Goodbye, Mr. Regret

He could barely keep himself afloat.

At home, his mother and father pressured him constantly. He'd thought about it too-of course he had-but compared to Timothy and Herbert, he always felt like he came up short.

All because, before he knew her true identity, he'd never bothered to build any sort of relationship with her.

Outside the doors of the intensive care unit, Sallie sat alone, her figure small and solitary, eyes swollen and red from crying.

Kane approached to comfort her. "I heard some specialists are coming today for a consult. Don't worry too much. Did they say if there's a chance he can get better?"

"Not yet," Sallie replied. "They went in to check on Timothy, and now they're in a meeting. I'm still waiting to hear."

Thurston Lawson had flown back from overseas just last night. Early that morning, he headed straight to the hospital to get tested as a potential donor.

Rebekah stopped him in the corridor. "Your uncle works in the transplant lab," she said. "I've already spoken to him. He'll make sure you don't end up as a match. When you go in for the blood test, let your uncle handle it. He'll take care of everything."

"Mom, what are you talking about? Henry's my nephew. If I'm a match and I can save him, of course I have to try."

Timothy was the pillar of the Lawson family. As the eldest brother, he'd always treated Thurston and Nola well. Their mother, too, had maintained a good relationship with Timothy over the years. Hearing her say this now, Thurston was more than a little upset.

"It's like this," Rebekah insisted, lowering her voice. "I asked your uncle. They say donating stem cells doesn't really harm the donor, but in reality, it does leave you weaker, and there are some side effects. I'm just looking out for you. Besides, your brother injured his head-if he becomes a vegetable, you'll be the only hope left for the Lawson family in your generation. I can't let you take any risks."

"Don't talk nonsense. Timothy will be fine," Thurston snapped.

He glared at his mother, his temper flaring. "If you say that again, I'll tell Grandpa. Family comes first-how can you even think like this?"

At twenty-two, Thurston was still young and full of ideals, a senior in college, untouched by the cynicism of the world. He simply couldn't accept his mother's way of thinking.

"I just want to be prepared for anything," Rebekah said, her tone softening, "There are plenty of people in the family getting tested. We're all relatives, so matching shouldn't be a problem. There's no need for you to risk yourself. Just listen to me and go see your uncle, alright?"

Thurston shot her a cold, reproachful look. "I'll pretend I never heard any of this.

But if you say it again, I won't keep quiet."

With that, he stormed off.

Rebekah could only sigh in

frustration. The boy had no sense at all. If Timothy recovered, Thurston would never be next in line for the Lawson Group. But if Timothy didn't make it, and Henry was left with a chronic illness, then Thurston would be the only real hope for the family.

Thurston went straight to the lab to do the donor testing, completing all the necessary checks before heading down the hall to find Sallie outside the ICU.

He'd barely arrived when the team of specialists emerged.

Yates spotted Herbert among them, his eyes darkening with concern.

Herbert, acting as the group's spokesperson, approached Sallie with a consent form in hand.

They'd all studied Timothy's case together and, after reviewing his current condition, decided to attempt a minimally invasive procedure to repair the damaged neural tissue in his brain. This surgery might increase his chances of waking up.

"There are risks involved," Herbert explained, "but the odds of success are fifty percent higher than just waiting for him to regain consciousness on his own. If he doesn't wake by tomorrow, the

chances of recovery drnoveldrama

dramatically. Miss Lawson, the decision is yours."

Sallie's hands trembled. Faced with such a choice, she couldn't bring herself to

say yes.