Goodbye, Mr. Regret

"She can talk now. I'd like you to come over and help her with her illness."

Timothy spoke calmly, making his intentions clear.

Herbert let out a cold laugh. "I've been treating her all this time—she's almost cured. So what's with the act? You think just because you're asking me to help her now, it somehow makes up for all the pain you've caused her? That's wishful thinking."

Timothy's voice remained even. "Instead of sneaking around to help her, why not do it openly, with my permission?"

Jessica had told him she couldn't leave for at least a month. She hadn't gone into details, but Herbert knew there must be a good reason.

He didn't want to agree to Timothy's proposal, but in truth, it was the best option right now.

Face-to-face treatment always worked better. The fact that she could speak again was a huge step forward.

If Timothy was reaching out to arrange her treatment, then Jessica must have already returned home.

Timothy was a master at manipulating people's emotions.

Even knowing this, Herbert finally agreed.

Hearing Jessica speak again had always been her dream—and his. He felt responsible to see it through to the end.

After the call ended, Timothy didn't disturb Jessica.

Henry was still staying at the Lawson estate for now. Knowing Jessica probably

didn't want to see him, he headed to the office instead.

Around lunchtime, Mabel knocked on Jessica's bedroom door.

"Ma'am, lunch is ready."

Mabel didn't know the full story between Mr. and Mrs. Lawson, but it was clear enough that Jessica wanted to avoid her husband. Mabel quickly added, "Mr. Lawson's gone out."

She was worried Jessica might skip lunch and go hungry.

Only then did Jessica set down her mouse and open the door.

Mabel smiled. "We made all your favorites for lunch."

"Thank you." Jessica pressed her thumb to her chest in a gesture of gratitude.

then returned to her

health these days, nor would

her at

came home late. By the time he arrived,

tried the master bedroom

headed for the guest

was a brown envelope. He opened it

mother had taken her own life when Jessica was eight; her father

seven at the time, turning eight that

her voice-probably from the trauma of her mother's

was six. How could she have formed such a

she went to live with her grandmother in the house where she

grandmother had tried everything to get her treatment, even getting swindled out of a large sum. Overworked and devastated, her grandmother fell seriously ill and eventually passed

twelve or thirteen, survived on her own skills and

her and offered

as he read through the file, wave after wave of

her

her and giving her a comfortable life

a girl

tried to truly

to the study

quietly unlocked the

turned on the

he watched her sleep-she looked

more weight.

she was still

her delicate features, he could

was mute,

mute

mind. She hadn't had much contact

did no one would have

Kon

Vince had once commented that Yates's personality reminded him a bit

mind was a

wanting to touch her face, but

such lengths,