Goodbye, Mr. Regret

After saying his piece, Father Benedict gently gestured toward the porcelain

teacup. "The tea's getting cold, my friend. Please, have some."

Timothy finished the last of his tea, warmth lingering only in memory.

Father Benedict rose from his seat. "There's much to be done in the abbey today.

I can't keep you company for long, but please, make yourself at home. Stay as

long as you wish, and leave whenever you're ready."

"Thank you."

"Peace be with you."

With that, Father Benedict left the quiet sanctuary.

Timothy sat there for a long while, lost in thought. Before stepping outside, he

slipped all the cash he had into the donation box by the door.

Driving home, Timothy replayed Father Benedict's words in his mind. He wished

he could do as the priest advised—let go of his pain, his obsessions. But he

couldn't. He wouldn't. He'd rather drown in the ache than live without Jessica. The

pain was still something he could bear. What did it matter if life was a little harder?

He couldn't imagine a world without her.

Little did he know, worse pain was waiting for him in the days to come.

Timothy returned to The Gilded Whisper Estates.

Sallie had no way of knowing where to look for him, so she'd simply waited

anxiously at the estate. When she saw him walk through the door, she hurried

over and grabbed his arm, her voice trembling on the verge of tears. "Why didn't

you let me know you were discharged from the hospital? I tried calling you, but

you wouldn't pick up. You have any idea how worried I was? I searched for you all

morning—I was about to call the police!"

"I'm not a toddler, Sallie. You didn't need to panic."

"I know you're not a child, but you're still recovering. After everything that's

happened, you just disappear and stop answering your phone—how could I not

be worried? I even thought you'd flown overseas to find Jessica. I called Vince,

and he chewed me out!"

Timothy gently disentangled himself from her grip and crossed to the sofa. Sallie

followed, sitting across from him.

"What did Vince say to you?" Timothy asked.

"He accused me of selective amnesia."

"Well, he's not wrong. Why are you upset?"

Sallie shot up from the couch, indignant. "You're my brother! When someone

gives me a hard time, you should be on my side—not sarcastic! You think Vince

didn't say anything about you?"

"What did he say?"

"He said whether you live or die, it's got nothing to do with the Zimmerman family

anymore!"

Timothy's expression darkened, shadows settling over his features.

Sallie finally realized her words had gone too far. She sat back down, her voice

softer now. "He was just upset—he didn't mean it. You two have been close since

you were kids. You always looked out for him. He's not the type to forget old ties

that easily."

"That's the mildest thing he could've said," Timothy muttered. "He probably wishes

I'd disappear for good."

He didn't bother defending himself or blaming Vince.

Sallie pursed her lips. "None of this would've happened if we'd known Jessica

was Salome. If we had, we never would've let her suffer."

Timothy looked up at her, his gaze steady. "Even if she wasn't Salome, she didn't

deserve to be treated that way."

"So, you're blaming me for making

her miserable? Like you never did? I

admit I was part of the problem, but

there's no way my attitude alone

pushed her to divorce you and give

up custody of Henry. What really

hurt her was what she suffered from

you and your son. That's what madenoveldrama

her walk away from this family."

Timothy said nothing, his eyes cast down.

Sallie bit her lip, then sighed. "I'm

sorry. I didn't mean to upset you. I

just worry about you. I stick up for

you, and you still don't back me

up—so yeah, I got a little annoyed.

Jessica cared about you and Henry,

that's why she was so hurt. That

means there's still hope for you two.

If you really tried, maybe she'd come

back."

Jessica cared about you and Henry, that's why she was so hurt.

The words echoed in Timothy's mind. She cared—so she was hurt, and then she

left.

She'd let go.

Did that mean she was past the pain now?

A wave of panic gripped Timothy. He was afraid Jessica had done exactly what

Father Benedict had urged: let go of the pain, let go of him.

He understood the priest's meaning. If you can let go, you won't feel pain

anymore.

But if Jessica had really let go, did that mean she no longer cared? He hadn't let

go—how could she? If she was truly over it, she'd never love him or Henry again.

He couldn't accept that.

Suddenly, Timothy stood and strode toward the door.

"Timothy, where are you going?"

"Overseas. I'm going to find Jessica."

Sallie hurried after him. "I'm coming too. I need to apologize to her myself—

maybe I can help convince her to come home."

Timothy didn't argue. Sallie owed Jessica an apology, too.

On the way to the airport, Sallie called Naylor Lawson. "Could you pick up and

drop off Henry from school for a few days?"

"I'm handling Henry's school runs now? And what's Timothy doing? Doesn't he

want to see his own son?"

"We're heading overseas to find Jessica. Henry's your grandson—are you really

going to complain about watching him?"

Naylor broke into a warm chuckle.

"Of course, I'll help. You two go.

Bring Jessy home. While you're

working on things abroad, your

grandfather and I will see what we

can do here. Let's all give it our best

shot and get her back—maybe throw

her the wedding she deserves."

Timothy and Sallie boarded a flight to Aetherion.

After more than ten hours in the air, the siblings stood together at the gates of

Zimmerman Manor.