Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Chapter 114

Timothy was already far down the road.

Sheila stood where she was, helpless and rooted to the spot.

He really was growing more and more concerned about Jessica.

Seven years had changed so many things.

Timothy tracked down Jessica's attending physician and finally learned the truth: Jessica had gone into shock from extreme fright.

The police had found her in her hotel room and brought her straight to the hospital.

The tight knot in Timothy's chest loosened, just a little.

He remembered, vaguely, a night years ago. A thunderstorm had raged outside, and they'd been curled up in bed. Jessica had clung to him so tightly, trembling. For once, she'd been the one to pull him in for a kiss, her hands tangled in his hair. Even afterwards, she'd stayed wrapped around him like ivy.

He'd never realized, until now, how afraid she was of storms.

Last night's thunderstorm was the worst in years-lightning webbing across the sky, thunder shaking the windows.

It was no wonder Jessica had been so terrified she'd gone into shock.

A pang of regret stabbed through Timothy.

He should have come straight here the moment his flight was canceled at the airport. Should have hired a helicopter if he had to.

another word, Timothy left the

collect herself, then made her way

expecting he would return

she saw him striding out of the hospital,

What is he thinking?!

really going to see Jessica looking

could practically hear

he was immaculate -tailored suits, clean-shaven, not a hair out of place, shirts pressed

Jessica. All those little things

else, Sheila might have

But this was Timothy.

fists, nails digging into

split second later, she made up her mind, hurried to the

cruel twist of fate, her forehead struck the handrail. Blood streamed down her face, and stars burst before

her

a taxi at the curb when Sheila's name flashed on his screen. He swiped to

into a hotel for the night when her voice came through, raw

but I couldn't... I was in such a hurry, I missed a step and fell down the stairs. I hit my head and twisted my ankle.

tightened, lips pressed into a thin, hard line. After a

a satisfied look on

to find the afternoon sun already fading beyond the window. It was

phone-one