Goodbye, Mr. Regret

"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.

Just then, his phone rang.

nightstand

It was Phelps.

"Grandpa."

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

of the bed, phone pressed to his ear. "I took Henry on

Jessica

"Alright."

had raised Timothy

one falling-out seven years ago, their bond

sent a

chicken soup. I don't care where you are right now-you need

didn't see the message until the

simply seen him as the stern patriarch of a wealthy family. His strictness never

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

two major emotional outbursts

nothing more

the old man's plans

was never capable of holding on

Everything was becoming clearer.