Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Vince brushed off Yates's hand. "You're no more reliable than the rest. Let's drop it and go pick up Jessy."

He blinked rapidly, forcing back the tears that threatened to spill. With a deep breath, he restarted the car.

At least, from the day he'd met her, he'd always chosen to stand by her side. Even when Yates and Timothy teased that he had feelings for her, he never abandoned her. If he had... he would have never had the courage to face her, never deserve to call himself her brother.

Back at the Howard house, Sheila had just returned.

Sallie was still there. The moment she saw Sheila, she couldn't help but roll her eyes.

Sheila and Sallie shared a birthday they were the same age. But after Sheila was adopted by their grandmother, she suddenly became a generation above Sallie and Timothy.

"Sheila, come here," Sandra called, beckoning her over.

Sandra had lost her own daughter in middle age. Not long after, she'd found newborn Sheila—who just happened to have a tiny mole on the bridge of her nose, exactly where Sandra's late daughter Hannah had one. Still deep in grief, Sandra saw Sheila as a gift from above-the most precious blessing to help her carry on.

That's why she'd named her Sheila. Over the years, Sheila and Abell Howard, Timothy's grandfather, became her solace and joy. As Sheila grew, she blossomed into a graceful, thoughtful, and gentle young woman. Sandra had always doted on her.

Timothy, and despite both families' objections, it was Sheila who made the difficult choice to step back for the sake of her adoptive parents, putting an end to all

to be understanding and considerate. Over these past seven years, Sheila and Timothy had

familial relationship that left nothing

sat down beside her, squeezing Sandra's hand

between them was as close

feeling unwell? Want me to

missed you, and there are a few things I've been needing

gazed at Sheila. "Jessy... turns out she's

shock. "Are

must be sure. From what I hear, Timothy knew first but kept it quiet. He's even admitted it himself, so I'm

He came over, went to see the Zimmermans-it caused quite a stir. And I heard from Sallie

the school so we could

the innocent bystander." Sallie's voice was icy. "If it was really a misunderstanding, why didn't you clear it up? Did you ever set Jessy straight? I talked to Henry myself. One time, you were in the hospital helping look after him, and right in front of the nurses, he called you 'Mom'-you didn't deny it. When Jessica called and asked me to watch Henry

was clearly furious. As far as she was concerned, Sheila needed to remember her place. Now that she was their grandmother's adopted daughter, that made her Henry's