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"You shouldn''t be worrying about whether I''ll agree or not. Even if I say yes,
it''s pointless if Salome refuses. She just found her way back to her family, and
everyone in the Zimmerman family will put her wishes first. There''s no way they''d
force her into anything."
"That''s true." Mrs. Bryant muttered, patting Middleton''s arm. "Salome hasn''t spent
any time with Yates all these years. What if she says no?"
"Then Yates will just have to win her over. When we see her in a bit, let''s feel
things out before bringing up anything official. If she''s against it, the Zimmermans
will call off the engagement, and that''s that."
"My dear, you always know what to do. That''s exactly how we''ll handle it." Mrs.
Bryant beamed and looked up front, calling out to Yates, "You know, you''re just as
good-looking as Timothy, and you''re just as sessful, if not more. You need to
show off that charm of yours and sweep Salome off her feet. Tonight, let''s not
mention the marriage at all. If we push too hard, you might not get another chance
to turn things around."
Yates couldn''t help butugh. Of course, with Salome back, this was always going
to be the oue.
His parents were determined to see him pursue Salome, no matter what.
But as their voices faded, Yates''s mind drifted, and an image of Jessica shed
before his eyes.
What a twist of fate.
"Who would have thought Jessica was Salome all along?
People truly are strange creatures.
"When they were little, everything was so simple. They''d watch those dramatic
scenes on TV, then y make-believe at home.
Back then, the n was for Timothy toe and "steal the bride" during their
pretend wedding.
But Timothy never showed up.
So he and Salome went through with the ceremony, just the two of them.
Afterward, they''d gone looking for Timothy together.
Salome even confronted Timothy, teasing him that she liked him more.
It was all just a childhood game-he never took it seriously.
But now, as adults, life had turned out so much more dramatic than any of their
childhood fantasies.
She ended up marrying Timothy.
Thinking about those memories now brought a strange feeling to his chest.
Back then, there was no talk of love just friendship and family.
But now, they were all grown up. Now they understood what love was, what it
meant to navigate the tangled web of rtionships and expectations.
How were they supposed to face this? How were they supposed to solve it?
Yates''s head spun with confusion.
The car soon pulled up at Zimmerman Manor. On the way, Larkin had called the
butler to make sure dinner would be ready when they arrived.
By now, the meal was nearly prepared.
Before getting out of the car, Mrs. Bryant clung tightly to Middleton''s arm. "Honey,
we''re about to meet my future daughter-inw. I''m so nervous, my heart''s racing.
Say something to calm me down!"
"I''m nervous too. My heart''s pounding."
Yates stared at them in disbelief and turned around from the front seat. "Aren''t
parents-inw supposed to be the intimidating ones? You two are more worked
up than the bride herself! I''ve never seen future inws this excited."
If ever there was a moment that deserved the word "speechless," this was it.
Mrs. Bryant shot him a re. "Excited or not, if you do your part, both sides will be
happy. So you''d better step up!"
"Exactly," Middleton chimed in, fixing
Yates with a stern look. The two of
them were practically pinning all
their hopes on him. Middleton
cleared his throat and dered "As
your father, I order you to pulbout all
the stops and win Salome''s heart!"
[Author''s note: Suddenly reminded of a ssic line from a TV show ''In the name
of God, I curse you...'' Ha!]
Yates felt like he was going to lose
his mind. He got out, opened the
back door, and helped his parents
out of the car. "It''s just dinner, the
night''s barely begun. If you want to
dream, let''s eat first, go home, and
then you can dream all you want."
"You trying to be clever with me? Are you making fun of us?" Mrs. Bryant shot him
another look as she stepped out.
Yates raised an eyebrow. "Not bad, you caught on quick."
Mrs. Bryant nearly reached for his ear, but Yates dodged her easily.
The family walked into Zimmerman Manor together.
Meanwhile, Vince had arrived ahead of them and was standing outside Jessica''s
bedroom door. He knocked softly.
"Jessy."
For twenty years, she had lived as Jessica every official document, every
memory, all tied to that name.
"With no memories of her early childhood, it was only natural she still answered to
Jessica
Salome was the name of the child
who had disappeared; her records
were still with the Zimmerman
family. If she wanted to be Salome,
she could step into that identity
whenever she wanted.
A sudden realization struck Vince.
If that was the case, it didn''t matter whether she divorced Timothy or not.
She was Salome now.
She could simply step into her old life.
Salome unmarried, free to choose.
If she didn''t want to be Jessica any longer, she could have apletely new
beginning.
Jessica opened the door.
"Brother."
Her voice was soft and warm, a gentle smile on her lips. There was something in
the way she said it that reminded him so much of Salome as a child.
Vince''s heart trembled.
"Jessy, Timothy has agreed to the divorce."
Jessica looked down, a cold smile tracing her lips.
When she was an orphan, Timothy had refused to let her go, doing everything he
could to keep her trapped.
Now that she had a family-now that she was Salome one word from her
grandfather and brother, and Timothy caved.
Ha.
He really was a bully at heart.
No wonder he hid her real identity from her.
No wonder he''d left his mark on her, a scar on her chest.
He never wanted her to go home, never wanted her brother to find her.
He knew, better than anyone, how desperately the Zimmermans had searched for
her, how her mother''s illness was tied to her disappearance. And yet, he''d still
done all of this.
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