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

he and Salome went through with the ceremony,

gone looking for

Timothy, teasing him that she liked

childhood game-he never took it

out so much more dramatic than any

childhood fantasies.

ended up marrying

memories now brought a strange

was no talk of love

were all grown up. Now they understood what love was, what

tangled web of relationships and

supposed to face this? How were they supposed to solve

spun

at Zimmerman Manor. On the way, Larkin had called

make sure dinner would

meal was

the car, Mrs. Bryant clung

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

something to

too. My heart's

at them in disbelief and turned

supposed to be the intimidating ones? You two

than the bride herself! I've never

moment that deserved the word "speechless," this was

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

So you'd better step

Middleton chimed

stern look. The

were practically pinning

hopes on

his throat and

father, I order you

and

classic line from

I

felt like he

He got out,

door, and

of the car. "It's just

If you

first, go

can dream

to be clever with me? Are you

as

"Not bad, you

for his ear, but

into

Vince had arrived ahead of

He

"Jessy."

twenty years, she had lived as Jessica every official

tied