Goodbye, Mr. Regret novel Chapter 492

None of them had ever met before.

If Timothy hadn’t hidden her away, Mrs. Zimmerman would have recognized her at a glance—she would have known her own daughter instantly.

Yates could hardly describe what he was feeling at that moment.

It wasn’t hard to imagine how much pain Vince must have felt after learning the truth.

Mrs. Zimmerman was still holding Jessica, sobbing quietly.

Zachary walked over and gently patted her on the arm. “You’re holding your daughter too tight—let me see her too.”

Mrs. Zimmerman quickly loosened her embrace, and Jessica’s long lashes were wet with tears that still sparkled on her cheeks.

Jessica dropped to her knees.

“Dad, Mom, I’m so sorry. I’ve come home late. I couldn’t be there for you, I couldn’t honor you as a daughter should. You’ve worried about me all these years—it’s all my fault.”

Zachary’s heart broke for her. He hurried to help her up. “Sweetheart, don’t say that. It’s our fault. We didn’t protect you—that’s why you were lost to us for so long. You must have suffered so much out there.”

Jessica, tears still shining in her eyes, gave a trembling smile. “It wasn’t suffering. Now that I’ve found you, nothing that happened matters anymore.”

Mrs. Zimmerman quietly wiped her eyes.

Zachary reached out, cupped Jessica’s face in his hands, and gently brushed away her tears. In the end, unable to hold back, he pulled her into his arms and choked up himself.

Vince felt a tightness in his chest, his own eyes prickling with tears.

He didn’t even need to explain anything—his parents had recognized their Salome instantly. But he… he’d known Jessica for so long and hadn’t realized. If he’d seen it sooner, how much pain could she have been spared?

As for what had happened between her and Timothy, Vince had no idea how to even begin telling his parents.

After a long while, Zachary finally released Jessica, and Mrs. Zimmerman quickly took her hand. “Salome, come sit with me—tell me everything about these past years. Where are your adoptive parents? They raised you so well—we have to thank them properly.”

Jessica followed Mrs. Zimmerman to the sofa.

Zachary had noticed Yates standing by the door, but he and his wife had been so desperate to see their daughter that they hadn’t had a chance to speak with him. He turned to Vince. “You and Yates just got off the plane. Why don’t you take him to the guest room to rest?”

“Alright.”

Zachary nodded at Yates. “Yates, go on and get some rest. As you can see, we have a lot to talk about with Salome. Once you’re settled, you and I will sit down and catch up, just the two of us.”

Yates replied politely, “Thank you, Zachary. No need for such formality.”

Vince came over, and together they left for the best guest room in the house.

“Let it go, Vince,” Yates said softly.

“How can I? Do you know where Jessy got the money for that film?” Vince’s voice was raw.

Yates looked at him, puzzled.

“All that money—she scraped it together over seven years of marriage to Timothy. He refused to acknowledge her, always asked her to stay out of sight when guests came, and to keep her quiet, he’d transfer her a couple hundred thousand at a time. She saved it all, bit by bit. Carlisle’s team was on the brink of collapse. Jessy used the money she’d managed to save to keep them going—she made that film happen. I…”

Vince’s breath came hard and fast. He pressed a hand to his chest. Back then, he hadn’t known Jessica was his sister. Seeing the situation at Carlisle’s studio had left him shaken and deeply moved. He’d called Jessica, told her she was the best girl in the world.

Now, knowing she was his own flesh and blood, the pain and guilt nearly suffocated him.

“What makes it worse is—Timothy knew all along. He never told me. And this—look, you saw how quickly my mom recognized her. Seven years. If Timothy had brought her home just once, just let my mom see her, we could have found her so much sooner.”

Vince pounded his fist against his chest, overcome with regret.

Yates’ handsome brow furrowed tightly.

Salome had grown up—she was still so remarkable.

He remembered, at the Zimmerman family’s anniversary, seeing her beautiful paper cuttings. Later, he’d heard how talented she was at animation—Ines’ star pupil.