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

crossed to the nightstand and picked it

It was Phelps.

"Grandpa."

ages since your family visited the old house. Why don't you come home for the autumn holiday?

phone pressed

birthday. Bring Jessica and Henry

"Alright."

had raised

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

call, Timothy sent a message

is Grandpa's birthday. He wants your chicken soup. I don't care where you are right now-you need to be back at The Gilded Whisper Estates by

was already asleep. She didn't see the message until the next morning.

stern patriarch of a wealthy family. His strictness never bothered her

worlds apart from Timothy's. She'd never dared hope the Lawson family would truly accept

as Mrs. Lawson, she always did her best-showing respect and patience

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

was nothing more than a tool to tie Timothy

old

capable of holding on to Timothy's

Everything was becoming clearer.

to marry her seven years ago-it