Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Vince's eyes narrowed. "What are you really trying to say?"

Back then, when Timothy announced he was going to marry Sheila, both the Lawsons and the Howards were up in arms. The whole thing nearly ended in a family feud.

Everyone knew Timothy's sudden marriage was all about saving Sheila's reputation—and, more importantly, keeping the peace between the Lawsons and the Howards.

But what did any of that have to do with Jessica being mute?

Suddenly, Sallie realized she'd said too much and backtracked. "It's nothing. I'm just venting."

She'd always looked down on Jessica for being unable to speak, convinced she wasn't good enough for Timothy, and was constantly picking on her.

Still, between the two, she was even more against Sheila ending up with Timothy. For the time being, Jessica needed to stay Mrs. Lawson-otherwise, who knew if Timothy might have another crazy impulse and go back to Sheila.

If she hadn't shown up that night just in time, things could've gotten really messy.

"Venting? You think I'm that gullible?" Vince pressed. "You clearly implied that if Jessica wasn't mute, Timothy wouldn't have married her. What's the real reason?"

Sallie rolled her eyes. "And why would I tell you?"

With that, she turned to leave, but Vince caught up in a few quick strides and seized her wrist. "Are you going to tell me or not?"

"You're hurting me!" Sallie yanked her arm free, rubbing at the red mark he'd left. Her voice was icy. "Why do you care so much about her, anyway? Don't tell me you're interested in her?"

Vince was caught off guard, lost for words.

Sallie stared at him, her gaze growing sharper. "You're out of your mind. She's Timothy's wife! If you so much as try anything... I swear I'll go straight to Larkin!"

This was the last thing Vince wanted to make a scene.

Sallie jabbed a finger at him, repeating herself, "A real friend doesn't go after another man's wife. Timothy's always treated you well. Don't screw this up!"

Vince did like Jessica. When it came down to it, he knew he was in the wrong. Even if Jessica and Timothy divorced one day, their history would always get in the way, making anything between him and Jessica impossible.

He fell silent, realizing there was no point pressing Sallie further. She shot him a glare and stormed off in a huff.

S to

Timothy still had forty-eight hours get through the critical period, but stuck in the ICU, Vince couldn't visit even if he wanted to. With nothing else to do, he left the hospital.

The whole way home, Vince kept turning things over in his mind. If Timothy truly felt nothing for Jessica, then when she wanted a divorce, he would've been altoo happy to sign the papers.

But from the very start, Timothy had never once mentioned divorce.

Timothy was always hard to read, but Vince could tell he had feelings for Jessica.

That's why Sallie's words didn't add up. And he couldn't understand why Timothy had treated Jessica so harshly.

Judging by Jessica's demeanor, her last seven years had been anything but easy.

Every time Vince thought of her, he felt a pang of sympathy he'd never experienced for any other woman. And that, honestly, was driving him crazy.

He pulled out his phone and called Yates.

"Want to grab a drink tonight?"

Yates sounded suspicious. "You don't sound like yourself. What happened?"

"I'll tell you when I see you."

Night fell.

Red House Bar.

Yates looked at him, stunned. "Wait-you sent Timothy's wife out of the country, then Timothy called you while driving and got in a car crash Jesus, Vince! What the hell were you thinking? You know Timothy hasn't called you Vince' in years. But in the moment he was in trouble, he called for you. Doesn't that make you feel even the slightest bit guilty?" noveldrama