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

for Sheila? Was this a wound that never

that couldn't be allowed to

been 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 have to marry

on Timothy's face faded, and he replied

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

in front of him, his movements graceful as he

down the mug, he glanced up at Phelps. "If you're so worried, then stay out of

stood, turned, and strode

he'd gone, the study seemed to

his tea, his thoughts swirling in

lifetime of navigating people, he realized he still couldn't see through this boy who carried his

car, and lit a cigarette, irritation simmering beneath his

pulled out his phone, checking for

Nothing.

a deeper

would come

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