Goodbye, Mr. Regret

"You shouldn't be worrying about whether I'll agree or not. Even if I say yes,

it's pointless if Salome refuses. She just found her way back to her family, and

everyone in the Zimmerman family will put her wishes first. There's no way they'd

force her into anything."

"That's true." Mrs. Bryant muttered, patting Middleton's arm. "Salome hasn't spent

any time with Yates all these years. What if she says no?"

"Then Yates will just have to win her over. When we see her in a bit, let's feel

things out before bringing up anything official. If she's against it, the Zimmermans

will call off the engagement, and that's that."

"My dear, you always know what to do. That's exactly how we'll handle it." Mrs.

Bryant beamed and looked up front, calling out to Yates, "You know, you're just as

good-looking as Timothy, and you're just as successful, if not more. You need to

show off that charm of yours and sweep Salome off her feet. Tonight, let's not

mention the marriage at all. If we push too hard, you might not get another chance

to turn things around."

Yates couldn't help but laugh. Of course, with Salome back, this was always going

to be the outcome.

His parents were determined to see him pursue Salome, no matter what.

But as their voices faded, Yates's mind drifted, and an image of Jessica flashed

before his eyes.

What a twist of fate.

"Who would have thought Jessica was Salome all along?

People truly are strange creatures.

"When they were little, everything was so simple. They'd watch those dramatic

scenes on TV, then play make-believe at home.

Back then, the plan was for Timothy to come and "steal the bride" during their

pretend wedding.

never

and Salome went through with the

looking

even confronted Timothy, teasing him that she liked

all just a childhood

turned out so much more dramatic than

childhood fantasies.

ended up

now brought a strange feeling

was no talk of love just friendship and

up. Now they understood

the tangled web of

to face this? How were they supposed to solve

spun

at Zimmerman Manor. On the way, Larkin had

dinner would be ready

the meal was nearly

car, Mrs.

about to meet my future daughter-in-law.

to calm

nervous too. My heart's

and turned around

to be the intimidating

I've never seen future in-laws this

that deserved the word "speechless," this was

glare. "Excited or not, if you do your part, both

So you'd better step

chimed in,

with a stern

practically pinning

hopes on him.

his throat

father, I order

stops and win

reminded of a classic line from a TV

God, I curse

felt like he was going to

He got out, opened

and

of the car. "It's

begun. If you want

first, go home,

can dream

to be clever with me? Are you making fun of us?" Mrs. Bryant shot

as she stepped

"Not bad,

for his ear, but Yates

walked into

ahead of

He knocked

"Jessy."

years, she had lived

tied