Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Jessica's eyes flashed with defiance as she jabbed her finger in the air, her voice firm and angry. "If you won't help me, then I'll fight her for every role she auditions for. Whatever character she wants, I'll go after the same one. Timothy, let me tell you, I've seen Sheila's work. The only reason I haven't been acting these past years is because I chose not to. If I step back into the game, ten Sheilas couldn't outshine me."

Timothy scoffed, shaking his head. "That's some ego you've got. I don't like women who talk big, so don't let me hear that kind of nonsense again. Stop this tantrum-go take a shower."

Just then, Timothy's phone started ringing.

He reached for it and saw Sheila's name on the screen. He answered.

"Timothy, my ankle's swollen pretty badly. I don't know if it's more than just a twist, and I can't walk at all. It hurts so much. Can you come take me to the hospital?”

The night was quiet, and Sheila's voice carried clearly through the phone.

Jessica heard every word.

Timothy lifted his gaze, lips pressed tight, and glanced at Jessica. Then, lowering his voice, he said, "If I come over, it might take a while. Do you think you can hold out?"

"Are you busy? If you are, I'll call Kane."

in Jessica's hometown picking her up. You know you can't count on Kane.

soured with jealousy. Still, she said, "It's fine.

tone hummed through

couldn't shake the worry. She lived alone in Moonstrand Villas; if anything happened,

pocketed his phone and walked over to Jessica, grabbing the pajamas she had draped over her arm and tossing them onto the bed. Then, taking her hand, he said, "We're leaving tonight. I'm not waiting until

her

to stay, but now, at the first sign of trouble with Sheila's ankle, he was desperate to leave-and dragging her along

be the one to drop everything and rush off in the middle of the night just to help

gesture: "Tomorrow I'm visiting

was the only reason she'd come back. For seven years, every Thanksgiving

what, she wasn't leaving

years, every Thanksgiving Day, Jessica had stayed at the Lawson estate and never once come home for her

didn't push her any

early and take care of it. I'll have Allen pick

turned