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.

in his way was Timothy-someone

couldn't hold back; he

had his men drag Timothy out of

it all, Timothy never fought

this kept up, he'd be beaten

out of options, rushed into the house, shouting, "Madam!

awake by the commotion. As they hurried out of their rooms, Secretary Allen dashed to Jessica's side. "Madam,

Vince wild

now! Are you going to

refused to

fist came down. Timothy's head snapped to

that

would be responsible

raised his fist

darted forward and wrapped her arms tightly

trying to protect Timothy so much as prevent a disaster-how would

his

him sharply. "What are you doing?

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

emotion. "Jessy, you...

head around to stare

stunned. She hadn't

arms and spun her around. "You really

Jessica froze, bewildered.

she'd never dared hope

me hear it!" Larkin was

Timothy, struggling

gripped Jessica YoYou

arm

say should be mine."

Timothy a cold glance, brushed his hand off her arm, then