Goodbye, Mr. Regret

It was as if he were trapped in that pain, unable to escape.

On the way, Timothy spotted a flower shop and asked the driver to pull over. He picked out a bouquet, thinking maybe the scent of fresh flowers would help lift the mood at the hospital, even if just a little.

"Dad, is Mom ever coming home again?"

Henry's question left Timothy at a loss for words.

Once back in the car, Timothy squeezed his son's hand. "Let's do our best to bring Mom home together, all right?"

"Okay."

When they arrived at the hospital, Timothy led Henry down the corridor to Daisy's room. He knocked gently, then pushed open the door.

Inside, Jessica was feeding Daisy some warm soup, carefully holding the bowl and spoon as she turned and saw the two of them. She barely glanced their way before looking away, treating them as if they were invisible. She went on feeding Daisy, quietly attentive.

Timothy stepped in and placed the bouquet between the two hospital beds, setting it on the shared nightstand. There was also a basket of fruit, which he left on the cabinet.

Jessica didn't even look up. She continued, pausing only to dab the corners of Daisy's mouth with a tissue now and then.

Henry stood awkwardly in the room, feeling completely helpless. His mother used to fuss over him just like that, always so gentle and careful. The sight made his eyes fill with tears. He couldn't get a single word out-not even "Mom."

It wasn't until Jessica finished feeding Daisy that Henry finally broke down, crying out, "Mom!"

Jessica hesitated for a moment, then resumed wiping Daisy's mouth.

"Jess, Henry's calling you," Daisy reminded softly.

"I heard him."

She heard, but didn't respond.

Daisy added, "Mr. Lawson is here too."

"Mm, I see," Jessica replied, her voice cool and distant, ignoring both of them completely.

"Mom..."

Unable to hold back any longer, Henry rushed over and grabbed Jessica's arm tightly. "Mom, I'm sorry, I know I was wrong. I saw the old cartoons you made for me they were all made by you. Mom, please, forgive me, okay? Don't leave me." noveldrama

He looked up at Jessica's nearly expressionless face. Her eyelids fluttered, and tears spilled down his cheeks.

"I'm sorry..." he whispered, his voice trembling.

"Mom..."

He shook her arm, desperate.

Jessica finally looked down at his small hand and gently pried it off. "I'm not your mother," she said softly, her tone gentle but piercing, more beautiful than Ms. Sheila's

voice but far more painful to Henry's

heart. Henry's

"You are my mom. You're my mom!"

He remembered the amusement park, how Mom's eyes had only been on Daisy. He'd felt then that she was slipping away from him. Now, that fear was even stronger.

"I'm just the nanny your father hired for you. Your dad didn't want any noise, so he found a nanny who couldn't speak," Jessica said quietly.

Henry's whole body shook. Those were his own words, thrown back at him.

"I don't want to be your nanny anymore. Go home, Henry."

If it had only been once or twice, she might have forgiven him. But it wasn't. He'd gone so far as to listen to Sheila, even threatening her with jumping from the balcony, making her miss the chance to meet with Mr. Smith.

She couldn't accept a son like that.

Timothy remained silent, watching. He knew Jessica was right. Only by letting Henry feel the gravity of his actions would he finally let go of those dangerous, misguided ideas.

Just then, Mrs. Zimmerman arrived at the hospital. As she stepped into the room, she heard Henry pleading, "Mom, you're not the nanny. I was wrong, I'll never say that again."

Mrs. Zimmerman hadn't been told any of this. But seeing the boy-so much like Timothy-calling Jessica "Mom," she immediately realized he must be her grandson. And from the sound of it, this child had once mistaken Salome for the nanny! Cóntent

With that, Mrs. Zimmerman hurried into the room.