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.

pressed his hand to her

up and rushed toward

voice. "Dad, Miss Sheila heard the housekeeper say you brought Mom back and rushed downstairs to apologize. She slipped and

closed, her clothes drenched, hands dirty. He started to say something out of concern for his mom, but then remembered how embarrassed he'd been

so sad today, so hurt. Sheila had been the one to

Mom... Mom hadn't paid him any attention for so

more he thought about it, the more his heart ached with resentment over her

creased. "Is it

was so much blood. Her forehead was

the car, then hurried into the

several housekeepers were clustered around Sheila, feigning concern. Timothy came over and saw that Sheila's forehead was bleeding again, and she was

all idiots? Why didn't

thought since you were home, it'd be faster if

her to

up and carried her to a second car,

them, squeezing into the car with