Goodbye, Mr. Regret novel Chapter 18

It was clear now—Sheila truly mattered to Timothy.

So much so that he couldn't even tolerate sharing that simple marriage registration photo with anyone else.

For a man as reserved as Timothy, to fill an entire sheet of paper with Sheila's name spoke volumes about the intensity of his feelings.

Jessica realized, perhaps she had overestimated her place in his world.

She'd believed that simply staying by his side would eventually earn his genuine affection.

Mabel noticed Jessica staring blankly at the wall and gently urged her, "Ma'am, you're the lady of this house. If you keep staying away, you're just making it easier for someone else to take your place."

If anyone was the intruder here, Jessica thought, it was probably herself.

"Ma'am, I'm glad you're home. Please, don't do anything rash. Now more than ever, you should stay here."

Jessica's face remained calm, almost expressionless.

If even Mabel could see that Timothy and Sheila's relationship was anything but ordinary, then the fact that Sheila was Timothy's aunt by marriage seemed even more ridiculous.

Jessica typed a message on her phone.

"Mabel, thank you for telling me all this."

Mabel had seen everything Jessica had done for Timothy and Henry over the years, and it pained her.

"Ma'am, don't be too upset. You and Mr. Lawson still have your son. Maybe he's just lost his way for a while."

A son…

Jessica's lips curled into a barely-there, bittersweet smile.

Mabel thought having a child would give her leverage.

But that hope had fizzled out long ago.

Ding—ding—

The doorbell rang.

Mabel went to answer it.

Phelps entered, leaning on a cane.

At seventy-five, his hair had turned mostly white, but age hadn't dulled his sharpness. He still carried himself with the vigor of a man half his age.