Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Chapter 495

It was exactly her style.

Her mother must have decorated the bedroom based on what she remembered Jessica loving as a child, assuming her tastes hadn't changed with time.

"Salome, I'll go run you a hot bath. You'll feel so much better after soaking for a while," Mrs. Zimmerman said.

Jessica quickly caught her mother's hand. "Mom, you're not in the best health. I can take care of these little things myself—I'm all grown up now, not a little girl anymore."

Mrs. Zimmerman smiled gently. "But you were only six when you went missing. I missed out on taking care of you all these years. Let me make up for lost time, just for today-let me look after you."

This wasn't just about looking after her. This was a mother's fierce, overwhelming love for her child.

"Mom, you're so good to me," Jessica choked out, her voice trembling.

Mrs. Zimmerman's smile deepened as she walked into the bathroom. She turned

on the faucet, adjusted the temperature, and started filling the tub.

Jessica grabbed some clothes from her suitcase and stepped inside. Mrs. Zimmerman sat on the edge of the tub, turned to her, and said, "Salome, you've always loved the scent of gardenias. I bought a special gardenia bubble bath just

for you."

She squeezed some of the fragrant liquid into the water and swirled it with her hand, filling the tub with delicate bubbles.

Jessica's eyes stung with tears.

Some things about a person never change.

She'd loved gardenias since she was little-her grandmother had planted two bushes by the front door and another in the backyard. When they bloomed, the whole house would be filled with their sweet scent.

After marrying Timothy, she found out he preferred the smell of orchids. Out of habit, she'd swapped out all her scented products for orchid-scented ones.

The bath was ready.

do that for you when you were little. And at

grew even softer as

voice rough with emotion. "All these

she spoke, tears spilled silently down

was a mother, too. Henry Lawson was her whole world-every frown of his

cancer diagnosis, when her own life was slipping away, she

heart, she probably would

tears. "Oh, sweetheart, why are you crying again? Of

years, Jessica had lived with the

first, at least her son still relied on her, cared for her. That was enough to help her forget all the

even

blessing it was

that, even after twenty years apart, Jessica felt no

sank into the bath, letting the warm water and steam

Mrs. Zimmerman had already drawn

Mrs. Zimmerman sat at the bedside, gently stroking her hair. "Close your eyes, Salome. I'll stay right

she could stop herself, Jessica whispered, "Salome

Mrs. Zimmerman's eyes turned red, her eyelids trembling as she fought back tears. She answered in the same way

Jessica closed her eyes.

Riverside City.

the hospital

room was empty.

on being

calling Timothy, but his phone was

his secretary

Timothy come into the

"No, he hasn't."

he called you? Told you

I haven't