Goodbye, Mr. Regret novel Chapter 71

The old longing—to dine at The Silverthread Eatery with the man she loved, watching the fireworks hand in hand—had faded into nothing. Now, to Jessica, The Silverthread Eatery was just another upscale restaurant, nothing more.

She would face reality head-on and erase Timothy from her life completely.

She went straight from the train station to The Silverthread Eatery. As she reached the entrance, her phone buzzed with a message from Herbert.

*Little Mute, I'm waiting for you on the rooftop.*

Jessica took the elevator upstairs. As soon as she stepped into the lounge, she spotted Herbert waving her over.

She crossed the room and slid into the seat across from him.

"Little Mute, what do you feel like eating? I have no idea if your tastes have changed since we were kids. Why don't you order?"

Herbert handed her the menu.

Jessica pushed it back to him, gracefully signing, *I'm treating you tonight. Order whatever you like.*

Herbert smiled, nudging the menu back, "Does it really matter who orders? You know I'll eat anything."

But Herbert wasn't the same boy he used to be—no longer the scrappy kid with a questionable father and a reputation for getting into fights. Maybe the rough edges from his past still lingered, but he'd grown into a refined gentleman, carrying himself with a quiet confidence and poise.

Jessica, never fond of drawn-out back-and-forths, especially given her limitations with speech, finally relented and placed their order. Seven years married to Timothy had taught her all the etiquette expected of a society wife—how to order at places like this, how to carry herself with grace. Not that it ever mattered; Timothy never once took her to an event that called for such skills.

He drew a shaky breath, forcing his emotions back down. When he spoke again, his tone was softer. "Take it as an apology for all the times I picked on you when we were kids."

All these years, he'd thrown himself into medical research, chasing a cure for aphasia. The necklace was meant to help her bridge the silence just a little longer. The truth was, he was close—so close—to finding a solution, but he wouldn't breathe a word until he was certain it would work. He couldn't bear to give her hope, only to have it snatched away.

Jessica pressed her lips together, still searching for the right response.

Suddenly, the booming crack of fireworks cut through the air—one after another, echoing off the rooftop. Bursts of color exploded in the night sky: gold, violet, emerald, and dazzling ribbons of light. For a few seconds, it was as if a waterfall of color swept down from the heavens, transforming the city into a dreamscape.

Jessica barely had time to take it all in before, out of nowhere, someone splashed a glassful of wine across her face.