Goodbye, Mr. Regret

"Why do you keep pressing about this?"

Vince's irritation was palpable. "Is it because you realize you couldn't keep it hidden and now you want to dig for answers? How do you even have the nerve?"

He still wasn't satisfied, and pressed on, "Did you really think you could keep this a secret? She knows what she looked like as a kid, doesn't she? Even if you manage to hide it for a while, she'll find out sooner or later. So tell me when did you find out?"

"You still haven't answered my question."

Timothy's expression remained unreadable, calm as ever.

"You're always like this. If I don't talk, you won't either, is that it?”

"That's right."

Vince was so angry it made his chest ache.

"Fine, I'll spell it out. It's just—she looks alike. There are plenty of shows about kids separated from their families, lost and found. Jessy does paper-cutting, my grandfather loves paper-cutting, and then she's taken Daisy as her goddaughter. She's got this strange connection to our family."

Timothy wasn't feeling well; his body was weak and his mind wasn't as sharp as usual.

A server brought over their coffees. Timothy took his cup and sipped.

Yates noticed a deep indentation on the first knuckle of Timothy's right index finger, a trace of blood seeping out.

Yates pressed his lips together. Just how tightly had Timothy been clenching his fist?

mouthfuls of coffee in

face of

all, Vince's social media was public. Sheila could see everything, and Yates had even commented on a few of

when you strung all three things together, something

only said Daisy reminded her of Jessica's

never have suspected anything.

were two key

for is

Jessy has a special

what planted the doubt in Vince's

Vince had asked Herbert whether Jessica was his biological daughter, confirmed the birthmark, and made a phone call. At that point, even without a paternity test,

was still lost in thought, Yates spoke up, "Vince, don't

go to the hospital and check on Timothy, they'd chatted a bit,

casual comments were exactly

you find out? Did you let Sheila in on it too, and just refuse to tell

at the hospital,

exchanged a few words, then Sheila had gone off to find her friends.

have something to take care of. I'm

still haven't told me when you found out. And when I went to Jessy's place to ask for her childhood photos, she said she

Vince's question

again. You told him exactly what you wanted to know, but he never gave

was just cutting him some slack because he's younger-I

were saying, I'd bet Sheila knew exactly what she was doing. She deliberately dropped hints for you that day-she's a lot more

then said, "Timothy rushed off-do you think he's going to look