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.

quietly, then returned

health these days,

bother her

arrived, Mabel told him Jessica had already gone to

master bedroom

he headed for the

hand was a brown envelope. He

own life when Jessica was eight; her father had disappeared without a

seven at the time, turning eight that

same year she lost her voice-probably from the trauma

she was six. How could she have formed such a deep bond with her adoptive mother in just a single

grandmother in the house where she

even getting swindled out of a large sum. Overworked and devastated,

her own skills and the charity of

wasn't until Ines noticed her and

as he read through the file, wave after wave of guilt washing over

her far

giving her

for a girl who couldn't

never tried to truly understand

wheelchair, Timothy went to the study and

quietly unlocked the

turned on the bedside

watched her sleep-she looked

more weight.

she was still

features, he could see traces

mute,

mute

She hadn't had much

Even when she did no one would have ever imagined

Kon

Vince had once commented that Yates's

mind was a tangle

but pulled his hand back,

gone to such lengths, even