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

Salome went through with

gone looking for

even confronted Timothy, teasing him that she liked him

a childhood game-he never took it

life had turned out

childhood fantasies.

up marrying

memories now brought a strange feeling to his

then, there was no talk of love

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

navigate the tangled web

they supposed to face this? How were they supposed

head spun with

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

to make sure dinner would be ready when

meal

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

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

to calm

too.

them in disbelief and turned around from

the intimidating

herself! I've never seen future in-laws this

that deserved the word "speechless," this was

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

you'd

chimed in,

a stern

were practically pinning

on him.

his throat

order you to

and win

classic line from a

God, I

like he was going

He got out, opened

and helped his

of the car. "It's just dinner,

If you want

first, go home,

dream all you

me? Are you making fun of us?"

look as she stepped

raised an eyebrow. "Not

nearly reached for his

walked into

Vince had arrived ahead of them and

door. He knocked

"Jessy."

twenty years, she had lived as Jessica

all tied to