Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Sandra's face lit up with delight. "My granddaughter-in-law is coming? Oh, that's wonderful! You know what, maybe tomorrow I'll arrange for someone to pick her up. It's been seven years I haven't even met her yet!"

Back then, the whole Lawson family had been furious about what happened, and it caused a huge rift with the Howards. In a fit of anger, both families agreed to cut off contact altogether.

Still, Timothy and Sallie were their biological grandchildren, so they kept in touch.

As for Timothy's marriage to Jessica, he'd hidden it from them at first. The Lawsons had already stopped speaking to them, and he never mentioned it.

Even Sallie, that little scamp, helped him keep it secret.

It wasn't until word got out that Timothy had a son that they finally learned the truth.

Afterward, when they confronted Sallie about it, she just shrugged and said Timothy was being ridiculous, insisting on marrying a mute girl. She found it humiliating. Anyway, Timothy kept Jessica tucked away at home, never letting anyone meet her, so Sallie didn't bother telling anyone he was married.

Sandra and Abell figured that even if Jessica couldn't speak, Timothy had chosen her himself. They'd brought it up countless times, wanting to meet her, and each time Timothy promised to arrange something-but nothing ever happened.

Later, they planned to visit in person, but age caught up with Sandra and Abell. If it wasn't one of them in the hospital, it was the other. They just never managed to find the right time to travel.

They still hadn't had a chance to meet her.

If Sheila hadn't gone to Riverside City last time, bringing Henry Lawson back with her, they probably still wouldn't have met their great-grandson.

"Grandma, she's upset with me right now-giving me the silent treatment. She definitely won't come. I'll bring her when she's calmed down."

"That's true,” Sandra sighed, anxiety in her eyes. "But in your condition, you can't exactly go explain things to her yourself, can you?"

“I'll be able to use a wheelchair in a few days. That should be enough.”

Sometimes, things just didn't work out the way you wanted.

"Well, it can't be helped. Get some sleep, then."

Sandra and Abell left the bedroom quietly.

Timothy, however, didn't feel the least bit tired. He'd spent most of the flight lying down and had slept for hours.

Now, with the house quiet and darkness settled in, his thoughts inevitably wandered.

He couldn't help but think back to that night-his temples throbbed as he pressed his fingers against them.

How had he lost control like that?

He could admit Jessica's body attracted him, but in all seven years, no matter how much he wanted her, he'd never been so far gone that he'd forced himself on her.

What was wrong with him?

Was it just because she kept refusing him, driving his frustration to the breaking point?

He supposed it had been a long time-long enough to test anyone's patience. Plus, he'd been in a foul mood and had drunk more red wine than he should have. He vaguely remembered the whole messy affair lasting till dawn, leaving stains all over her. noveldrama

Timothy closed his eyes and let out a long breath, pulling out a pack of cigarettes.

He tapped one out and lit it, drawing in a deep hit of smoke.

He didn't dare let his mind wander further. If he did, the hunger in his body for or her would only grow,

ét

making the restlessness inside him

worse.

He couldn't explain it—his physical need for her just kept building.

Was it just his age, pushing him into some new phase of craving?

He took another drag, then grabbed his phone, tempted to text Jessica and ask if her throat felt any better.

It was his roughness that had hurt her, and he couldn't help feeling guilty. He'd humiliated her, and on top of that, left her with bruises.

He kept rewriting the message, worried she'd just block him if he sent it.

Just as he was about to toss the phone aside in frustration, a new message popped up.