Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Chapter 21

The news was everywhere—no matter where you looked, it was all anyone could talk about.

Timothy and Henry had been spotted out together, and while the world knew Timothy was married, no one had ever figured out who Mrs. Lawson really was.

So when the paparazzi finally managed to snap a major scoop, they wasted no time blasting it across every platform, hungry for clicks and attention.

Timothy was a giant in the business world, always at the center of public conversation.

But when it came to his private life, he was a fortress-no scandals, no gossip, nothing for the tabloids to sink their teeth into.

Everyone was dying to know: what kind of woman would a man like Timothy marry?

Unfortunately, the woman in the photo was mostly blocked by Timothy's tall frame, and the camera had only managed to capture the side of her face—just a glimpse of sleek, jet-black hair.

But even from that, the polished look of her hair alone set off a wildfire of speculation. People were convinced she had to be the heiress of some powerful family.

Jessica hadn't wanted to see or hear anything more about Timothy. But the moment she unlocked her phone, news about him was everywhere she looked.

Maybe the rest of the world didn't recognize the woman beside Timothy, but Jessica knew instantly-it was Sheila.

Nine hundred and ninety million.

Flameheart...

And Henry, personally crowning Sheila with the family's tiara.

All those memories jabbed at Jessica's throat like thorns.

dying royal house had fallen in love with his

a jewel; it was a symbol of forbidden love.

Sheila really be his

Jessica twice, grave both times, urging

them and didn't want

the Lawson family: when Timothy's mother was pregnant with him, she'd been diagnosed

cancer.

to Timothy, she'd refused

born,

his

Lawson family ever spoke of Timothy's birth

even know

his mother's

sure if Sheila was truly

of one thing: Timothy

a fiery, consuming

planning to file for divorce, but not

now, with a cancer diagnosis hanging over her, she only had half a life left. Divorce or no divorce, it

was gone, Timothy

see it through. She didn't want to spend her final six

Oakwood, she'd make a trip

Ines's next comic convention was in Riverside

news online, she rushed straight to

and Henry had arrived later than the others; he'd booked a presidential suite. After Sheila learned they were in, Henry had invited

"Timothy? Are you awake?"