Goodbye, Mr. Regret novel Chapter 484

“You two shouldn't be worrying about whether I’ll agree or not. Even if I say yes, it’s pointless if Salome refuses. She just found her way back to her family, and everyone in the Zimmerman family will put her wishes first. There’s no way they’d force her into anything.”

“That’s true.” Mrs. Bryant muttered, patting Middleton’s arm. “Salome hasn’t spent any time with Yates all these years. What if she says no?”

“Then Yates will just have to win her over. When we see her in a bit, let’s feel things out before bringing up anything official. If she’s against it, the Zimmermans will call off the engagement, and that’s that.”

“My dear, you always know what to do. That’s exactly how we’ll handle it.” Mrs. Bryant beamed and looked up front, calling out to Yates, “You know, you’re just as good-looking as Timothy, and you’re just as successful, if not more. You need to show off that charm of yours and sweep Salome off her feet. Tonight, let’s not mention the marriage at all. If we push too hard, you might not get another chance to turn things around.”

Yates couldn’t help but laugh. Of course, with Salome back, this was always going to be the outcome.

His parents were determined to see him pursue Salome, no matter what.

But as their voices faded, Yates’s mind drifted, and an image of Jessica flashed before his eyes.

What a twist of fate.

Who would have thought Jessica was Salome all along?

People truly are strange creatures.

When they were little, everything was so simple. They’d watch those dramatic scenes on TV, then play make-believe at home.

Back then, the plan was for Timothy to come and “steal the bride” during their pretend wedding.

But Timothy never showed up.

So he and Salome went through with the ceremony, just the two of them.

Afterward, they’d gone looking for Timothy together.

Salome even confronted Timothy, teasing him that she liked him more.

It was all just a childhood game—he never took it seriously.

But now, as adults, life had turned out so much more dramatic than any of their childhood fantasies.

She ended up marrying Timothy.

Thinking about those memories now brought a strange feeling to his chest.

Back then, there was no talk of love—just friendship and family.

But now, they were all grown up. Now they understood what love was, what it meant to navigate the tangled web of relationships and expectations.

How were they supposed to face this? How were they supposed to solve it?

Yates’s head spun with confusion.

The car soon pulled up at Zimmerman Manor. On the way, Larkin had called the butler to make sure dinner would be ready when they arrived.

By now, the meal was nearly prepared.

Before getting out of the car, Mrs. Bryant clung tightly to Middleton’s arm. “Honey, we’re about to meet my future daughter-in-law. I’m so nervous, my heart’s racing. Say something to calm me down!”

“I’m nervous too. My heart’s pounding.”

Yates stared at them in disbelief and turned around from the front seat. “Aren’t parents-in-law supposed to be the intimidating ones? You two are more worked up than the bride herself! I’ve never seen future in-laws this excited.”

If ever there was a moment that deserved the word “speechless,” this was it.

Mrs. Bryant shot him a glare. “Excited or not, if you do your part, both sides will be happy. So you’d better step up!”

If she didn’t want to be Jessica any longer, she could have a completely new beginning.

Jessica opened the door.

“Brother.”

Her voice was soft and warm, a gentle smile on her lips. There was something in the way she said it that reminded him so much of Salome as a child.

Vince’s heart trembled.

“Jessy, Timothy has agreed to the divorce.”

Jessica looked down, a cold smile tracing her lips.

When she was an orphan, Timothy had refused to let her go, doing everything he could to keep her trapped.

Now that she had a family—now that she was Salome—one word from her grandfather and brother, and Timothy caved.

Ha.

He really was a bully at heart.

No wonder he hid her real identity from her.

No wonder he’d left his mark on her, a scar on her chest.

He never wanted her to go home, never wanted her brother to find her.

He knew, better than anyone, how desperately the Zimmermans had searched for her, how her mother’s illness was tied to her disappearance. And yet, he’d still done all of this.