Goodbye, Mr. Regret

He was searching for a reason to refuse.

"If you hadn't said it so directly, maybe you'd have your guard up. But since you did, there's really nothing left to hide. It's been seven years-it's time she met her grandparents. Can you help smooth things over?"

Of everyone around him, only Vince could talk to Jessica.

As for Vince-what reason was there to keep him at arm's length? Maybe he was his brother-in-law. However Vince treated Jessica, he didn't mind at all.

"It's a tall order. And honestly, you should keep your guard up with me. If you trust me this much, I'm afraid I'll feel too guilty stealing your thunder."

In short, he was going to decline. No need for Jessica to get the wrong idea and think he was playing mediator between husband and wife.

"Still looking for your little sister? I might have a lead. The odds are decent."

Timothy decided to play his trump card.noveldrama

Vince replied right away, "It won't be easy, but I'll give it a shot. If it doesn't work out, don't blame me."

"I trust you."

"Give me a hint."

Vince knew Timothy well enough-if there wasn't a good chance, Timothy wouldn't bring it up so casually.

"I don't want to get your hopes up. Let me confirm it first, then I'll fill you in."

Vince didn't press further. Even if he found out now, he'd still have to wait for the outcome.

Since Timothy was already on the case, he'd leave it to him. A few days at most, and they'd have an answer.

After hanging up, Vince still had no idea how to break the news to Jessica.

Timothy really knew how to put him to work.

Still, there was nothing for it-Vince grabbed his coat and headed out.

Jessica was already at home, working.

Today's tasks weren't too

challenging. The character designs she'd sketched before were inspired by research she'd done on Mr Smith, the show she was currently working on.

But the script called for a new style, so she needed to redesign everything from scratch.

Only once the character look was finalized could the rest of the work begin.

She was fully absorbed at her desk, fingers flying over the keyboard.

The doorbell rang.

She got up and answered it. Vince stood on the doorstep, arms laden with bags of fruit and pastries.

Jessica poured him a cup of coffee.

There was a notepad and pen on the coffee table. She scribbled a line: “Mr. Zimmerman, thank you for the fruit and pastries."

She couldn't eat any of it right now, but it was the thought that counted. She had to say thank you—it was just good manners.

"No need to thank me. Actually, I came to ask a favor."

Jessica had been worrying about how to thank him-she quickly gestured for him

to speak. If it was something she could do, she'd do it, no question.

Nothing weighed heavier than a favor unpaid. This was her chance to return it, and she couldn't let it slip by.

Vince met her eyes, his gaze steady. "This might put you in a tough spot."

Jessica looked up, puzzled, then smiled and wrote in neat script, “It's okay, go ahead."

If it turned out to be impossible, she'd say so then. But if she could help, she'd give it her all.

"It's like this: Timothy's grandparents immigrated here years ago. They heard you're in town and are insisting that Timothy bring you to visit. The Howards want to meet you. Given how things have been between you and Timothy lately..." Vince hesitated, "...he figured if he asked you himself, you'd refuse. So he asked me to talk to you instead.”

Jessica pressed her lips together and wrote her reply: "I've been married to him for seven years and never met his grandparents. Now, when we're on the verge of divorce, what's the point? He must know that. Why send you? Aren't you caught in the middle?"

First, she refused; then, she worried about putting Vince in a difficult position.