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

with the ceremony, just the two

gone looking for Timothy

Timothy, teasing him that

just a childhood game-he never took

turned out so

childhood fantasies.

ended up

brought a

was no talk

they were all grown up. Now they understood what

to navigate the tangled web of relationships and

supposed to face this? How were they

head spun with

pulled up at Zimmerman Manor. On

would

now, the meal was

getting out of the car, Mrs. Bryant clung

future daughter-in-law. I'm so nervous, my heart's

to calm me

nervous too. My

in disbelief and turned around

to be the intimidating ones? You

the bride herself! I've never

that deserved

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

you'd

Middleton chimed

stern look. The two

practically pinning

on

throat and declared

order you

and win

line from a

God, I

like he

mind. He got out, opened

and helped

car.

barely begun. If you

let's eat first, go home,

can dream all you

Are you making fun

as she

eyebrow. "Not bad, you caught on

Bryant nearly reached for his ear,

walked into Zimmerman

of them and

He knocked

"Jessy."

lived as Jessica

tied to that