Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Timothy's face darkened instantly. "How is what's between me and her such a mess?"

"Seven years ago, you were ready to bring her into the family. If that's not a mess, I don't know what is."

Of all the things in his life, this was the one thing Phelps could never forgive in Timothy.

What was he thinking?

Timothy's lips pressed into a thin, tense line. Phelps knew that bringing this up always set off another round of friction between grandfather and grandson. His voice softened, tinged with a rare gravity. "I'm not blaming you, truly. She did save your life, after all, and paid a heavy price for it-nearly lost her ability to speak, suffered more hardship than most would ever know. You felt guilty, wanted to give her a future—I understood that. I never objected. But in the end, she's still, in name, your mother's..."

The word "sister" caught in Phelps's throat, and he paused.

After everything exploded between Timothy and Sheila, it seemed like only a blink before he brought Jessica-the girl who couldn't speak-back home, insisting he would marry her.

Back then, the doctors had all but confirmed Sheila would never talk again.

Could it be...?

Suddenly, Phelps's expression grew even more severe.

All these years, he'd never considered this possibility. He'd always assumed Timothy, furious at both families' disapproval of Sheila, had dragged home a mute girl to spite them, to make them uncomfortable.

maybe it hadn't been

care for Sheila? Was this a

couldn't be allowed to happen in the Lawson

pulling strings for Jessica lately, trying to get Ines to take her on as a student. That's a good idea—I support you. Repaying kindness doesn't mean you

face faded, and he replied coolly, "You're overthinking

Phelps couldn't tell which situation Timothy was dismissing-him and Sheila, or him

front of him, his movements graceful as he drank the tea in

mug, he glanced up at Phelps. "If you're so

that, Timothy stood, turned, and

seemed to resonate with

his thoughts swirling in

navigating people, he realized he still couldn't see through this

climbed into his car, and lit

phone, checking

Nothing.

took a

come back. She

marriage, he'd never seen a single friend or relative by