Goodbye, Mr. Regret

The walls she'd built around her heart-so solid for so long-collapsed in an instant.

She just couldn't bring herself to be ruthless, to turn her back on him, no matter what.

The nurse hadn't been especially attentive and hadn't bothered to wipe the dried blood from the corner of his mouth. It had caked into dark patches.

Jessica pulled a pack of wet wipes from her purse and gently dabbed at Timothy's lips, moving slowly and carefully. She had to let the blood soften before she could clean it away.

Maybe it was just who she was-her calm, steady presence seemed to quiet the entire room, settling the restless energy in the air and bringing a strange sense of peace.

No one else could have cared for Timothy this way. Anyone else would have fallen short.

Once she'd cleaned away every trace of blood, Jessica's voice was low and

hoarse. "You have to live. You have to wake up. If you don't, I'll never forgive you. When I left home, my son was healthy don't you dare try to leave me with a sick child while you run away from everything."

Timothy's right ring finger, hidden under the blanket, trembled ever so slightly. The doctors had already let the family come in to see him, and now a nurse began to wheel Timothy away.

The Lawsons all followed behind.

Vince kept an arm around Jessica, helping her stay upright.

Herbert had seen the whole thing. The way Jessica and Timothy interacted-it was unmistakable. There was something between them, a connection that ran bone-deep. It left Herbert standing there, unable to work up the courage to go to Jessica's side, let alone confess his feelings for her.noveldrama

"Come on, let's go," he said quietly.

Jessica stepped up to him. "I'm sorry I couldn't take you to the movie premiere tonight. And I've kept you here with me for so long."

Herbert's voice was steady. "He saved you, and he saved me too. Waiting for the outcome is the least I can do. And don't forget—I'm a neurologist. I have plenty of colleagues in the field. I'll talk to his attending physician, get his chart, and discuss his condition. I'll use every medical resource I can find to make sure he has a fighting chance."

"Thank you, Herbert," Jessica whispered, her eyes shining with tears.

"No need to thank me. It's what I should do. You two go home-I'll go find the doctor. If anything comes up, I'll call you."

Jessica could barely walk. In the end, Vince knelt down and let her climb on his back so he could carry her.

"Vince, do you ever feel like life is testing me?" she asked, her voice muffled against his shoulder.

"What makes you say that?"

"I'm just a week away from finalizing the divorce then Henry gets diagnosed with aplastic anemia, and now this happens to Timothy. We were a family once, you know? No matter what's happened, I can't just stand by and do nothing. Lonly

wanted a divorce, Vince. That's all."

"I know. But right now, you need to rest and stop worrying. You're sick too, remember?"

She suffered from an illness that only got worse with stress.

It was strange-how this whole family seemed cursed.

Vince took Jessica home. When he came out of her room, he found his parents and explained that Jessica was upset because of what had happened to Timothy.

Mrs. Zimmerman was shocked. Timothy had been injured trying to save Jessica and Herbert.

Vince told them everything, hoping they'd be able to comfort Jessica at home.

"Dad, I'll stop by the hospital later to see Grandpa. But first, I need to go out to the Zimmerman Estate and check out the construction site. I have to figure out how this accident happened."

"I understand. Go on, then."

Just as Vince stepped out the door, Yates's car pulled up. Vince gave a short honk

in greeting.