Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Jessica couldn't help replaying what Sheila had said—could it really be true that she wasn't her parents' biological daughter?

But almost instantly, she shook off the thought. She'd asked the neighbors in her hometown, and everyone knew she was her grandmother's real granddaughter, her mother's own flesh and blood. The elderly neighbors had seen her grow up- there was no way they'd all be in on a lie. Maybe one person could fool her, but not an entire street of people.

Besides, her grandmother and mother had both passed away. If Jessica truly wasn't their biological child, what reason would anyone have to keep it a secret now? Was she just letting Sheila get into her head, making her spiral with pointless doubts?

“Some kids just don't look like their parents,” Jessica replied, trying to sound casual.

"Yeah, that's possible. I'll arrange for someone to look into things for you as soon as I can," Timothy said, seated in his wheelchair, listening carefully as Vince spoke on the phone nearby.

Jessica had gone back to her hometown, and now she wanted to find her father. This was getting harder and harder to prevent. Maybe it was almost time for the truth to come out, for these siblings to finally recognize each other.

But Timothy himself hadn't made any progress at all. He needed to keep blocking Jessica for as long as he could. After returning to his study, he messaged Secretary Allen, instructing him to track down Jessica's father as soon as possible.

He had to find the man first-otherwise, if Vince or Jessica got to Jessica's adoptive father, there was a real risk they'd let slip that Jessica wasn't the Greene family's biological daughter. If that happened, the secret would be out, and suspicions would arise.

After sending the message, Timothy looked down at the photo album in his lap and slowly opened it. Inside, most of the photos were of Salome Zimmerman as a little girl, her hair in pigtails, her big eyes sparkling with life, her smile dazzling and warm. She looked like a child raised in a world of love-a perfect, cherished daughter.

How could such a sweet girl have suffered so much? Timothy's heart clenched, hollow and aching, wishing he could make up all the love she'd missed over the past twenty years.

He couldn't believe he'd neglected her for seven years-if only he'd known sooner, if only he'd given her more warmth, maybe things wouldn't have come to this. If they divorced now, he might never have a chance to win her back. She was like a migratory bird, waiting for the right wind-when the opportunity came, she'd be gone in a heartbeat.

thoughts-his phone was buzzing. It was Yates Bryant

upcoming film? You're not still set on that

"No," Timothy replied flatly.

Timothy didn't want to meddle and risk angering him. He already

show instead. The producers are about to secure funding and are asking if we're

"Alright."

movie. He'd invest in the new project for Sheila to produce; whatever success she achieved would be up to her own

court

you used news about Salome to threaten

"Vince told you?"

Yates hesitated,

chance. If you

families-mine and yours. Theol.ne

Bryant and Lawson families coming down on you.

How

he'd just keep stonewalling. What could they actually do to him? Vince hadn't

to pressure me, let them. I said I'd tell her in a month, and that's final. Nothing will change

this—has she remarried? If she has, I can stop worrying about