Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Jessica hesitated, unsure if she should hand her phone to Herbert.

But Herbert had already slipped it from her grasp.

He tapped away in the app store, quickly downloading a new app.

After a moment, he typed a line into the app: "Little Mute, how does this voice sound?"

A stranger's female voice came from somewhere nearby.

"Do you like it?"

He typed again, the same gentle voice repeating his words.

Jessica realized the sound was coming from the necklace.

Her eyes lit up with surprise. She had never seen a necklace like this-it was fascinating.

And the voice sounded eerily similar to her own, as if it carried echoes of her past.

Jessica hadn't been born mute.

Herbert handed her phone back to her.

"With this app, you just type what you want to say," he explained. "The software can mimic your tone, too. And the more you use it, the more natural it gets."

Jessica's heart skipped. The prospect was tempting.

Not everyone could read sign language. Herbert only knew it because, after they'd reconnected, he'd begged her to teach him, finding it amusing.

But with everyone else, she had to scribble notes or type messages on her phone and show people the screen.

If she had this necklace, she could just type, and it would speak for her-no more awkward moments or delays waiting for someone to read her words. It would save her time, make things easier.

Still, a diamond this size couldn't be cheap.

She typed into her phone: "It's too valuable. I can't accept it."

Amazingly, the necklace's voice matched not just her words, but her own cadence and inflection—exactly the way she imagined herself speaking.

Herbert pressed the necklace into her hand. "Silly, the diamond's just a replica. I was worried you'd be upset it wasn't real."

Relieved, Jessica typed, "How much was it? Let me pay you."

"We haven't seen each other in years, and you're quibbling over a little gift? Are you trying to make me mad?"

Jessica smiled, letting his kindness stand and typed two words: "Thank you."

"It's late, I should let you get some rest," Herbert said, gathering his things. "Just remember-don't get the necklace wet, and try to get some sleep. Don't forget our plans for tomorrow."

Jessica nodded, waving goodbye and watching as he left.

Once his car disappeared down the street, she turned and unlocked her door.

She had barely stepped inside when a warm, strong hand caught her wrist, pinning her against the wall.

Jessica looked up.

Her clear dark eyes met Timothy's, his gaze brooding and intense.

She tried to push him away, hand pressed against his solid chest, but he was unmovable—tall, powerful, impossible to budge.

Timothy bent down, sliding the box with the necklace from her hand.

She couldn't speak, and with one hand trapped, she couldn't even sign.

He flicked open the lid with his thumb, studying the necklace inside.

The design matched the ring he had once bought a matching set.

Jessica's brows knit with confusion.

She'd never told him she was from this town. He had never even asked.

How did he know her family lived here?

His low, steady voice broke through her thoughts, his words curling into her ear.

"Don't tell me after seven years as Mrs. Lawson, you still can't tell a real diamond from a fake?"

Jessica glanced at the necklace in the box. She hadn't even looked closely before -she'd been too distracted by the voice.

Suddenly, Timothy leaned in, his lips nearly brushing her ear.

"You like it, don't you?"

His voice was cool, magnetic, his breath hot against her skin.

A shiver ran through her.

She did like it.

For the first time in so long, something could make her life easier—a voice so much like her own.

But she couldn't answer him.noveldrama

Timothy finally released her wrist.

Jessica's eyes widened. She struggled free and reached desperately for the necklace.