Goodbye, Mr. Regret

"You weren't wrong-you did the right thing. In fact, you could've stabbed a bit harder back then, maybe even gone for a second shot."

Timothy pulled a cigarette from the pack, lit it, and took a slow drag.

Vince shot him a sideways look. "Did you bang your head in that car accident? Or is this just your natural state?"

"Don't talk nonsense. I'm perfectly lucid."

Vince snapped the partnership contract shut and tossed it onto the desk in front of Timothy. "Honestly, this all smells fishy. If you don't spell it out for me, I'd rather

just hand over the whole site to you for free than sign this thing."

Timothy exhaled a lazy ring of smoke, studying Vince through the haze.noveldrama

Sharp as ever.

If he ever figured out that Jessica was actually Salome, things would get messy fast.

"You really don't trust me, do you?"

Timothy's gentle features faded in and out of the smoke like a flickering photograph.

Vince scoffed. "Trust you? Please. You're Timothy. I'd trust a corpse before I trust you. No way am I walking into this trap."

Timothy straightened in his chair and flicked the ash off his cigarette with slender fingers. "You're overthinking it. If you're worried, you can take full charge of the project. I'll provide the tech team, and I'll cover all the costs."

Vince shot him an amused glance, his grin widening. "That just makes it an even bigger trap. Only a fool would fall for it. And I'm no fool, so you can keep your project."

Vince had planned from the start to just give Timothy the power station he'd built, no strings attached.

So even though walking away from this deal meant losing a hefty profit, Vince didn't feel the least bit cheated.

It was just common sense and the kind of business instinct you pick up after years

in the game-something about this whole thing screamed setup.

Timothy picked up the contract with one hand and looked at Vince, serious for once. "You're sure you don't want it?"

"Positive."

Timothy set the contract back down.

Vince folded his arms on the desk and leaned in, eyes narrowing. "So, what did you do? Feeling guilty about something? Is that why you're trying to throw all this money at me?"

sŵnovel

"If we're going to play that game, maybe I should be suspicious of you. Why are

you giving me the whole finished power station?"

"Of course feel guilty. I beat you to the punch back then, built the station before you could, so I owe you. And now I need your help to

find my little sister. I've got to show some sincerity, don't I?"

Timothy pressed his lips together, the cigarette burning down to his fingers.

"You never do bother hiding anything, do you?"

Vince grinned. "Come on, between us, what's there to hide? But you always so slippery. Just tell me what are you hiding? Maybe if you're honest, I'll forgive you."

The cigarette was burning Timothy's fingers now, so he stubbed it out.

"Vince."

He said his name again, softer this time.

Vince's smile froze.

He'd be lying if he said he didn't feel something in that moment.

The way Timothy said his name—it was a mark of respect, a nod to their history.

Timothy finally spoke. "It's just my way of saying thanks for how you've looked after Jessica lately. That's all. Why are you so suspicious? Even if this were a trap, what could possibly gain from you?"