Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Sandra's voice was sharp and unforgiving. "Do we really need to persuade you? If you have any decency left, you should file for divorce yourself! Honestly, you're infuriating me. If I hadn't come back to Riverside City, I wouldn't have even known about all the appalling things you've done. I'm so disappointed in you!"

Her expression was grave, lips pressed into a tight line.

Timothy turned toward his grandfather and his father-in-law. "So you both think I should be the one to initiate the divorce?"

"That's right," Abell and Phelps answered in unison.

"I'm not divorcing her." Timothy didn't even hesitate.

Phelps's main concern was avoiding a public trial and all the ugly details coming out in court. Sandra and Abell, on the other hand, thought Timothy had gone too far and shouldn't drag Jessica along with him any longer; they wanted him to settle this quietly, out of court.

Different motives, but the same desired outcome.

Yet Timothy still refused.

Phelps's voice was urgent. "Do you really not get what you've done? If you refuse to divorce and this ends up in court, who do you think will look bad? The whole city will be laughing at us. That's the least of it-if you push her too far and she actually sues, do you have any idea what the consequences will be?"

Sandra tried a gentler approach. "You haven't treated her well, Timothy. Why keep dragging things out? End it on good terms. We're not unreasonable people-let her decide about custody, it's the least we can do to make up for everything."

"That's out of the question." Timothy hadn't even opened his mouth before Phelps cut in. "Henry is the eldest grandson of the Lawson family. Custody must stay with Timothy."

"If you elders haven't worked this out among yourselves, there's no point talking to me about it right now. I have things to do—I'm heading out."

later. But the divorce-we need

standing just outside the study,

wanted Timothy to

housekeeper might see her and think she was eavesdropping. She

Everyone wanted him to get divorced. He didn't want to upset the elders, but he also refused to give up his marriage. After a moment's thought, he said, "Seven years ago, you all tried to interfere when I got married. Now, seven years later, I finally have a complete family and you're still meddling. Do you think I'm

not angry—yet he also knew Timothy hadn't handled things well. "Timothy, I know you're grown and have your own mind. But it's clear there isn't much affection between you and Jessica anymore. Otherwise, you wouldn't have treated her like

changes her mind and doesn't want a

stay, then I won't object," Abell said. "But

and Sandra had both spoken privately

at Phelps. "If Jessy decides not to divorce, how will you handle

that's the best outcome,"

Jessica insisting on divorce and dragging everything out into

you're able to win Jessy back, of course we'd rather

out

that the more upset the elders became, the harder it would be for them to let it go—and if things got ugly, their health might

calmness managed to

three elders, at least