Goodbye, Mr. Regret

It was exactly her style.

Her mother must have decorated the bedroom based on what she remembered Jessica loving as a child, assuming her tastes hadn't changed with time.

"Salome, I'll go run you a hot bath. You'll feel so much better after soaking for a while," Mrs. Zimmerman said.noveldrama

Jessica quickly caught her mother's hand. "Mom, you're not in the best health. I can take care of these little things myself—I'm all grown up now, not a little girl anymore."

Mrs. Zimmerman smiled gently. "But you were only six when you went missing. I missed out on taking care of you all these years. Let me make up for lost time, just for today-let me look after you."

This wasn't just about looking after her. This was a mother's fierce, overwhelming love for her child.

"Mom, you're so good to me," Jessica choked out, her voice trembling.

Mrs. Zimmerman's smile deepened as she walked into the bathroom. She turned

on the faucet, adjusted the temperature, and started filling the tub.

Jessica grabbed some clothes from her suitcase and stepped inside. Mrs. Zimmerman sat on the edge of the tub, turned to her, and said, "Salome, you've always loved the scent of gardenias. I bought a special gardenia bubble bath just

for you."

She squeezed some of the fragrant liquid into the water and swirled it with her hand, filling the tub with delicate bubbles.

Jessica's eyes stung with tears.

Some things about a person never change.

She'd loved gardenias since she was little-her grandmother had planted two bushes by the front door and another in the backyard. When they bloomed, the whole house would be filled with their sweet scent.

After marrying Timothy, she found out he preferred the smell of orchids. Out of habit, she'd swapped out all her scented products for orchid-scented ones.

The bath was ready.

"Salome, come here. Let Mom scrub your back. You always wanted me to do that for you when you were little. And at bedtime, you wanted me to scratch your back to help you sleep."

Mrs. Zimmerman's smile grew even softer as she reminisced.

Jessica knelt down beside her, her voice rough with emotion. "All these years... is it these memories that kept you going?"

The moment she spoke, tears spilled silently down her cheeks.

She was a mother, too. Henry Lawson was her whole world-every frown of his tugged at her heart.

Even after the cancer diagnosis, when her own life was slipping away, she found herself thinking most about Henry's future.

If Henry hadn't broken her heart, she probably would never have stopped worrying about him.

Mrs. Zimmerman reached out and gently wiped away Jessica's tears. "Oh, sweetheart, why are you crying again? Of course I missed you. Isn't that what mothers do when their children aren't by their side?"

For seven years, Jessica had lived with the Lawsons-years without love.

At first, at least her son still relied on her, cared for her. That was enough to help her forget all the ways she was unloved.

But not long ago, even her son's love slipped away.

Only now did she truly understand what a blessing it was to be loved-how it made her heart feel soft and light.

Maybe Mrs. Zimmerman's love was so fierce that, even after twenty years apart, Jessica felt no embarrassment being vulnerable in front of her.

She sank into the bath, letting the warm water and steam blur her vision.

When she finished and came out, Mrs. Zimmerman had already drawn the curtains.

Jessica lay down, and Mrs. Zimmerman sat at the bedside, gently stroking her hair. "Close your eyes, Salome. I'll stay right here with you."

Before she could stop herself, Jessica whispered, "Salome loves Mommy so much."

Hearing those familiar words, Mrs. Zimmerman's eyes turned red, her eyelids trembling as she fought back tears. She answered in the same way she always had: "Mommy loves Salome, too. Now go to sleep sweetheart."

Jessica closed her eyes.

Riverside City.

Around noon, Sallie brought lunch to the hospital for Timothy. After all, he had to eat.

But when she arrived, his room was empty. When she asked around, she learned

that he had insisted on being discharged early that morning.

Sallie tried calling Timothy, but his phone was off.

She tried his secretary next.

"Secretary Allen, has Timothy come into the office?"

"No, he hasn't."

"Has he called you? Told you where he went?"

"No, I haven't heard from him."

Sallie hung up and tried Mabel, but she hadn't seen Timothy either.

Sallie was getting frantic.

How could he be wandering around with all those injuries? He should be resting,

not running off and making everyone worry.

With no other options, she decided to check Moonstrand Villas. Whenever

Timothy was upset, that's where he went.

But even there, he was nowhere to be found.

Now Sallie was thoroughly panicked.

Had he gone abroad to look for Jessica again?

She quickly dialed Vince's number. This time, he finally picked up after a while.

"What is it?" Vince's tone was cold.

Sallie remembered how Vince had been annoyed when she insulted Jessica for being mute. Back then he hadn't said much-after all, he barely knew Jessica and didn't want to make things awkward with

Timothy.

But now, Jessica was his sister. Anyone from the Lawson family who had bullied

her was going to pay.

"Vince, Timothy's missing. I've

searched everywhere and can't find

him. I'm worried he might have gone overseas to find Jessy. If he does, can you please let me know fight away? I'm really worried about him."

Vince let out a cold laugh and said...