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."

Timothy was scheming to get rid of him, but concern for his grandfather's health and the company had

trick again, using his

drove on while Jessica held up her phone, waiting

answer.

nothing. Don't worry about

on to the

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

to him.

third floor," Secretary

and Jessica took the elevator up. Timothy was awake, his

relief when she realized

metal plate wasn't damaged, or we'd be looking at another operation. Are you trying to lose this leg? If

his

explained that most of it was from a cut inside Timothy's mouth-he'd taken a hard blow,

end, Vince hadn't been as rough as he could've

that Timothy had baited Vince with news about his sister, Vince's restraint was almost

his eyes off Jessica. The greedy

entire relationship had been unraveling for a long time. She didn't come home anymore, and when she

seven years

don't you?" he

it. I just came to

court tomorrow. If you're fine,

ready to

"I know where Vince's sister

froze and glanced

muscle twitched in