Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Sheila put on an innocent act, her tone aggrieved. "What are you talking about? Sure, I'm not related to him by blood, but I've been the Howard family's daughter for years. I'm still his aunt, you know. How could you accuse me of something so outrageous?"

"Accuse you?" Jessica scoffed, then continued in sign language, her expression icy. "I saw everything. He wrote your name all over that notebook, and there's a box in the storage room at the Gilded Whisper Estates-filled with proof that you two nearly got married. If it wasn't for love, do you think someone like Timothy would risk everything to marry you?"

This was exactly the scenario Sheila had hoped for.

Back then, before she left, she'd packed away all those things and stashed them in the storage room at the Gilded Whisper Estates.

Sheila bit her lip, feigning embarrassment at being caught. "When did you find out?"

So she admitted it—she and Timothy really were going to get married.

Jessica's only regret was realizing it too late. If she'd known sooner, she wouldn't have wasted seven years of her life on Timothy.

Now, she was finally certain she wanted a divorce.

The two of them had always been living a forbidden love. They needed someone else to cover for them, to act as a convenient excuse. But real love is always too crowded there's never room for a third person.

Jessica's voice was calm but resolute. "The first three months after Timothy brought you home," she answered. "We're both women, Sheila. I get how you feel. But love's a crowded thing-can it ever really fit three people? Don't you want me out of the picture for good?"

Sheila stared at Jessica, momentarily speechless.

Jessica actually believed her bond with Timothy was unbreakable.

truly unbreakable, would things have come to

right-love is crowded. It can't hold a third wheel. And Sheila could feel herself slipping

much. Clearly, he'd never really opened

Jessica kept believing

Don't overthink it. Timothy loves you now. He wants to spend his life with you. That's why he won't sign the divorce papers. Are you really willing to just walk away from

Jessica to give up completely. Love is dangerous -one spark, and it can all go up

curled in a bitter smile. "Haven't

tried to sound concerned. "But what about Henry? You're just going

barely even saw

give her custody. The divorce proceedings had dragged on

anything," Jessica said

little boy. He still needs his mother," Sheila pressed,

was a time she believed Henry couldn't live without her, but reality had proven otherwise. All the days she'd spent away from home, Henry had barely reached out. The one time he

if he was by her side or not. Let him stay with his father. At least Timothy would never treat

said everything I need to say. What are you waiting for? The role of Mrs. Lawson is yours for the taking. With Timothy's feelings for you, you just have to make

wrong. There's nothing between Timothy and me. Please, stop saying these things. You're only making things harder

behind. Timothy wasn't just anyone; if she slipped

too impatient, thinking Timothy's stubbornness alone would be enough to get what she wanted.