Goodbye, Mr. Regret

She couldn't help but admire him-how did he manage to act so effortlessly detached, as if nothing could ruffle him?

With a lazy elegance that felt almost flirtatious, he blew a thin stream of smoke toward her face. "Still haven't made up your mind, have you?"

Jessica wanted nothing more than to disentangle herself from him. Frustrated, she made a dismissive gesture. "Whatever's going on between us, we'll handle it ourselves. Just don't take it out on anyone else. If you promise to leave the Wheeler family alone, I'll disappear from your life-out of your sight, out of The Gilded Whisper Estates-right this minute."

Timothy's handsome, gentle expression abruptly darkened. He took a hard drag on his cigarette, exhaling a perfect ring of smoke, then flicked the ash into the car's built-in ashtray, leaning halfway into the car.

Jessica instinctively pressed herself back against the seat.

But Timothy only stubbed out the cigarette properly, refusing to throw it out the window even in anger.

For all his faults, this man never lost his composure or his manners-sometimes it was chilling, how controlled he was.

Only moments ago, he'd been gripping the half-finished cigarette between his thumb and forefinger, looking one second away from flinging it away in fury. But he still hadn't littered.

Instead of withdrawing, he leaned in closer to Jessica, his long fingers tipping her chin up. His voice was icy, edged with something she couldn't name. "You know, not only are you stubborn, you don't even know how to play along."

"Daddy!"

Timothy straightened up and stepped out of the car.

Jessica's view was suddenly unobstructed; through the windshield, she saw Henry clasping Sheila's hand as they approached.

Sheila pretended not to notice Jessica sitting in the passenger seat. The first thing she said to Timothy was, "Timothy, I asked you to look for Jessica. How'd you get back so fast? Did you find her? How is she-she's not sick, is she?"

Timothy snorted. "She's faking it. I found her, she's in the car. Let's go. We're all going home."

He opened the back door.

Sheila and Henry climbed in.

Sheila turned instantly to Jessica, her voice dripping with concern. "Jessica, I really don't think you're pretending. Are you okay? You look pale."

Jessica had thought, after discovering Timothy's secret and accepting his betrayal, that nothing he or anyone else did could affect her anymore.

But Sheila's two-faced act still cut deep.

She loathed people who said one thing to your face and another behind your back.noveldrama

She couldn't afford to confront Sheila-but she could walk away.

Just as Timothy reached for the driver's door, Jessica shoved open the passenger side and stepped out.

"Jessica-" Sheila called after her.

Henry rolled his eyes and made a face. His mom was being so unreasonable. Miss Sheila was trying to be nice, and she wouldn't even answer.

He was completely exasperated.

Timothy's eyes grew even darker.

Truly ungrateful.

She'd slapped him, snapped at him. He'd let it slide. He even offered her a chance —if she just admitted she was faking illness to keep him from taking Sheila to the hospital, he'd have let it go.

Women could be petty and jealous-sometimes that was just part of marriage.

But this was something else. She was completely insufferable. Stubborn to the point of stupidity.

"Timothy, maybe I should get out too. Jessica clearly doesn't want me here," Sheila said, reaching for the door handle.

Henry grabbed her hand at once. "It's not your fault, Miss Sheila. My mom's just been acting weird lately. Give her some time to cool off."

Timothy said coldly, "This isn't about you. She's just throwing a tantrum. Ignore her. She'll come back when she's ready."

Sheila hesitated. "Alright, if you're sure..."

Timothy started the car, leaving Jessica standing by the curb as they drove away.

Jessica walked to the edge of the hospital entrance and waited for a taxi. Moments later, a car rolled to a smooth stop right beside her.