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

home, Jessica. I'm going to stick around and see what

she

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

the seat beside Yates Bryant, and announced, "Timothy, I overheard everything. Now that Sheila's found

his arm.

out of his way to help Jessica and challenge Timothy, even though he knew Timothy didn't want the

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

was tight

years. The Zimmermans and the Howards had always been close; to him, Sheila was just the daughter of a family

and Sheila-well, she was just someone from Timothy's past. He didn't have much

Sheila's real father was a conman left him

am I? Then why doesn't he deny it?" Vince muttered, irritation

up. "You two

let out a sharp breath. Timothy was always so protective of Sheila,

on, Yates. We're just third wheels here, anyway," Vince said, getting to

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

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

eyebrow. "Pressure

to the Lawsons and start asking questions, put the squeeze on him from above. He didn't even

determined to shield Sheila and won't let go of the marriage—I don't know where he gets the

to set them up,