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.

unbreakable, would things have come

crowded. It can't hold a third wheel. And Sheila could feel herself slipping out, getting

never really opened up to Jessica, either-otherwise, she'd

long as Jessica kept believing in the strength of her marriage,

sigh. "But it's all in the past, Jessica. Don't overthink it. Timothy loves you now. He wants to spend his life with

outcome would be for Jessica to give up completely. Love is dangerous -one spark, and

smile. "Haven't I made myself clear

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

her son—who barely even saw her as a

wanted to stay, the Lawsons would never give her custody. The divorce proceedings

can't do anything,"

needs his mother," Sheila pressed, her voice

was running out of patience. There 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 did,

not. Let him stay with his father. At least Timothy would never treat him

you waiting for? The role of Mrs. Lawson is yours for the taking. With Timothy's feelings for you, you just have to

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

couldn't afford to leave any evidence behind. Timothy wasn't just anyone; if she slipped up and

she'd been too impatient, thinking Timothy's stubbornness alone would