Goodbye, Mr. Regret

He really didn't have the strength to get up this time.

He was exhausted. Everything hurt.

Ever since the car accident that shattered his leg, he hadn't been able to get out of bed. Even lying there, he'd barely rested, chasing after Jessica Greene overseas from a hospital room.

Vince Zimmerman had stabbed him once, and just a few days ago, Jessica had done it again.

Now, his back was covered with cuts from the shattered windshield.

He was tough, but even he couldn't ignore so many wounds. The pain was real- relentless.

Sallie Lawson unwrapped the takeout bag she'd just brought in. “Let me help you eat a little soup, okay?"

He turned away. "I'm not hungry. I told you, you don't need to worry about me. I just want some peace and quiet."

Sallie's tone was stubborn. "You're my brother. How could I possibly not worry? You're in the hospital. You have to eat something."

Just then, Sallie's phone rang.

It was Phelps Lawson calling.

She answered.

"I told you to come home for a family meeting. We need to talk about Timothy and Jessy's marriage. Why aren't you back yet?"

Sallie sighed. “Timothy won't come home. There's nothing we can decide without him. Are you planning to drag Jessica back into the Lawson family by force?"

She knew these discussions were pointless.

"I know it's difficult, but we still need to show we're making an effort. By the way, where's Timothy? He won't answer my calls. He needs to be here for this. The Zimmerman family is demanding a formal statement about the divorce."

Timothy reached over and took Sallie's phone, switching it to speaker.

"Grandpa, I don't want you involved in our business,” he said, his voice low and steady.

hesitated on the other end. "The Zimmermans want you to make

whatever statement they want. Send it over. Edit it until they're satisfied." Phelps's voice shook. "Are you

"Yes."

any other

didn't, it would

handle the pain, but there was no reason to

to let go now, there'd be nothing left for either of them-only

"But-"

ask for, just give it to them. I'm

call, his face even paler than

me. He even yelled at Henry. Jessy wasn't

pressed his lips into a thin line. "If I were her, I might do the same. Go home, Sallie. I'm tired. I need a few

mouth to argue, but

in the evening in Riverside City, but just dawn in Aetherion as Jessica, Vince, and ates Bryant arrived at the

Jessica's heart pounded the

out of the car and stood before the front door She was abou to see her mother after

on,"

spotted Vince and immediately

the

this early hour, the house

they stepped into the courtyard, a fit of

A woman's cough.

had to be

bond between mother and daughter?

had told her how after she'd disappeared, their mother had fallen ill her health broken by grief, hanging on by sheer

Vince called, catching

her to a bedroom door and knocked softly. "Mom? Are you

in," Mrs. Zimmerman's voice floated through the door-gentle, but so

to cough again, and Zachary

trembling. "I wanted to bring you to Mom