Goodbye, Mr. Regret

A heavy silence settled over the room.

They had been friends since childhood-once inseparable.

As Timothy's emotions spilled over, the sadness in his voice tugged at Vince and Yates, no matter how hard they tried to steel themselves.

After a moment, Timothy sank onto the couch, his tone detached. "Go to the Lawsons. Tell them-everything that happened was my fault. I'll take the blame."

"If you want to take Jessica away, do it. I won't stand in your way anymore."

"Just... leave. I don't want to see either of you right now."

Vince had carried a thousand grievances in his chest, thinking he'd finally let them out when he saw Timothy. But faced with Timothy's withdrawal, it was like punching into a pillow-no resistance, no catharsis.

Timothy was backing down completely, refusing to fight back or even acknowledge their anger. He'd never once raised a hand to them. Even when Herbert Wheeler had come by last time, Timothy just dodged, taking a blow from a pool cue without retaliating.

Especially with Vince and Yates-he simply absorbed every accusation, refusing to argue or defend himself. Yates had even landed a couple of punches just now, and Timothy hadn't said a word.

Vince felt a growing frustration twist inside him. He grabbed Yates by the arm. "Let's go."

Yates looked stricken with guilt. As they stepped out of the villa, he frowned and muttered, "Where's Salome?"

"She's at home. Let's check in at the Lawson mansion first, see what's happening."

They each got into their own cars.

he'd only watched from the sidelines, amused and curious. The second time was at Larkin Zimmerman's birthday dinner-he'd

he'd snipped off her braid and narrowly escaped a scolding from Mrs. Zimmerman, only because Salome had

always seen the resemblance, mentioned it to Vince, even joked about it on social media, knowing Vince was looking for Salome yet somehow, it never clicked that Jessica and Salome

now everything was

all along that Jessica was Salome, and kept it from everyone. Yates

matter there was no time to dwell on it now. They needed to get to

the Lawson

was tense. Larkin was pacing, thumping his cane as he demanded of Phelps, "Phelps, we've known each other for what,decades? Don't forget, when you hit hard times, it was me who lent you a hand-a hefty loan, too, to help you out. And how did you repay us? How did you treat

in advance,

it a secret

the line until he could figure

both families

Timothy hadn't told Larkin how he

I honestly didn't know Jessy was Salome. But you have my

our Salome suffered

"That's right," Middleton Bryant

tone

let this go. Salome was always

made years ago. The

have gotten

to let her suffer

We demand an explanation."