Goodbye, Mr. Regret

So Vince ended up accompanying Jessica to the hospital.

On the drive over, guilt gnawed at him.

He'd known exactly what Timothy was after from the start-anything to do with his kid sister always set him on edge. He also understood that, even if he hadn't reacted the way he did, Timothy would have just found some other way to get under his skin.

But what really infuriated him was that Timothy had the nerve to blackmail him by keeping secrets about his sister.

Tomorrow...

"Jessy, I'm sorry."

Jessica wanted to reply. She guessed Vince was apologizing for injuring Timothy, probably thinking it might prevent Timothy from appearing in court. But after her sudden attempt at speaking earlier, her throat still ached, and she didn't dare try a long sentence.

She needed to check with Dr. Herbert Wheeler about what she could say.

So, she motioned for Vince to pull over.

She typed a message on her phone and showed it to him: "Vince, don't blame yourself. You wouldn't have hit him for no reason. Did something happen?"

She added a brief note about her throat.

She explained that after she'd startled everyone by making a sound, Dr. Wheeler had told her about a colleague overseas who'd spent seven years researching aphasia, and that there was hope for a cure. She'd agreed to treatment and had recently undergone a minor surgery.

Vince had visited her at the hospital the day after she arrived abroad, right after her operation. Since there was no guarantee the treatment would work, she hadn't told anyone. Now, with her throat still sore and still in the early stages of rehab—practicing basic sounds, not full sentences—she needed Herbert's advice before speaking much.

Vince nodded. "Alright. For now, just rest your voice."

more remorseful, remembering the last incident at The Gilded Whisper Estates. He'd known Timothy was scheming to

the same trick again, using his sister

held

answer.

"It's nothing. Don't worry

on to

arrived, they found Secretary Allen at the front desk, paying bills and picking up

caught up to him. "How is

303, third floor," Secretary Allen replied. "You

was awake, his clothes streaked with blood. The doctor was

of relief when she realized he hadn't needed

finished up and spoke sternly to Timothy, "You're lucky the metal plate wasn't damaged, or we'd be looking at another operation. Are you trying to lose this leg? If you keep this

that, his injuries were all

was from a cut inside Timothy's mouth-he'd taken a hard

the end, Vince hadn't been

with news about his sister, Vince's

take his eyes off Jessica. The greedy longing in his gaze only intensified after the doctor

She didn't

years had crumbled long

me, don't you?" he

"You're overthinking it. I just came to see if you'd be able

you're

was ready

Timothy called after her, "I know

froze and glanced

muscle twitched