"You''re really good at convincing yourself, aren''t you?" Vince scoffed.


    "Call it self-conviction, call it delusion, the result is the same. I never used to believe in destiny, but now I do. She wanted to marry me when we were kids. Even though she forgot about me, she still ended up marrying me when she grew up."


    Vince let out a coldugh. "That''s some twisted logic."


    "Twisted or not, her not showing up today... don''t you think that could be destiny too?"


    Vince smiled and nodded slowly. "You''re right. It is destiny. I have a feeling she will always belong to you."


    Timothy''s eyes narrowed. "You sound like you''re implying something."


    "I''m just suddenly thinking you might have a point. So you''re really not going to divorce her."


    "Never. I never wanted a divorce in the first ce. I only agreed this time because I felt I had no other choice. If she doesn''t want to see me right now, that''s fine. I won''t bother her. I''ll give her space. If she wants to make movies, I''ll give her the resources. I''ll give her anything she wants, except a divorce."


    Vince stared at him intently. "You really think you can do anything, don''t you?"


    "I wouldn''t go that far. But apart from changing thews of nature, I can give her anything she desires."


    He had it all figured out. He and Jessica had skipped the romance and gone straight to marriage. They had missed so much of what should havee before. This was his chance to make it up to her, to start would be discharged


    over. He would start


    tomorrow, and he would begin to pursue her properly. Maybe this was fate''s way of giving him a second chance to atone for everything he owed her.


    "You should get some rest. I hope you recover quickly," Vince said, his tone t.


    "Vince... thank you." Timothy''s gratitude was genuine. He knew Vince often despised him, but underneath it all, there was a soft spot, a flicker of concern.


    Vince stood up and gave Timothy onest, deep look. It was an expression Timothy had never seen before impossiblyplex. Then, a faint smile touched Vince''s lips, and he was the same old Vince again. Yet, a sense of unease washed over Timothy, a premonition that something was wrong. He couldn''t quite ce it. Perhaps it was just as Yates Bryant had said if he refused to divorce, Jessica would just be Salome, and Salome had no marriage to him. But he wasn''t afraid of that. As long as she was still her, he could pursue her as Salome. A name was just abel.


    Vince turned and left.


    Timothy took a deep breath. This time, he would set things right. He would have a serious talk with Henry and call a family meeting to correct everyone''s attitude towards Jessica. He was going to give her the happy, warm home she deserved.


    When Vince returned to Jessica''s hospital, he found her asleep. The medication she was on had a sedative effect, and besides, rest was what she needed most. Herbert was sitting watch by her bed. Vince motioned for him to step outside.


    "You''re a doctor," Vince said once they were in the hallway. "Is there any way you can issue a death certificate for her?"


    His visit with Timothy had confirmed what Jessica already suspected. Timothy had no intention of asking why she missed their appointment; all he cared about was the oue. He would never agree to a divorce again. To secure Jessica''s future freedom, Vince knew he had to take drastic measures.