Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Timothy scrolled through Twitter, reading the flood of comments people were posting.

This is completely off-base, he thought, frustration knotting in his chest.

If Jessica saw all this, she'd be furious.

He started typing up a tweet, preparing to set the record straight. He'd only gotten

a few words out when his phone buzzed in his hand.

Jessica was calling.

His heart thudded so hard it felt like it might leap right out of his chest.

He fumbled to answer.

"Mr. Lawson."

The formal edge in her voice caught him off-guard, lodging in his throat like a fishbone.

"I'm here," he replied, his voice tight.

Jessica sounded cold and annoyed. "Really working the publicity angle, aren't you? Don't you think it's pretty low, using even a disabled person to get attention?"

So she'd seen everything, just as he'd feared.

Timothy let out a shaky breath. "It's not what you think. I— I only found out today that you invested in the film. I tweeted about it after seeing the director's post this morning. I just wanted to help promote the movie."

"How very self-serving of you. Don't you think your explanations sound a little fake? Mr. Lawson, we're getting divorced. Why did you post our marriage certificate? Didn't you use to blame me for making our marriage public? You accused me of things I never did—and now you think it's fine to post my photo without asking? Did you ever get my permission?"

Her barrage left his mind blank, like someone had switched off the lights. Jessica waited for his answer.

The silence on the line stretched out; he could almost hear her breathing.

"I was wrong to blame you for posting the marriage certificate before. That weekend, when I called you back to the old house, I found out from Grandpa that he was the one who made it public. It had nothing to do with you. I'm sorry."

He remembered how he'd chased after her to apologize, but she wouldn't forgive him, no matter what he said.

Jessica's dry laugh drifted down the line. "After all this time, now you remember you misjudged me? Now you want to apologize? Your apologies are worthless, Mr. Lawson."

"Jessy, can we please not do this?" His heart could hardly take it.noveldrama

"Then can you delete your post?"

No way.

He couldn't do it.

He wanted the world to know she was his wife.

But before he could reply, Jessica's tone turned mocking. "See? You're always the one making demands,

of

are they?"

one's allowed to ask anything

Earlier, Yates had told him he was selfish, that he and Jessica saw the world differently.

Maybe that was why she was leaving him.

He needed to change.

"I'll delete it" His words came out

Bs but softened immediately. "t

Will you go a little easier on

I do?"

He missed the old her so much.

He hated this version, all thorns and walls, every word cutting him to the bone.

"Mr. Lawson, are you running a fever?"

"I'm not. I know exactly what I'm doing."

"If you're really that clear-headed, then delete your post. And don't bother promoting the movie-my

bles already got it all covered.

Don't overstep."

She hung up without waiting for a response.

Timothy stared at the unsent explanation he'd written on Twitter, then closed it. He

found yesterday's post and deleted it.

He took a screenshot of the deleted post and texted it to her.

[I deleted it.]

[Don't be mad. Getting mad at me is just punishing yourself for my mistakes. It's not worth it.]

[Jessy, you're amazing. The screenplay was incredible-I was really moved when

I read it. I'm proud to call you my wife.]

As he finished typing the last message, Timothy stared at the words, a little stunned by his own honesty.