Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Timothy would definitely have his people watching that route-he had no choice but to get Jessica out of the city by a different road.

Vince believed Cloverdale was the safest bet. Timothy's influence wouldn't reach that far, not easily.

But Jessica wanted to leave the country.

He was determined to make that wish come true for her, to make up for the guilt gnawing at him since leaving her alone last night at The Gilded Whisper Estates.

If she hadn't managed to escape Timothy herself, who knew what fate would've awaited her?

Meanwhile, Timothy was repeatedly dialing Vince's number. Just as he lowered his head to punch in the call, he looked up-and a massive thirty-foot truck was turning straight into his path.

He slammed on the brakes and jerked the wheel, desperately trying to avoid a collision.

Vince's phone, connected to his car's Bluetooth, picked up the call at that precise moment.

"Timothy―"

A deafening crash cut him off.

Timothy's car smashed into the roadside barrier with brutal force, the impact so violent that the airbags exploded from the dash.

On the other side, the truck driver hit the brakes, but the cab still clipped the rear of Timothy's car.

Another sickening crash.

"Timothy!"

Vince's shout echoed through the car, but on the line, all he could hear was Timothy retching-a guttural, choked sound-followed by the unmistakable splatter of blood.

"Timothy, did you just get into an accident?"

Vince hit his own brakes in panic. That sound-twisted metal and shattering glass couldn't be mistaken for anything else.

Jessica's lifeless eyes flickered with sudden shock.

"Vince "

Timothy hadn't called him that in years.

A sharp pain seized Vince's heart.

Timothy's voice, weak and dragging, left no doubt he was badly hurt.

"Timothy, where are you? Stay awake! Get out of the car if you can, I'm coming to you right now!"

"Don't... let them take Jessy... I need to tell her..."

His words trailed off, unfinished. Timothy slipped into unconsciousness.

"Timothy! Timothy!"

Vince called his name over and over-nothing but silence answered.

Then, suddenly, a frantic voice came over the phone.

"Sir? Sir, are you alright?"

Vince exhaled, relieved-someone had found Timothy.

"This is his friend. Can you tell me where the accident happened?"

The truck driver rattled off the address.

"Please, do whatever you can to get him out of the car and call an ambulance!" Vince urged.noveldrama

After he hung up, he turned to Jessica, anxiety etched on his face. "Jessy, Timothy's been in an

accident. Do you... do you want to

see him?"

Vince wanted nothing more than to get Jessica safely out of the country.

But deep down, he couldn't deny it-there was still something

between Jessy and vel

something unresolved.

Jessica's heart twisted painfully.

This was no minor incident.

A car crash-life and death hanging in the balance.

The memory of those two thunderous collisions still echoed in her mind.

After loving him secretly for four

years, married to him for seven net

she'd poured eleven years of h

into Timothy. She'd lost herself entirely, loving him.

No one could expect her to feel nothing upon hearing he'd crashed.

But she knew this was her only chance to leave.

She clenched her fists, trembling, and finally shook her head.

If she gave in to her feelings now, she'd only be surrendering herself to more pain.

She'd fought so hard, for so long, to break free.

She had to go.

She wanted to live a life that belonged to her, for once.

Vince personally escorted Jessica to the waiting helicopter bound for Cloverdale.

As the rotors roared to life and the helicopter lifted off, Jessica waved to Vince. Goodbye, Timothy.

Goodbye, Jessica-the girl she used to be.