Goodbye, Mr. Regret

"Dad, go ahead and take care of your business."

She really just called him Dad?

Vince Zimmerman let out a cold snort in his mind. Sheila Howard had been adopted by Abell and Sandra practically from the moment she was born. What a sweet deal for that so-called father-never raised a daughter, but the moment she found him, she recognized him anyway.

Sheila's biological father handed Timothy Lawson a business card. "Here's my card. If you need anything, don't hesitate to contact me."

Timothy barely glanced at the card and made no move to take it.

An awkward silence hung between them. Sheila nudged her father, urging him, "You should go."

With no other choice, he left for now.

Earlier, Vince had helped Jessica Greene run a check on that car, which was how he learned Sheila's father went by Mayfield.

She remembered, back when she was a kid, her grandma used to call him Dr. Field. Clearly, he'd been using a fake name for his cons.

Now he drove a Bentley, everything he wore screamed expensive, from the watch on his wrist to the signet ring on his thumb-a fortune on display. Apparently, he'd climbed the social ladder by now.

"Timothy," Sheila called, wanting to explain.

But Timothy had already turned away, heading back to his table.

Sheila followed after him.

leaned toward Vince. "Let's get out

home, Jessica. I'm going

she

Mayfield guy. Your grandma was a benefactor to my grandfather and

Jessica in, then turned and strode back into Gin Lane Epilogues. He walked straight to Timothy's table, dropped into the seat beside Yates Bryant, and announced, "Timothy, I overheard everything. Now that Sheila's found her

his arm. "Vince, don't

Timothy, even though he knew Timothy didn't want the divorce. But Vince just couldn't resist these

she jumped in now, she'd only make things worse-

was tight

the Howards had always been close; to him, Sheila was just the daughter of a family friend. He never had any special feelings

just someone from Timothy's past. He didn't have much to say about

real father was

he

finally looked up.

was always so protective of Sheila, as if he was terrified

just third wheels here, anyway," Vince said, getting

already asked them to leave; Yates knew better than

some info about your sister from Timothy, but he wouldn't say a word. Not even when I tried to

arched an eyebrow. "Pressure

him that if he didn't talk, our parents would go straight to the Lawsons and start asking questions, put the squeeze on him from above. He didn't even

that easy to scare? Forget it. He's so determined to shield Sheila and won't

wanted to set them up, but now