NovelGoldNone 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—letsee 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 chlate. | couldn't be there for you, | couldn't honor you as a daughter
should. You've worried aboutall 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 Salinstantly. 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—telleverything about these past years. Where are your adoptive parents? They raised you so
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtwell—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 srest. As you can see, we have a lot to talk about with
Salome. Once you're settled, you and | will sit down and catch up, just the two of us."
Yates replied politely, "Thank you, Zachary. No need for such formality."
Vince cover, and together they left for the best guest room in the house.
They sat down in the sitting area. Vince let out a long breath. "Yates, there's something | haven't told you yet.
But now, | have to."
"Con, Vince, don't be so distant."
Vince looked straight at him. "Remember that film you said had huge potential and wanted to invest in?"
"Of course. You promoted it everywhere. | saw the trailer—it's got a shot at being a hit."
"That film—Jessy was the one who invested in it."
Yates froze for a second, then pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his suit pocket and lit one. "Does Timothy
know?"
"No, he doesn't." Vince went on,
"When you wanted in, you
threatened that unless you were
allowed the film would never see
the light of day. Carlisle got scared,
went to Jessy, and Jessy cto
got involved. When | visited the set, |
realized every single person working
on the film was disabled. You can't
imagine how shocked and moved |
was."
"I'm sorry... | had no idea."
After meeting Timothy, Yates had kept urging Vince not to get involved.
Yates took a long drag on his cigarette, trying to quell the turmoil inside.
Vince spoke through gritted teeth. "Timothy even tried to pass that film off as Sheila Howard's work. Thinking
about it now—I just—"
He clenched his fists, anger tightening his chest.
"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 chard 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 stuhad 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 hjust once, just let my mom see her, we
could have found her so much sooner."
Vince pounded his fist against his chest, overcwith regret.
Yates' handsbrow furrowed tightly.
Salhad 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.
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