Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Jessica couldn't go on.

Back at the Oakwood Comic Con, when Ines showcased her painting-The Grand Canal, Venice-she'd told everyone she'd married for love. Jessica had been standing at the entrance, overhearing people whisper about how she'd thrown away a golden opportunity to build a career with Ines. What a shame, they said.

And yet, for all that, her so-called love had left her utterly defeated.

"What was it, Jessy? Tell me everything, will you?" Vince's voice was gentle, but insistent. He wanted to know it all, every part of her story-only then could he hope to give her what she truly wanted.

Jessica let out a bitter laugh. "Because I chose love, and I lost. Ines believed in me, wanted to mentor me, and I walked away from it-for seven years. When I finally tried to pick up where I'd left off, I was already sick. Seven years without work, without standing in the world. Just trying to get a divorce from Timothy was hard enough, let alone anything else."

Her voice was calm, but Vince could feel the weight pressing down from deep within her.

Still, she faced it all with such composure.

"Jessy, did it ever cross your mind to fight back? To scream at him, to tell the Lawsons exactly how unfairly they treated you? To lay it all out for Timothy?"

"It's not that I didn't want to," Jessica said quietly. "It's just, half the time I couldn't get the words out. Sometimes I'd get angry, the words would be on the tip of my tongue, but then something else would happen and I'd let it go. But really, the truth is... the moment I decided to get a divorce, I understood something."

"What did you understand?" Vince's heart twisted.noveldrama

He hadn't shut the door when he came in, and now, as Yates stepped out of his room and caught their voices, he paused in the hallway, leaning against the wall, silently listening.

Jessica spoke, her voice steady. "I realized I wanted out. Since I'd already decided to leave, why keep fighting over the past? I wasn't trying to win him back, or force him to explain himself. And honestly, even if I said something, he wouldn't care. Why should I set myself up for more frustration? I've made up my mind, Vince. The past is the past. I want to move on."

Vince opened his arms and hugged her tightly. "Then I won't ask any more. The past doesn't matter now. Let's look ahead. If you want to start animating again, I'll invest. Whatever you want to do, you're not alone-your brother, your dad, your mom, Grandpa, the whole Zimmerman family is behind you."

She had always been the cherished one in the Zimmerman family, and seeing the Lawsons treat her so cruelly made Vince all the more determined he would give her nothing but the best from now on. He'd bury every trace of her unhappiness.

When Vince left the bedroom, he nearly jumped out of his skin-Yates was suddenly right there. He quickly ushered Yates into the guestroom and shut the door behind them.

"How long were you standing out there?" Vince asked in a low voice.

"Quite a while, I think," Yates answered, not meeting his eyes.

"You heard everything?"

"Pretty much."

Vince put his hands on his hips,

hiding in your room all et

exasperated. "You're a grown.

room all morning

Couldn't you have gone out for a walk or something?"

Yates shrugged helplessly. “My mother and father have already called ten times today, demanding that spend time with Salome and pursue her properly. Would you risk leaving the house if you were me?"

"Couldn't you just lie to them?"

"They video call at random just to check up on me. You know what they're like."

Vince sighed. "Don't tell anyone about her being sick."

Yates's expression grew serious. "You went out early-were you getting tested for compatibility?"

"Yeah."

"Which hospital?"

"Why do you need to know?"