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 just waiting out the cooling-off

that man who was just

friend,"

dreamed that she might see her father again someday. But as she got

why, seeing him now, she felt

too young to understand why her mother died, or why her father left. But since she was here today, she wanted to ask. "Dad, why did Mom jump?" Hollis's face twisted

struggled with her mind," he

herself cradled in her mother's arms-even though she was already six or seven, her mother would still try to breastfeed her. Other times, everything seemed normal. You'd never suspect

died, why did

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 grandmother into it. And

made Jessica's blood

only went to prison ten years ago. What about the eight or nine years before that? You just disappeared to dodge your debts? You couldn't have sent a single letter? Snuck back to see me,

dad so much. She'd always hoped that one day, he'd just suddenly show up, take her

Timothy had already promised him: as long as he kept quiet,

course you're my daughter. I just... I met someone else, you know? Got busy with my own

be so shamelessly irresponsible? In that moment, any last shred of

won't bother asking about the past anymore.

about to tell him about her cancer diagnosis or the liver transplant

be getting out soon. I'll see if there's anything I can do

waved her off quickly. "I've been on good behavior. The warden said