only complicate things.

She set her phone on the nightstand and headed for a shower.

Timothy, seeing no reply, wondered if she'd blocked him again. He tried calling- her phone rang, but she didn't pick up.

He figured she must have wanted his help, and now, not seeing him there, she was upset.

He stepped out of Sheila's hospital room and called the staff at the airport boutique.

"Hello, sir?"

"About the swan brooch I ordered-could you check with your Capital City branch

and see if it's been shipped?"

"Yes, sir. Please hold. I'll call you back after I confirm."

Timothy slipped his phone into his pocket and waited outside.

Five minutes later, the staff called back. The courier had just picked up the

package that evening. Since it had only just been collected, there was still time to change the delivery address.