Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Chapter 430

Jessica had grown up and changed so much that Hollis didn't recognize her at first-but she knew him right away.

When her mother jumped to her death, he abandoned her without a second thought.

Now, even after all these years, Jessica still couldn't quite bring herself to call him "Dad." She'd hated him, blamed him, wondered a thousand times why he didn't want her. Her grandmother had worked herself to the bone raising her, and when she passed away, Jessica spent more than three years utterly alone.

Hollis never came back.

But he was still her father. She couldn't just call him by his name. In the end, she managed a quiet, "Dad."

Only then did Hollis snap out of his confusion. "Jessy? Is that really you?"

"You can talk now?" he asked, as if seeing a ghost.

“Yeah, I'm finally better,” she replied softly.

Jessica had something she wanted to say to Hollis alone, so she turned to Vince. "Vince, would you mind waiting for me outside?"

Hollis took a good look at Vince-well-dressed, obviously well-off. His estranged daughter was turning into a beautiful woman, and judging by the parade of men coming to see her, she didn't lack for admirers.

The last man who had come by claimed to be her husband. So who was this one?

of the previous visitor, Hollis felt a chill down his spine. He turned back to Jessica, lowering his voice.

we're officially divorced now

who was just

a friend,"

little, she'd dreamed that she might see her father again someday. But as she got older, she gave up hope, learned to live as if he'd

that's why, seeing him now, she felt

did Mom jump?" Hollis's face twisted with discomfort. Timothy

struggled with her mind,"

of sense to Jessica. She remembered times, waking in the middle of the night to find herself cradled in her mother's arms-even though she was

on. "After Mom died, why did you leave

away. "I owed some dangerous people a lot of money. Even after I sold the house, it wasn't enough. I had to disappear. If I'd gone to see you, I'd have dragged you and your

made Jessica's blood

You just disappeared to dodge your debts? You couldn't have sent a single letter? Snuck back to see me, just once? Do

so much. She'd always hoped that one day, he'd just suddenly show up, take her hand, and come back

as he kept quiet, he'd be released early and sent abroad, with a nice

else, you know? Got busy with my

hearing. How could a father be so shamelessly

asking about the past anymore. But I do need a

her cancer diagnosis or the liver transplant she

getting out soon. I'll see if

off quickly. "I've been on good behavior. The warden said I should be released any day