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 showed

Salome went through with the ceremony, just the two of

looking for Timothy

even confronted Timothy, teasing him that she liked

just a childhood game-he never took

turned out so much more

childhood fantasies.

ended up

about those memories now brought a

no talk of love just

they were all grown up. Now they understood

navigate the tangled

this? How

head spun

car soon pulled up at Zimmerman Manor. On the way, Larkin had called

to make sure dinner would be

now, the meal was nearly

Mrs.

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

to

nervous too. My

and turned around from the front

be the intimidating ones?

I've never seen

that

him a glare. "Excited or not, if you do

you'd better step

chimed

a stern

were practically

on him.

throat and declared

I order you

and win Salome's

Suddenly reminded of a classic line from a TV

God, I

felt like he was going

mind. He got

and helped his

of the car. "It's just

barely begun. If you want

let's eat first,

can dream all you

me? Are you making fun of us?" Mrs. Bryant shot

as

eyebrow. "Not bad, you caught

nearly reached for his

walked into

of them and

He

"Jessy."

twenty years, she had lived as

all tied to that