Goodbye, Mr. Regret

A nurse wheeled Timothy down the hall toward his room, with Naylor hurrying right behind. Secretary Allen stepped forward to steady Phelps, guiding him in the same direction.

"When did he end up in another accident?" Phelps asked, his voice tense.

"A few days ago," Allen replied truthfully. He'd only discovered Timothy was hospitalized when he came by to get his signature on some important documents.

"Do you know how it happened?"

"Not exactly. I didn't dare ask too much."

Phelps let out a frustrated sigh, his brow furrowing deeper. He pressed on, asking what had happened that evening.

Allen recounted everything as it had happened, then handed over Timothy's phone. Blood had dried in streaks along the screen, and the display was frozen on a photo. Phelps tapped to see it more clearly, realizing it had been opened from Vince's social media feed.

studied the photo and, after a moment, finally understood. Jessica wasn't just anyone-she was Salome. So Timothy had always kept a

so shaken by a single photograph of his wife that he'd collapse from the stress?" Allen asked, careful to keep his

kids. She knew Timothy had lost his mother, and she'd always try to share hers-every winter, when they built snowmen, she'd make

the lady was actually from the Zimmerman family. And President Lawson had coughed up blood-all over a photograph? But deep down, Allen knew President Lawson

have to take an urgent call. I'll be back in

worry about us. We'll stay with Timothy,"

end of the

thought she'd made things clear the last time they shouldn't have any more contact. Still, she wasn't the kind to blame others unfairly. Secretary Allen was just Timothy's assistant; he probably didn't know the whole story. She answered the call

say hello before

He's agreed to everything. As far as I'm O concerned, we're already finished. Whatever happens to him-hospitalization, fainting, whatever-is none of my business. If you need to inform someone, talk

not his wife anymore, so there's no reason for us to keep in touch. If you call me again about him, I'll have no choice