Goodbye, Mr. Regret

She agreed.

"When should we meet?"

"No time like the present. How about tonight?"

Timothy was eager to see her, too.

If she couldn't always keep her emotions in check, maybe it would actually force them to communicate more.

Resolving things peacefully was always better than dragging each other to court, fighting all over again.

"I understand. I'll bring her over before dinner. By the way-did you know her loss of speech was acquired?"

Timothy's lips pressed into a thin line as he read the message. He'd only found out not long ago.

"Yes."

"Did you ever take her to see a doctor? Do you know what caused it?”

Vince's reply came quickly.

Timothy's expression darkened. He didn't know. He'd never taken her to a doctor.

He remembered the day in the café, when he first realized she had aphasia. He'd even asked her why she never told him. But then, life had gotten messy, one thing after another, and the subject slipped his mind.

Vince waited for a reply, but none came. He didn't need one. Clearly, Timothy had never bothered to take Jessica to a doctor.

How could anyone be so careless? Seven years of marriage-what kind of husband had he been?

Vince pocketed his phone and turned to Jessica.

"I've arranged it with Timothy. We're having dinner with the Howards tonight."

Jessica couldn't hide her confusion.

She and Timothy had been married for seven years and had a son. Even if Timothy had never introduced her to Sandra and Abell, surely they knew where he lived. A wedding was too big a thing for even Timothy to keep from his grandparents. And yet, in all these years, not once had Sandra or Abell shown up?

She remembered only once, when Sheila returned to Aetherion and brought gifts from Sandra and Abell. Timothy had accepted them on her behalf but never gave them to her. She still had no idea what the gifts

were. noveldrama

If it had been the old her, she probably would have prepared a gift for Sandra and Abell before meeting them.

But now, with her marriage to Timothy at its end and their divorce hearing looming, she felt conflicted. Gift or no gift, she simply didn't know what to do.

She shared her doubts with Vince.

"Jess, you should still bring a gift. Abell and Sandra are wonderful people..."

Vince paused, brow furrowed, leaving the rest unsaid. He worried the truth might hurt Jessica. In the early days, it was Timothy who kept everything hidden. None of it was the grandparents' fault.

Changing the subject, Vince said,

"You're so talented with your papercutting. Why not give them papercut piece? The Howards are famous for their love of

vermet

literature-true old-world charm. Even after moving here, their house is decorated in a classic style. Your artwork would look perfect in their home."

Jessica checked the time and quickly wrote a response:

"I can finish the papercut in time, but if it needs framing, I'm not sure I can find a shop on such short notice."

"Don't worry about that—I know a place. I'll make an appointment right away. Once you're finished, we'll get it framed on our way. It won't take long-I've had things framed there before."

Luckily, Jessica had been here a few days already. Over the years, papercutting had become second nature to her, so when she went out shopping, she'd picked up a toolbox, some paper, and fabric.

Judging by their age, Sandra and Abell were probably about the same as Larkin, and with their background in the arts...

One afternoon wasn't much time. She couldn't make anything too elaborate.

It had to be simple, yet meaningful.

She thought for a moment, and the image for the papercut began to take shape in her mind.