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.

here?" a nurse called

Lawson

were Timothy's immediate family-here today

said, holding out a clipboard. Phelps and Naylor took one look at the words and immediately fainted dead away.

for help, frantic. The hospital staff rushed

turned to Nola. "What's

"I'm his sister."

you need to

can't sign that—I'm not brave enough, that's

Only you can

Jessica. "Let

She was terrified anything happened while her father and grandfather were unconscious or if her older sister returned, she'd be the one

Jessica. "Since you're

stared at the words "Emergency Consent" in bold print. Her vision blurred; her legs nearly gave

that serious? Is there any hope?"

don't know,"

ret

right now Every