Goodbye, Mr. Regret

But the anger he'd kept bottled up was now beyond his control.

His eyes, rimmed red and brimming with tears, lost all their usual pride. Swallowing his pride as the eldest son of the Zimmerman family, Vince pleaded in a low, desperate voice, "Timothy, please, just tell me. Even if you won't do it for me, do it for my mother-she's bedridden, barely holding on. Please?"

Timothy pressed his lips together, silent.

Vince's heart ached.

So did Timothy's.

But there was no turning back for him now.

"My mother always treated you well, didn't she? Your mom passed away early, and Salome loved having you around. She even asked my mom to treat you as her own son. When you were sick, when you got hurt, my mother took care of you did you forget all of that?"

He hadn't forgotten. Not at all.

That was exactly why Timothy respected Vince, why he tolerated so much.

Still, Timothy said nothing.

He'd already prepared himself for this moment.

This was the only way he could bring Jessica back into his life.

Once everything settled, he would come and confess in person.

But for now, he needed to make their marriage public-everyone had to know that Jessica was his wife.

"I'm sorry. I just don't want a divorce."

Vince saw he was getting nowhere. His anger boiled over.

After twenty years searching for his lost sister, he'd finally found out she was alive -yet Timothy refused to say a word.

It was the kind of hope that hovered just out of reach, so close you could almost touch it, but no matter how hard you tried, it stayed beyond your grasp.

It was suffocating. Maddening.

the one standing in his

couldn't hold back; he beat

drag Timothy out

Timothy never fought

he'd be

Allen, out of options, rushed into

out of their rooms, Secretary Allen dashed to

outside, finding Vince wild with rage, pinning

now! Are you going to

refused to

came down. Timothy's head snapped to the side, and

Timothy's face, swollen and bruised, and realized that if

would be

his

forward and wrapped her arms tightly around Vince from

so much as prevent a disaster-how would they appear in court tomorrow

froze, his

scolded him sharply. "What are

out to Jessica, then coughed up more blood. Propping himself

emotion. "Jessy, you... you

snapped his head around to stare at

Jessica herself was stunned. She hadn't just made a sound—she'd actually

in his arms and spun her around. "You really can talk! Quick, say my

Jessica froze, bewildered.

exercises every day, but she'd never dared hope

this is wonderful! Come on, say 'Grandpa,' let me hear it!" Larkin

Timothy, struggling

gripped Jessica YoYou can talk-the first

arm

say should be mine."

cold glance, brushed his hand off her arm,