Goodbye, Mr. Regret

A heavy silence settled over the room.

They had been friends since childhood-once inseparable.

As Timothy's emotions spilled over, the sadness in his voice tugged at Vince and Yates, no matter how hard they tried to steel themselves.

After a moment, Timothy sank onto the couch, his tone detached. "Go to the Lawsons. Tell them-everything that happened was my fault. I'll take the blame."

"If you want to take Jessica away, do it. I won't stand in your way anymore."

"Just... leave. I don't want to see either of you right now."

Vince had carried a thousand grievances in his chest, thinking he'd finally let them out when he saw Timothy. But faced with Timothy's withdrawal, it was like punching into a pillow-no resistance, no catharsis.

Timothy was backing down completely, refusing to fight back or even acknowledge their anger. He'd never once raised a hand to them. Even when Herbert Wheeler had come by last time, Timothy just dodged, taking a blow from a pool cue without retaliating.

Especially with Vince and Yates-he simply absorbed every accusation, refusing to argue or defend himself. Yates had even landed a couple of punches just now, and Timothy hadn't said a word.

Vince felt a growing frustration twist inside him. He grabbed Yates by the arm. "Let's go."

Yates looked stricken with guilt. As they stepped out of the villa, he frowned and muttered, "Where's Salome?"

"She's at home. Let's check in at the Lawson mansion first, see what's happening."

They each got into their own cars.

As Yates started the ignition, memories of Jessica flooded back. The first time he met her, he'd only watched from the sidelines, amused and curious. The second time was at Larkin Zimmerman's birthday dinner-he'd noticed her again, thinking how patient she seemed, much like Salome, even while Sallie Lawson criticized her in front of everyone.

He remembered, too, how as a kid he'd snipped off her braid and narrowly escaped a scolding from Mrs. Zimmerman, only because Salome had pleaded for him.

He'd always seen the resemblance, mentioned it to Vince, even joked about it on social media, knowing Vince was looking for Salome yet somehow, it never clicked that Jessica and Salome were the same person.

And now everything was unraveling.

Timothy had known all along that Jessica was Salome, and kept it from everyone. Yates still hadn't asked Vince how he'd figured it out.

No matter there was no time to dwell on it now. They needed to get to the Lawsons. Vince would explain the rest soon enough.

They reached the Lawson mansion in no time.

Inside, the atmosphere was tense. Larkin was pacing, thumping his cane as he demanded of Phelps, "Phelps, we've known each other for what,decades? Don't forget, when you hit hard times, it was me who lent you a hand-a hefty loan, too, to help you out. And how did you repay us? How did you treat our Salome? She used to call you Grandpa Phelps, and you used to carry her around when she was little!”

Timothy had warned Larkin in advance, confiding that Jessica was actually

Salome and begging him to keep it a secret from the Bryants and Zimmermans-

to hold the line until he could figure things out.

But now, both families knew.

And Timothy hadn't told Larkin how he planned to handle it.

All Larkin could do was try to save face, forcing a smile. "This is my fault. I honestly didn't know Jessy was Salome. But you have my word, we're family now, and if anything's been done wrong, we'll make it right. Jessy will never be mistreated again.”

Larkin snorted. "Easy for you to say. You think a few casual words can wipe away all the hurt our Salome suffered at your hands? Wishful thinking. Salome's too kind to hold a grudge, but I won't let this slide."

"That's right," Middleton Bryant

added, his tone hard. "We Bryants

won't let this go. Salome was always meant to be our daughter-in-law-a

promise made years ago. The e

Lawsons may have gotten there

first, but to let her suffer this much?

We demand an explanation."noveldrama

Middleton had served alongside

Vince's father, Zachary, in the army-their bond forged in war. Both he and his wife had adored Salome, treating her like their own. Her disappearance had weighed heavily on them for years. Who could have guessed the poor girl, lost all that time, had ended up mute?

At least, by some stroke of luck, she'd married into the Lawsons. But even there,

she'd faced so much indignity.

How could they possibly accept that?

Phelps looked caught in the middle. "Jessy and Timothy are married. They have a son. They're a family now. As elders, we can't tear them apart. If you help them reconcile, I'll do whatever it takes to make things right."

Larkin nearly exploded. "Don't kid yourself!"

Middleton chimed in, "They have to divorce. Salome is Yates's fiancée by our families' agreement. It's time to set things right.”

Phelps grew anxious. "They're already married, with a child. Even if they divorced, how could Salome marry Yates? He and Timothy are lifelong friends—it would be a scandal."

Mrs. Bryant frowned. "What scandal? She has a child, so what? If Salome wants

to keep the baby, he can take our family name—become a Bryant. We can provide for him."

Chaos. Utter chaos.

Phelps's nerves frayed further. "Absolutely not. Henry is the Lawsons' eldest grandson. There's no way he's taking the Bryant name."