Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Sandra quickly jumped to her feet, grabbing Abell's arm with excitement. "This must be it—they're really here! Sallie, Sheila, come with me to greet them."

This called for a bit of ceremony.

Normally, based on her usual attitude, Sallie wouldn't bother welcoming Jessica at all. But today, she was determined to go-if only to make sure Sheila understood that Timothy was a married man, and that she'd better give up any hope she was harboring.

The gates to the estate swung open.

Vince appeared, carrying a beautifully framed picture, with Jessica standing quietly at his side.

Timothy lingered at the back of the group, watching Jessica from a distance.

There was a gentle serenity about her, a quiet grace that seemed to soften the very air around her.

The moment Sandra and Abell laid eyes on Jessica, they were more than pleased.

So what if she didn't speak? She was beautiful, gentle, and composed-just the kind of woman who suited Timothy. Someone too loud or high-spirited would have felt out of place beside him.

Sandra stepped forward with a broad, welcoming smile. "Vince, this must be Jessy, isn't it?"

Vince nodded.

Sandra took Jessica's hand warmly. "I'm Timothy's grandmother. Come on in, dear, let's not stand out here."

Sandra's obvious delight made Sheila bristle with discomfort. It felt as though something that should have been hers was being taken away, and she could do nothing about it.

Inside the house, Jessica barely spared Timothy a glance. She had only just taken her seat when Sandra produced a pearl bracelet from a velvet box. "Jessy, here's a little something to welcome you. Let me help you put it on."

Jessica and Timothy were about to get divorced, she hadn't wanted to accept Sandra's gift. But she had just arrived-if she brought it

now, the evening would end in net

awkwardness. The two elders seemed genuinely happy and treated her with warmth, maybe the seven years of silence hadn't really been their fault.

They were getting on in years, and it was their first time meeting her. Jessica wasn't the type to embarrass her elders or reject their kindness outright.

There's a saying: you don't strike a smiling face. Over the years, Jessica had met all kinds of people. Compared to most, Sandra and Abell were exceptionally gracious and dignified.

Sandra fastened the pearl bracelet around Jessica's wrist, beaming. "It looks beautiful on you, Jessy."

Vince quickly stepped forward with the framed picture. "Abell, Sandra, this is a gift from Jessica."

He pulled off the protective cloth, revealing a delicate and striking piece of calligraphy.

For a moment, Timothy's eyes brightened with a rare glimmer.

He recognized the intricate paper-cutting technique-Jessica had the skill to do it entirely by hand. And the calligraphy itself: such crisp, elegant lines would be impossible without real mastery.

Abell, an amateur calligrapher himself, was immediately drawn in.

"Handmade?" he asked-knowing Jessica couldn't answer, he turned to Vince.

"Yes," Vince replied. "It's all hand-cut. Hard to believe, isn't it? Your granddaughter-in-law has mastered a nearly lost art. My grandfather has always admired her work."

Abell nodded in satisfaction. Back in his youth, paper-cutting was everywhere; he could tell Jessica's work was truly expert, and her calligraphy was impressive as well.

What a remarkable young woman-definitely a good match for Timothy.

"I never would have guessed you're skilled in both paper-cutting and calligraphy," Abell said warmly. “You really are quite something."noveldrama

Sandra agreed, "You and Timothy are a perfect pair-he's always had a talent for calligraphy, too."