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.

his phone

to the nightstand

It was Phelps.

"Grandpa."

it's been ages since your family visited the old house. Why don't you come home for the autumn holiday? I miss little

phone pressed to his ear. "I took Henry on a

day of the holiday is my birthday. Bring Jessica and

"Alright."

had raised Timothy

for that one falling-out seven years ago, their bond

Timothy sent a

are right now-you need to be back at The

didn't see the message

the stern patriarch of a

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

best-showing respect and patience to every

entered the picture, Phelps' two major emotional outbursts had made one thing painfully

was nothing more

the old man's plans

of holding on to Timothy's

Everything was becoming clearer.

had prompted Timothy to marry her seven years ago-it had to be something out