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.

Timothy never showed

and Salome went through with the ceremony,

they'd gone looking

teasing him

a childhood game-he never took

now, as adults, life had turned out so

childhood fantasies.

up marrying

brought

no talk of love

they were all grown up. Now they understood what

to navigate the tangled

face this? How were they supposed to solve

spun with

soon pulled up at Zimmerman Manor.

make sure dinner would be ready when

now, the meal was nearly

out of the car, Mrs. Bryant clung tightly to Middleton's arm.

meet my future daughter-in-law. I'm so

something to

nervous too. My

at them in disbelief and turned

be the intimidating ones?

than the bride herself! I've never seen future

was a moment that deserved the word

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

you'd

Middleton chimed in,

stern

practically

on

his throat

father, I order you

and win

classic line

God, I curse

like he was going

mind. He got

and helped

the car. "It's

barely begun. If you want

first, go home,

can dream all you

Are you making fun of

as she stepped

eyebrow. "Not bad, you caught

Bryant nearly reached for his ear, but

into

arrived ahead of

He

"Jessy."

had lived

all tied