Goodbye, Mr. Regret

As soon as the elevator doors slid open, they came face-to-face with the entire Lawson family.

The Lawsons stared, wide-eyed, at the scene before them-Herbert was carrying Jessica on his back.

Phelps blurted out, voice sharp with accusation, “Jessy, I know you're divorcing Timothy, but you're still married for another week. How could you be clinging to another man like this?"

"Exactly! That sort of behavior just isn't right," Naylor chimed in stiffly.

Herbert's temper snapped. "Will you get out of the elevator already? We need to get upstairs! Timothy's gone ahead for emergency treatment, and Jessy almost passed out from the sight of his injury-I'm just helping her. You all know exactly what kind of person she is; she's been part of your family for seven years. What are you even accusing her of?"

Phelps and Naylor immediately faltered, their indignation turning to panic.

"Timothy's hurt? What happened to Timothy?"

"Come on, get inside!" Phelps grabbed Herbert and pulled him into the elevator.

The surgery wing was on the third floor. When the doors opened again, Herbert hurried down the hall with Jessica still on his back.

The Lawsons rushed after them in a panic.

They'd barely arrived at the surgical ward when the doors to the operating room swung open.

Timothy's family here?" a

here!" Phelps and Naylor surged forward, Nola Lawson close behind, anxiety written all

family-here today

took one look at the words and immediately fainted dead away. Herbert had just set Jessica down, but she nearly collapsed to the floor herself. Nola was terrified. Both

The hospital staff rushed in

turned to Nola. "What's your relation to

"I'm his sister."

you need to

shaking her head. "No, I can't sign that—I'm not brave enough, that's

members are unconscious. Only you can sign. Please, quickly, don't delay the

at Jessica. "Let her

matter what, Nola refused to take responsibility. She was terrified anything happened while her father and grandfather were unconscious or if her older sister returned, she'd be the one they blamed. She couldn't bear the weight of that

thrust the clipboard in front of Jessica. "Since you're the patient's wife,

words "Emergency Consent" in bold print. Her vision blurred; her legs nearly

that serious? Is there any

honestly don't

ret

treated right now Every