Goodbye, Mr. Regret

"I'm feeling much better after taking the medicine. Really, I'm fine."

Vince glanced at the cake on the table, then headed out.

After Jessica finished getting ready, she and Vince set off for the hospital together.noveldrama

At the entrance to the Intensive Care Unit, Sallie was waiting. She watched as Herbert arrived, accompanied by a group of specialists. Even the hospital director personally came to greet them, leading the team to change into scrubs before entering the ICU.

Timothy's attending physician was there as well. Sallie hurried over to ask for an update.

He explained, "Dr. Wheeler says he's a friend of Mrs. Lawson's and has invited a renowned neurologist from overseas to consult on Timothy's condition. There's a lot of hope, so please try not to worry and wait patiently."

Sallie glanced at Herbert, surprised-she had never expected him to gather so many experts for Timothy's sake.

She suddenly felt foolish for having been so suspicious of Herbert's relationship with Jessica. She'd let her jealousy cloud her judgment.

Turning to Herbert, she said quietly, "Thank you."

Herbert replied, "You don't need to thank me. I'm not doing this for you, or for Timothy, either."

With that, he joined the specialists and disappeared down the hallway toward the changing rooms.

Sallie stood there, momentarily stunned.

Vince and Jessica arrived at the hospital next. As they stepped out of the car, Vince sighed. "You know, I'm just too softhearted. I've run into Henry dozens of times before and never realized he was my nephew. When I finally found out, and then learned how ungrateful he's been, I honestly wanted nothing to do with him. But knowing he's sick, I can't help but feel for the kid. I just want to go see him for a minute—just a quick look from outside. Will you come with me?"

Jessica had spent last night making a birthday cake all alone. Vince knew Henry was still on her mind. He wasn't doing this for himself; he was doing it for her. "Of course," Jessica replied.

They walked to Henry's hospital room. He was still unconscious, with Naylor sitting quietly at his bedside.

Truthfully, Jessica didn't need to worry quite so much. Henry was the Lawson family's darling; even with Timothy in critical condition, the rest of the family would never abandon Henry.

After a few moments, Jessica quietly turned to leave.

"Let's go," Vince said softly.

"I want to see Grandpa first."

Jessica wanted to check on Larkin before asking about Timothy's condition.

Larkin had been recovering for a

couple of days and looked much

better. He was sitting up again, and after hearing from the Zacharys about Jessica's successful film screenings, he was in great spirits-so much so that he was

getting stronger by the day.

Jessica chatted with Phelps for a while, then she and Vince headed to the ICU.

As they walked down the corridor, a few orderlies stood nearby, gossiping.

"I heard there's some big shot in the hospital-might end up in a coma. The second son of the Wheeler family. They brought in a whole. team of neurologists for him. Shows you, rich people really do live on a different level. Just like that, they can pull in top experts from all over the world."

"Yeah, and T heard the Wheeler guy is actually a neurologist himself. Spent seven years in the lab and developed a new treatment for aphasia. Our hospital is rolling out his protocol right now."

Jessica stopped in her tracks when she overheard them.

"Wait, you're saying Mr. Herbert spent seven years in the lab and created a treatment for aphasia?"

"Yep. Hospitals everywhere are adopting Dr. Wheeler's method."

Jessica nearly lost her balance.

So when Herbert told her his 'friend' had spent seven years researching aphasia, that was a lie?

The researcher was Herbert himself?