Goodbye, Mr. Regret

"Magnanimous? Really?"

Timothy let out a helpless laugh. "I can't be magnanimous."

Love is selfish.

He could only accept a world where, in her heart, there was room for him and him

alone.

Anyone else was unbearable.

"Don't you get it? It's this attitude of yours that pushed her further and further

away. Even Yates understands this-you're the only one who doesn't."

He understood.

He wanted to change.

But he couldn't.

He couldn't stand to see someone else in her eyes.

Couldn't stand to see her smile at anyone else.

Couldn't, couldn't, couldn't...

Too many things he couldn't do.

Timothy's voice was hoarse as he asked, "I know, but I can't help it. Vince, tell me

what do I have to do? What will bring her back?"

He said Vince's name so softly, so painfully, it lodged in Vince's throat.

Still, Vince's answer was firm, merciless. "She's not coming back."noveldrama

"Let her go."

"Sheila's found her biological father. If she's willing to go public, you and Jessica won't have to pretend to be uncle and niece anymore-no one will stop you from being together."

"As for Henry, if you don't want him, I can talk to Jessy. She can bring Henry to live with her, give him a second chance."

Timothy gave a short, bitter laugh. "What kind of twisted plan is that? Our family will never be split up! No one understands how much family means to me."

It was Jessica who taught him that family could be warm, not cold and empty.

"I'm done arguing with you. You're hopeless, Timothy. The family you want-that's your dream, not Jessy's. Even now, you still don't see it? It's too late. She's not going to stand at the door of The Gilded Whisper Estates waiting for you to come home anymore. She's not."

Vince's words hit like a bucket of ice water, drenching Timothy to the bone.

And finally waking him up.

He remembered no matter how late he came home, she'd always be there, eyes bright with laughter.

She'd wait at the door with his slippers.

Sometimes, if he was very late, she'd fall asleep waiting.

But that stopped. He no longer saw her waiting.

She ran away from home, and he didn't even realize.

She stopped coming home, day after day. No matter how he coaxed, she didn't return and he still didn't get it.

Now, she would never wait for him again.

He was the one who broke his own family, piece by piece.

He trampled her love, took it for granted.

She waited for him for seven years. Seven years, and not a day more.

No wonder she said she'd only give him seven years.

She'd made up her mind a long time ago there'd be no turning back.

Timothy's swollen, weary face was etched with sorrow.

Vince turned away, unwilling to look at him like this.

He couldn't afford to pity Timothy-not at the cost of Jessica's future.

Jessica's days were numbered. If

Mi Couldn't find a donor, if a

miracle didn't happen, her time would run out.

Vince didn't have time to waste arguing here.

He needed to find a liver and save Jessica's life.

He stood, back to Timothy. "If you care about her at all, when the time comes, go sign the marriage papers. Maybe then, she'll remember something good about you"

With that, Vince strode out of the hospital room.

As Vince emerged, the others quietly dispersed.

The doctor had said Timothy needed rest, that too many visitors would only disturb him.

Only Sallie remained. She'd thought about going in, but in the end, stayed put. Earlier, Timothy had wanted to see Jessica.

Vince had gone to find her, but Jessica hadn't come.

Just now, Sallie's heart clenched with a sudden, sharp pain. She knew Timothy was hurting badly.

This wasn't the time to intrude.

He needed to be alone.

Three days later.

"Letters from the Fetal Sea" dominated the box office, making headlines everywhere.

It became the year's breakout hit, a true dark horse.

With Jessica as Timothy's wit

public's

the

osity only grew, and

soon, every detail of Jessica's life was under the spotlight.