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

dark eyes

Henry into Jessica's arms.

Timothy followed Sheila out.

been married to him,

Henry began wriggling. "Put me down! Put

feet, only for Henry to shove her away. "Bad Mommy! You

his room, slamming the

as if her heart had been

saw the scene unfold and wanted to comfort Jessica, but

walked to the

Maybe this was fate. If so, she would simply leave without

day and slipped it into her bag. As she opened it, her eyes fell on a bank card tucked

or attended a public event, he'd tell her

that card had accumulated nearly six

of it was gone

who had insisted on marrying her, seemed so ashamed of her

him so many times, but never

him too much-and

to caring

thinking of herself

Now, she had cancer.

months left, at

sacrifices-gone to

phone rang, startling

was Timothy's grandfather, Phelps

she'd married into the Lawson family, he'd been more polite to her than most, but still

She answered the call.

"Where's Timothy?"

answer. "If he's with

Jessica didn't move.