Goodbye, Mr. Regret

A chill autumn wind swept over her, soaking her through and raising a shiver of goosebumps along her skin.

Timothy looked down, unclenching his fist.

The necklace was still there, pressed into his palm—he'd only pretended to throw it away.

Her...

Something inside him felt as if it were being torn loose, a sensation that unsettled him to the core. It was a kind of panic he'd never known before. Not even when facing projects worth billions had he ever felt this way. He strode quickly toward Jessica.

She was still crouched on the lawn, hunched over, searching through the damp grass. Her hands were wet and covered in tiny bits of grass.

Timothy grabbed her wrist and hauled her to her feet. The moment she stumbled into his arms, Jessica fainted.

"Jessica!"

His voice was urgent.

"Jessica? Jessy?"

He called her name again, lightly patting her cheek, but she didn't stir.

his hand to her forehead-she was burning

her up and rushed

housekeeper say you brought Mom back and rushed downstairs to

clothes drenched, hands dirty. He started to say something out of concern for his mom, but then remembered how embarrassed he'd been at the paper-cutting contest earlier because of her. The words

the one to comfort him, staying by his side all morning and into

Mom hadn't paid him any attention for so

more his heart ached with

brow creased.

was so much blood. Her forehead was already injured and the

gently settled Jessica in the car, then hurried into the

came over and saw that Sheila's

all idiots? Why didn't anyone call

since you were

her to

second car, ordering the driver to take her straight to

them, squeezing into the