Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Chapter 22

"The press claims they've spotted your mysterious wife..."

Timothy paused, a flicker of something complicated in his sharp eyes.

He was no longer the same Timothy who'd grown up alongside her. Years of navigating the business world had left him more composed, more inscrutable than

ever.

Sheila realized she could no longer read him the way she once did.

After a moment, he finally replied, his voice even. "It doesn't matter."

Sheila blinked, momentarily thrown. Did he really not care at all?

She tried again, gently. "But Jessica is your wife."

"She has the marriage certificate. If that piece of paper can't give her peace of mind, then she's being rather foolish, isn't she?"

Sheila hesitated, thinking it over. "Alright then. I just didn't want her to overthink. That's all I wanted to say. You should get some rest."

"Mm."

Timothy said nothing more, and Sheila quietly left the room.

He lit a cigarette, his gaze falling to the velvet box on the table. Rising, he tucked the box away in his suitcase.

then, his phone

nightstand and picked it

It was Phelps.

"Grandpa."

Why don't you

of the bed, phone pressed to

is my birthday. Bring Jessica and Henry home,

"Alright."

raised Timothy

falling-out seven years ago, their bond had always been

the call, Timothy sent

I don't care where you are right now-you need to be back at The Gilded Whisper

already asleep. She didn't see the message until the

as the stern patriarch of a

worlds apart from Timothy's. She'd never dared hope the Lawson

Lawson, she always did her best-showing respect and patience to every member

major emotional outbursts had made

eyes, she was nothing more than a tool

bad the old man's plans had

of holding

Everything was becoming clearer.

seven years ago-it had to be something