Goodbye, Mr. Regret

"She can talk now. I'd like you to come over and help her with her illness."

Timothy spoke calmly, making his intentions clear.

Herbert let out a cold laugh. "I've been treating her all this time—she's almost cured. So what's with the act? You think just because you're asking me to help her now, it somehow makes up for all the pain you've caused her? That's wishful thinking."

Timothy's voice remained even. "Instead of sneaking around to help her, why not do it openly, with my permission?"

Jessica had told him she couldn't leave for at least a month. She hadn't gone into details, but Herbert knew there must be a good reason.

He didn't want to agree to Timothy's proposal, but in truth, it was the best option right now.

Face-to-face treatment always worked better. The fact that she could speak again was a huge step forward.

If Timothy was reaching out to arrange her treatment, then Jessica must have already returned home.

Timothy was a master at manipulating people's emotions.

Even knowing this, Herbert finally agreed.

Hearing Jessica speak again had always been her dream—and his. He felt responsible to see it through to the end.

After the call ended, Timothy didn't disturb Jessica.

Henry was still staying at the Lawson estate for now. Knowing Jessica probably

didn't want to see him, he headed to the office instead.

Around lunchtime, Mabel knocked on Jessica's bedroom door.

"Ma'am, lunch is ready."

Mabel didn't know the full story between Mr. and Mrs. Lawson, but it was clear enough that Jessica wanted to avoid her husband. Mabel quickly added, "Mr. Lawson's gone out."

She was worried Jessica might skip lunch and go hungry.

Only then did Jessica set down her mouse and open the door.

Mabel smiled. "We made all your favorites for lunch."

"Thank you." Jessica pressed her thumb to her chest in a gesture of gratitude.

She ate quietly, then returned to her room.

She wouldn't risk her health these days, nor would she neglect her work.

Timothy didn't bother her at all that day.

He came home late. By the time he arrived, Mabel told him Jessica had already gone to bed.

Timothy tried the master bedroom door and found it locked.

So he headed for the guest room.

In his hand was a brown envelope. He opened it and pulled out Jessica's file.

Her mother had taken her own life when Jessica was eight; her father had disappeared without a trace.

That meant she must have been seven at the time, turning eight that year.

It was that same year she lost her voice-probably from the trauma of her mother's death.

But she'd gone missing when she was six. How could she have formed such a deep bond with her adoptive mother in just a single year?

Later, she went to live with her grandmother in the house where she still lived today.

Her grandmother had tried everything to get her treatment, even getting swindled out of a large sum. Overworked and devastated, her grandmother fell seriously ill and eventually passed away.

Jessica, only twelve or thirteen, survived on her own skills and the charity of neighbors.

It wasn't until Ines noticed her and offered sponsorship that life started to improve.

Timothy's heart ached as he read through the file, wave after wave of guilt washing over him.

He'd neglected her far too much.

He'd thought marrying her and giving her a comfortable life was enough a good

ending for a girl who couldn't speak.

He'd never tried to truly understand her.

Sitting in his wheelchair, Timothy went to the study and fetched the key to the master bedroom.

He quietly unlocked the door.

He turned on the bedside lamp.

In the soft light, he watched her sleep-she looked so fragile, as if she'd lost even

more weight.

But she was still beautiful.

In her delicate features, he could see traces of Salome.noveldrama

She was mute, so that connection

mute

had never crossed his mind. She hadn't had much contact with

outsiders all these years. Even when she did no one would have ever imagined she might be related to Satome.

Kon

Only Vince had once commented that Yates's personality reminded him a bit of Salome.

Timothy's mind was a tangle of thoughts.

He reached out, wanting to touch her face, but pulled his hand back, afraid to wake her.

He'd gone to such lengths, even at

the risk that she and the Zimmermans might hate him one day, just to buy himself this one

month. In that time, he had to find a way to win her heart again

He wasn't giving up.

She'd told him, since she was little, that she liked him best, that she'd marry him

one day.

How could that change, just because they'd grown up?

He couldn't allow it.

Timothy slipped silently out of the bedroom.

The next morning.

Timothy left the house early.

When Jessica came down for breakfast, Timothy was already gone.

She didn't ask about him.

Just as she finished eating, the doorbell rang.

Mabel went to answer it. To her surprise, it was Herbert.

Jessica nearly jumped. She quickly signed, "Why are you here? How did you get

in? You need to leave."

If Timothy found out, he'd start imagining the worst.

She was staying this month for two reasons to finalize the divorce

papers and to wait for the .net.

reveal news about Vince's sister.

Timothy had only one condition: until the divorce, she would remain Mrs. Lawson.

"Don't worry. He's the one who invited me."

Jessica's eyes widened in disbelief, her brow furrowing in shock.