Goodbye, Mr. Regret novel Chapter 474

He’d walked right up to Jessica—a woman he’d never even met before—and proposed to her on the spot.

Even now, he couldn’t forget the way she looked at him in stunned silence, her eyes wide and searching.

Time seemed to freeze in that moment.

Waiting for her answer, he’d felt a strange mix of emotions—an unfamiliar struggle twisting inside him. Would she say yes? Would she turn him down?

After what felt like forever, she finally smiled and nodded.

The tension in his chest unraveled in an instant, his heart swelling so wide it felt as if it could contain mountains and rivers.

It wasn’t that he didn’t have feelings; he was just always so reserved, so careful with himself.

That impulsive rush carried him all the way to the courthouse.

It was only when he stood there, marriage certificate in hand, the seal still fresh, that it hit him—how reckless he’d been.

He told himself to calm down, to think.

That was when she brought up taking wedding photos.

He refused.

Now Timothy wondered if maybe, from that very moment, he’d already started to hurt her.

“Timothy?”

Her voice pulled him back to the present. “You should go home,” he said quietly. “I’m fine.”

He couldn’t let Sheila get any closer to him. If things kept going this way, the distance between him and Jessica would only grow.

Sheila was stunned. Of all the things Timothy could have said to her, “go home” was the last she’d expected.

Trying to hold herself together, she protested, “You’re hurt so badly—how can I just leave you here?”

Timothy murmured, “She’s hurting more than I am.”

“You mean Jessica?” Sheila faltered, caught off guard. “Don’t worry, Vince told me—she’s not hurt at all.”

He knew Jessica wasn’t physically injured.

Her wounds were deeper.

Timothy was beginning to understand. His own injuries could be treated with medicine and rest. But the pain inside Jessica—there was no cure for that.

For her to grab the steering wheel today, knowing her temperament, it had to be more than a split-second impulse.

She really wanted out.

Maybe he should let her go. Maybe it was time to stop clutching that marriage certificate like a shackle.

But every time he imagined letting go—releasing the kite string he’d held so tightly—his heart felt empty, hollowed out.

His silence was driving Sheila mad. They were in the same room, but his mind was somewhere else—somewhere with Jessica.

Jessica was becoming heavier and heavier in his world.

And he knew now that Jessica was Salome.

Now, Jessica had finally come face-to-face with the man responsible. But she was powerless to seek justice for her grandmother—not right away, not yet.

And he was Sheila’s father. In the future, Timothy would probably keep getting involved, for Sheila’s sake.

Her whole life had changed since she met Timothy.

“Yes,” she said quietly. “Grandma loved me. She taught me how to survive—she was my hero.”

Her father had abandoned her, but her grandmother never did.

Vince took a shaky breath. “Jess, do you have any childhood photos around here?”

“I do.”

Was Vince planning to piece together her whole life story? Herbert couldn’t take it anymore and interrupted, “Mr. Zimmerman, it’s almost lunchtime and my car’s nearly out of gas. Mind driving me to pick up some food?”

Vince could see the wariness in Herbert’s eyes, and relented. “Sure.”

As he stood up, he turned back to Jessica. “The other day, I sent you and Daisy’s photo to my friends. People keep saying you two look alike. I just wanted to compare your childhood pictures—see if the resemblance is real.”

“Alright. You guys go pick up lunch—I’ll find the photos.”

Vince headed out with Herbert. As Herbert pulled open the passenger door, he said, “Get in.”

“I thought you were almost out of gas,” Vince replied dryly.

“Mr. Zimmerman, you’re a smart man. I’m sure you know exactly why I wanted you to come with me.”