Goodbye, Mr. Regret

"Could you explain the inspiration behind your papercutting design?"

The host couldn't understand sign language.

But Henry could.

Yet he kept silent. He didn't want to answer Jessica using sign language, not in front of everyone.

His nerves were stretched too thin-he was terrified someone would connect the dots between him and Jessica.

One of his classmates' mothers was here today. If she realized Jessica was actually his mom...

His problem was no longer that his mother couldn't speak, but that he'd been lying to everyone.

That's the trouble with lies: tell one, and you'll need a thousand more to keep it covered.

The host noticed Jessica using sign language and turned to Henry in surprise. "Henry, do you know Miss Jessica Greene? She's using sign language to ask you something—can you understand sign language? That's amazing! Would you mind translating what she just asked?"

The host held the microphone out to Henry, and the entire room waited for his

answer.

Henry was furious.

yet she'd still come as the head judge. As if that wasn't bad enough, now she was intentionally using sign language to speak

brazen it out. "I'm sorry, I don't understand what

host, clueless, withdrew the mic and turned to Jessica. "Miss Jessica Greene, could you please use your speech device to

but before he could make a move, Timothy was already on his feet. He strode over to Jessica, coldly glaring

voice low and commanding as he spoke into the microphone. "I can understand sign language. I'll translate for

herself wrapped in Timothy's arms, and for a moment, the room's atmosphere turned

Vince raised an eyebrow.

baffled by Timothy's

breaking

what his father was

forceful, echoed through

wants to know the inspiration behind your papercutting

lamb kneeling to

mother's love, how could he stand here and

when a child makes a mistake, you need

been nothing

standing there under the harsh lights and everyone's eyes, Henry