Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Call Aetherion's branch office and tell the executive assistant to find a way to destroy the hospital's records of the paternity test.

Timothy returned to the Howard family estate, wheeled himself into the bathroom, and lit a cigarette, holding it between his lips. From the side pocket of his wheelchair, he pulled out the paternity test report and flicked his lighter. He set the paperwork ablaze.

He took a slow drag from his cigarette, watching the report curl and blacken until it crumbled to ash.

Once it was nothing but a pile of soot, he turned on the shower and washed the remains down the drain.

Meanwhile, Sheila received a message from one of her old classmates.

"Oh my god, that was close! I almost couldn't find it just checked and the record's already gone. Good thing I was quick and got a picture. Take a look, but I'm deleting it right after you do."

"Okay," Sheila replied.noveldrama

The moment Sheila sent her message, her classmate unsent the previous texts.

A moment later, she sent the photo of the paternity report.

Sheila clicked it open, scanned the result-and felt her mind go blank with shock.

Her classmate promptly retracted the image.

"Sorry, this really goes against the rules. I could only let you see the result. I can't leave you with any evidence."

"I understand. Thanks."

Her classmate deleted the last message too.

Sheila clutched her phone, her heart pounding wildly.

Jessica-the mute girl-was actually Salome!

All grown up, she still had eyes for Timothy, just like when she was a child.

How could she be this lucky?

Sheila remembered how serious Timothy had looked this morning when he received the paternity report.

Wasn't he supposed to be helping Vince find someone? He'd found her, but he didn't look happy at all.

He must not want to get divorced.

He's probably terrified that Jessica is Salome. Knowing what Jessica suffered with the Lawsons, he'd do anything to bring her back to the Zimmerman family.

And once that happened, Timothy would have almost zero chance of getting back together with Jessica.

So, Timothy must be in love with Jessica.

He doesn't want to let her go.

Sheila couldn't let that happen.

She would observe for a few days. If Timothy feally did feel that way, she'd have to find a way to alert the Zimmermans, to make sure they brought their daughter homeas soon as possible.

And if it came to it, she'd make sure Henry went back with them too. The last thing she wanted was to raise Timothy's son with another woman if she ended up with Timothy someday.

Timothy informed Sandra and Abell that the chartered flight would leave at eight that evening.

Sheila used the opportunity to tell

Sandra and Abell that she'd formally apprenticed herself to Ines, and

since Ines would be back in Riverside City for a few days, she needed to go there early to continue her studies.

Meanwhile, Sallie had come to Aetherion for a fashion show and wouldn't be flying back yet.

In the end, only Timothy, Sandra, Abell, and Sheila boarded the flight home.

Just before boarding, Timothy's phone rang. Vince was calling.

"Timothy, didn't you say you'd found a lead? That you'd have news in a day or two? How's it going?"

Timothy hesitated for a long moment.

He was torn.

If he spoke up, Vince would find his sister. If he spoke up, Mr. Zimmerman would finally see his daughter.

But if he told the truth, he would lose his wife, and Henry would lose his mother.

It was an impossible choice.

The silence dragged on until Vince called out, "Timothy? Are you there?"

Timothy finally snapped back to himself.

"I'm here."

"So what's the result?" Vince's voice was tight with anticipation.