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.

"Let's get out of

you home, Jessica. I'm going to stick around

she said

Your grandma was a benefactor to my grandfather and to the whole Zimmerman family. I promise I'll

Timothy's table, dropped into the seat beside Yates Bryant, and announced, "Timothy, I overheard everything. Now that Sheila's found her real father, she's

his arm.

going out of his way to help Jessica and challenge Timothy, even though

she jumped in now, she'd only make things worse- especially if she ever wanted to tell

was tight with

Howards had always been close; to him, Sheila was just the

friendship with Jessica was going well, and Sheila-well, she was just someone from Timothy's

Sheila's real father

he deny it?" Vince muttered, irritation simmering

looked up. "You two should

always so protective of Sheila, as if he was terrified Vince would say something

wheels here, anyway," Vince said, getting

to leave; Yates knew better than to overstay. He got up

hoping to get some info about your sister from Timothy, but he wouldn't say a word.

an eyebrow. "Pressure him

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

"You really think he's that easy to scare? Forget it. He's so determined to shield Sheila and won't let go of the marriage—I

wanted to set them up, but now