Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Vince had barely stepped outside when he spotted Timothy's car pulling up the driveway.

Timothy was sitting in the backseat, the window lowered. "You coming?"

Vince climbed in without a word.

Timothy wasted no time. "She's at your place, isn't she?"

"You've done your homework," Vince replied, eyeing him warily. His voice dropped, cold and heavy. "Still going with the same old plan?"noveldrama

Timothy's tone was mild, almost indifferent. “That's not going to work anymore." "Why not?"

Vince figured Timothy's only move had ever been to stall for time—he never had any better ideas. Delay, and hope for another chance later. That was always his way.

"Because you're onto me now. You'd see right through it."

Vince gave a crooked half-smile. "So you're divorcing her, and now you're picking a fight with me?"

"And whose fault is that?" Timothy shot back. "If you'd kept out of it, things wouldn't have gotten so complicated. Vince, we've been friends for years. Why not let it go? I never wanted to divorce her. All this mess-it's just one big misunderstanding."

"It's too late for that," Vince said, his voice steady. "I'm involved now. I'm not backing down. You want me out? I say you should be the one to let go." He paused, then offered a suggestion. "If you really can't bear to lose her, then divorce her and win her back the right way. At least if you let her go now, maybe you'll still leave her with some good memories of you."

Timothy's brow furrowed. "She won't even come home while we're still married. If we divorce, what makes you think she'll give me another chance?"

He wasn't about to fall for Vince's bait.

"And if tomorrow doesn't go your way, have you thought about the fallout? She might really go scorched earth on you, Timothy. I think she's truly done this time. And honestly, I don't see why she'd want to come back. You never appreciated her. Wouldn't it be better to end things peacefully?"

Timothy's voice was edged with anger. "And what makes you think I didn't appreciate her?"

"I can see it plain as day. Anyone can. You clinging to her like this—it's just pointless."

Vince wished, more than anything, that Timothy would just let go, cut the cord, and be done with it.

"At the end of the day," Timothy said, "this whole mess is your fault for butting in. So now I'm giving you the problem, Vince. I don't let people force me into anything

I don't want to do-including you."

His expression was hard as stone, his voice even harder.

"And how exactly are you dumping this on me?"

"I found your sister."

Vince gave a humorless chuckle. "You expect me to believe that?"

"Believe what you want. You wrecked my family, so I'm not telling you anything— for now."

Vince's eyes narrowed. "So it's true. You really did find her?"

"Yeah."

Vince grabbed Timothy by the collar, voice shaking with barely restrained fury. "Where is she?"

"I told you. I'm not saying."

Vince's grip tightened, digging into Timothy's neck until it hurt. But finally, jaw clenched, he let go.

"Fine. You win. You tracked down Salome for the Zimmerman family, and I shouldn't be treating you like this."

"I should probably be begging you right now. But don't you understand how desperate we are to find her?"

"My mother's been sick with worry for years."

"She's dying now!"

"Timothy, if everything we've been through isn't enough for you to tell me the truth right now then I really had you wrong!"

Vince's words tumbled out in a rush, his voice trembling with emotion.

Timothy's resolve faltered for a second. He knew every word Vince said was true.

But his answer was ice-cold. "Your mother needs her daughter. You need your sister. The Zimmermans need Salome. But I need my wife."

Once they found out who Jessica really was, Timothy would be facing not just the Zimmermans, but also the Bryants.

Salome had been missing for twenty years, but the Bryants had never called off the engagement.

If the truth came out, there would be no future for him and Jessica.

So Vince was the only leverage he had left.

Vince's eyes burned red, his gaze icy and murderous. The ever-smiling Vince now

looked like a stranger, his stare sharp as blades.

"I'll ask you one more time: where is Salome?"

"You get Jessy to come home and drop the divorce, and I'll tell you."

Timothy didn't budge an inch.

This time, Vince truly lost it-angrier than he'd ever been before. Not only was Timothy torturing the

Zimmermans, he wanted to force

Vince to use Jessica as a bargaining

chip.

Vince's fury boiled over, and he swung a fist at Timothy. "Are you going to talk or

not?"

Timothy caught the punch, gripping Vince's hand in a vice.

"All I want is to bring my wife home. If I get what I want, you'll get what you want."

Vince yanked his hand free and punched again.

Timothy, his leg still healing from a fracture, showed no sign of fighting back. Vince's second punch landed hard against Timothy's jaw, splitting his lip.

Secretary Allen, sitting in the driver's seat, nervously called out, "Mr. Zimmerman, please,

don't-President Lawson's injuries haven't even healed yet!"

Timothy's voice was low and steady. "Get out."

He didn't need anyone else's interference.

Allen, pale and anxious, climbed out of the car.

Vince roared, "Say it!"

"No matter what you do today, I'm not telling you."

Even as he took the hits, Timothy knew Vince was crossing a line. This wasn't

how friends or decent people-handled things.