Goodbye, Mr. Regret

When she was little, she was already talented at drawing. In fact, his family still had a chibi-style portrait she'd sketched of him as a child.

"So, you're really not going to forgive Timothy this time?"

"If I forgave him, would I still deserve to call myself Jessy's brother? I know more about what happened between the two of them than you do."

If he hadn't gotten involved in Jessica and Timothy's divorce, he would never have learned just how much Jessica had suffered.

"Timothy really was out of line. Before, when we didn't know the truth, I could just about accept his silence. But after he found out and still kept quiet? That's inexcusable."

Vince took a few deep breaths, finally managing to calm himself.

"When Jessy was little, after her adoptive mother died, her grandmother raised her. Even when her grandmother left for work, Jessy managed to scrape by, learning a trade to support herself. She's had her share of hardship—especially after meeting Ines-but honestly, none of that compares to what she endured during her marriage to Timothy. From now on, I swear, our family will never let her be mistreated again. And about that childhood engagement-I'm giving you a heads-up now."

With Vince's words hanging in the air, Yates could sense what was coming: the engagement was about to be called off.

He'd once been the most eager to break off that engagement, yet now that it was actually happening, he found himself strangely unsettled.

"A heads-up about what?" he asked, feigning ignorance.

"I can tell your parents are still hoping she'll marry into the Zimmerman family, but she doesn't see it that way at all. I'm sure my parents will bring it up with you- and with your folks, too. If you get the chance, talk to them first. It'd be best if you told them you're against the marriage. That way, it'll be easier for us to end things gracefully. Can you do that?"

Yates exhaled a slow puff of smoke, the haze curling around him, making his expression unreadable.

After a long pause, he finally said, "She's suffered so much, and my parents adore her. Why not just leave things as they are? That way, she'd have two more people looking out for her. If she married me, it'd only make Timothy more miserable— which is exactly what he deserves."

"Don't be ridiculous," Vince said, exasperated. "After everything she's been through, if she ever marries again, I'll only support her choosing someone she truly loves."

to say she couldn't fall in love

When she was little, she always picked Timothy over you. You really think she'd suddenly change her mind now that

red. He kept saying it'd look bad for Jessy to marry me after divorcing Timothy, but honestly, that's just the Lawsons being uptight. No one in our family cares

never one for old-fashioned views. So what if she was divorced? Character

your lectures-how you can't trust someone who says one

another in private. With your worldview, I wouldn't feel comfortable letting

stubbed out

he's always treated her sincerely. Remember when Timothy tried to use the Wheeler Group to threaten Jessy?

the end, it's Jessy's choice.

lag. I'm heading over there to

"Mm."

Vince left, Yates

he

his phone

's number.

hospital bed. When he saw Yates's name on

he picked

"Timothy."

Yates's tone was serious.

"Do

about Salome now. How did you manage to make such

mess of things?”

silence on the other