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?"

forward, Nola Lawson close

three were Timothy's immediate family-here today

and Naylor took one look at the words and immediately fainted dead away. Herbert had just set Jessica down,

for help, frantic. The hospital staff rushed in

nurse turned to Nola. "What's your relation to

"I'm his sister."

you need to

"No, I can't sign that—I'm not brave

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

Jessica. "Let her sign-she's his

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

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

"Emergency Consent" in bold

serious? Is there

don't know," the

ret

"He's being treated right now Every