Goodbye, Mr. Regret

"Thank you for your concern, Mrs. Bryant, but I'll be fine if I just stick to some light food. My brother and I are actually leaving tonight to visit our mother abroad, so there's no need to trouble a doctor right now. If I'm still not feeling well after we land, I'll see someone over there."

Mrs. Bryant nodded, her expression still full of care. "You only just got back today, and of course you should see your mother. She's probably been worried sick waiting for you. By the way, do your parents know you're home?"

"Not yet," Jessica replied with a smile. "I want to surprise her in person."

Middleton seized the opportunity to interject, "How about this-why don't you let Yates go with you? He can visit your mother on behalf of both me and Mrs. Bryant. I heard him say just the other day that he's got some international film investments to discuss, so it works out perfectly."

He turned to Yates, eyebrows raised. "Isn't that right? You're heading over there for those investment meetings?"

"I..." Yates hesitated. That wasn't part of his plan at all.

But Middleton's pointed look made it clear this wasn't a request.

Changing tack, Yates said, "Yes, I do have a few film investments to discuss. Vince, let's travel together."

Mrs. Bryant silently applauded her son-what a clever, perceptive young man, always quick to catch on to what his parents wanted.

Vince checked their flight details and had Yates book a seat on the same plane.

He knew exactly what Mr. and Mrs. Bryant were thinking. Letting Yates come along was a chance for him to meet Vince's parents and discuss the pending engagement. Jessy didn't approve of the arrangement, and neither did Yates, so having a frank conversation beforehand would make things much easier with the Bryants.

At 11 p.m., the three of them boarded an overnight flight abroad.

As the plane took off, Jessica felt her heart race with excitement.

She was finally going to see her mother again-the mother who had missed her so much that her health had suffered.

"Vince, I saw a picture of Mom at home today. She was so beautiful when she was young."

"Of course she was. How else could she have had such a gorgeous daughter?"

Vince's heart ached for everything Jessica had been through. But now, with his sister safely by his side, he felt nothing but happiness.

Since Yates had booked his ticket last minute, his seat wasn't next to theirs. He ended up on the opposite side of the cabin, feeling strangely distant from Jessica.

She hadn't spoken much to him all evening. The distance between them felt almost like that between strangers.

It wasn't until the meal was nearly over that Yates realized Jessica had no memories from childhood. That must be why, after living so close to home for seven years, she'd never known where her real family was.

Through all those years, she and Vince hadn't been together, yet their bond was instantly strong once they learned they were siblings.

As kids, he and Vince were always playing games with her. Now, it felt like they barely knew each other.

He wondered if it was because, lately, he hadn't looked out for her the way Vince did. Even when he saw Timothy behaving badly, he'd sided with Timothy without hesitation.

Vince, on the other hand, had protected Jessica from the start, willing to stand up to Timothy for her sake.

What about him? He'd just dismissed Vince's concern as meddling, telling himself that, as Timothy's friends, they should stick together.

He'd even justified Timothy's behavior, saying it was normal for men like him to have more than one woman.

Thinking back, Yates felt nothing but shame.

Jessica wasn't just anybody.

She was Salome-the girl they'd all adored as kids. He, Vince, Timothy, even Kane Sutton, had all doted on her.

Salome had always been gentle and sweet, the kind of child who'd take the blame when they got into trouble. With her innocent eyes and quiet apologies, she'd melt even the toughest adult's heart.

Even Sallie, the feisty one among them, had always protected Salome.

Now Yates sat back in his seat and listened to the siblings chat quietly across the aisle. When he'd first met her again, she hadn't spoken at all. Now, hearing her soft, gentle voice, he realized just how much had changed. sŵnovel

Eventually, their conversation faded, and when he glanced over, Jessica had fallen asleep.

Vince asked a flight attendant for a blanket and carefully draped it over her, his movements tender and protective.

Yates hadn't had a chance to talk to

Vince alone since learning the truth

about Jessica's identity that

afternoon.

afternoon. And a crowded plane

wasn't the right place for that

conversation.

He felt a knot of frustration tightening in his chest. He wished he could just let it all

out, but for now, he could only wait.noveldrama

Meanwhile, elsewhere, Sallie had just received the news: Jessica was Salome.

Phelps texted her to be at the Lawson family home at 8 a.m. for a family meeting

to discuss how to resolve the situation between Timothy and Jessica.

Sallie closed her phone, so stunned she couldn't move for several minutes.

By then, Henry was already asleep.

Sallie grabbed her car keys and drove straight to The Gilded Whisper Estates. Timothy wasn't there.

Mabel told her he'd gone out earlier that evening.

Sallie tried calling Timothy-no answer. She called Secretary Allen-still no

answer.

Without hesitation, Sallie drove to Moonstrand Villas.

When she arrived, she saw that the bedroom light was on.

He was here.

Pushing open the door, Sallie's heart dropped-Timothy was collapsed on the

floor.

The back of his white shirt was soaked with blood.

"Timothy!" she cried, rushing to his side in a panic.