Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Jessica almost laughed at her own question—how ridiculous it was to ask now, when she was already dying. She didn't have the energy to keep pretending anymore.

But Sheila, it appeared, thought Jessica was just being jealous.-

Sheila was Timothy's godmother's adopted daughter, and over the years, the elderly woman had treated her as if she were truly family. Sheila herself had come

to believe she was a real member of the Howard family.

Sheila's smile faded. She stared at Timothy, her voice gentle but accusing. "Timothy, did you not tell Jessica? I'm your aunt."

Jessica was stunned.

So the ever-elegant, impeccably mannered Timothy was a bit more complicated than she'd thought. And apparently, Sheila could understand sign language too.

Timothy answered Sheila in a lazy drawl, "Does it really matter if I told her or not? Don't worry about it. You can stay here tonight."

Jessica's heart plummeted.

With that, Timothy asked Mabel to prepare a guest room.

The atmosphere in the living room turned stiff and awkward.

Sheila scolded Timothy lightly. "Timothy, Jessica is your wife. How can you speak to her like that?"

The dark tension in Timothy's expression eased immediately. He actually listened to Sheila.

Henry, too, frowned. "Mom, Miss Sheila is Dad's aunt, so I'm supposed to call her ‘great-aunt,' but she's so young, it feels weird. That's why I just call her 'Miss Sheila.' She's visiting us, and you're making such a fuss about preparing a room for her? Is it really that hard?"

Jessica felt her heart shatter.

This was the boy she'd carried for nine months and raised with such care. Since she'd come home that afternoon, she'd been thinking about what would happen to Henry after she was gone. She'd been planning for his future, trying to make sure he'd be safe and loved.

But after just one meeting, Henry was already siding with Sheila over her. She realized she was no longer needed-not by her son, not by her husband. Sheila noticed the tension and quickly handed Henry over to Timothy, her tone soft. "Timothy, I'll just stay at a hotel tonight. I'll come by to see Henry tomorrow."

She pulled her suitcase behind her and left without looking back.

immediately burst into tears. "Miss

glanced over at Jessica, his dark eyes

another word, he pushed Henry into Jessica's

Timothy followed Sheila out.

married to him, Jessica had never seen Timothy

Henry began wriggling.

to shove her away.

off to his room, slamming the door behind

felt as if her heart had been

the scene unfold and wanted to comfort Jessica,

Jessica walked to the

Maybe this was

her bag. As she opened it, her eyes fell

her to stay away and transfer two hundred thousand to her account so she

the years, that card had accumulated nearly six and

of it was

on marrying her,

him so

too much-and

years, she'd dedicated herself to caring for

rarely thinking of herself

Now, she had cancer.

months left, at

sacrifices-gone to

her phone rang,

was Timothy's grandfather, Phelps

years since she'd married into the Lawson family,

She answered the call.

"Where's Timothy?"

she couldn't answer. "If he's with you, just

Jessica didn't move.