Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Jessica held tightly to Daisy's hand as they made their way toward the exit. Outside the fence, Timothy followed,

waiting for them just beyond the doors.

Daisy glanced up at Jessica. "Godmother, were you arguing with Mr. Lawson?" Jessica gave a noncommittal

"Mm."

"Then I'll help you."

Timothy overheard Daisy's earnest offer, and it hit him right in the chest.

Everyone in the Zimmerman family, from the old patriarch down to little Daisy, seemed to know just how to push

his buttons.

Jessica and Timothy weren't officially divorced yet, so Herbert kept his opinions to himself. He simply trailed after

Jessica, ready to step in if she needed protecting.

Jessica and Daisy stepped out into the sunlight.

"Mr. Lawson."

Daisy still called him “Mr. Lawson," but the next second, she added, “Actually, I think I'd rather have Mr. Wheeler

as my godfather. Or maybe my uncle. You should think about it and let someone else have the spot, so | can

finally have a real godfather, okay?"

She looked up at him with wide, innocent eyes. "I'm really unlucky, you know. | don't have any parents, and it

was hard enough just to get a godmother. | really want a godfather too. Mr. Lawson, | heard from my uncle that

you started a charity for orphans. Well, I'm an orphan. Could you helpout, too?"

Behind them, Herbert nearly burst out laughing.

Daisy's words were as sweet as honey-but every one stung like a needle.

Timothy's face flushed, then paled. "If you want a godfather, I'm right here. You can callgodfather any time

you want—I promise I'll treat you even better than your real dad."

Daisy looked him up and down, head tilted. “Since | do want a godfather, | guess | could consider you. But the

problem is, my godmother doesn't want you. That putsin a tough spot. | can't be unfair to her just because

you're my uncle's friend. That wouldn't be right. So maybe you should just stay Mr. Lawson for now." It was the

first tTimothy had been so thoroughly outmaneuvered by a child. And with his rival standing right there, too.

He'd never felt so humiliated.

Zimmermans, all of them—never a kind word for him, always managing to make him feel like he was choking on

his own pride.

Just then, Timothy suddenly understood how Jessica must have felt that day he and Sheila attended Henry's

parent-child event together.

He looked at Jessica, her face impassive, as if he were nothing but a shadow in the room.

And he realized he had no right to be angry.

"Jessy, about the school event-I'm sorry. There's nothing betweenand Sheila, not like you think. | swear,

nothing like that will ever happen again."

He was desperate now. "About your father-I'll stay out of it if you want. If you need to find Mayfield, just tell me

why, and I'll help you. Please?"

Herbert's voice broke in, excited. "Jessica, you've heard from your father?"

Jessica nodded. "Yeah."

"Who's Mayfield?" Herbert frowned, clearly out of the loop.

"I'll explain later," Jessica said.

Timothy's frustration mounted. She talked to Vince, she talked to Herbert, but wouldn't say a word to him.

"We're having a private conversation here, Herbert-mind your own business!" Timothy snapped.

Jessica shot Timothy a cool look. "He's talking to me. What's it to you? Am | not allowed to have a

conversation? Timothy, there's nothing between Herbert and me, just like there's nothing between you and

Sheila. So why are you getting so worked up?"

So this was what it felt like the sharp edge of jealousy turned back on himself.

Timothy pressed his lips together, at a loss for words.

Seeing he'd finally been silenced, Jessica took Daisy's hand and left with Herbert at her side.

He was losing his mind.

He'd tried everything.

Nothing worked.

She was immune to every strategy-soft or hard.

She always had to have the last word.

Timothy turned and left the amusement park, telling his driver to take him to Ines's studio.

Ines was surprised to see him show up unannounced. After everything he'd done to Jessica, her goodwill toward

him had all but evaporated.

But because they still had a business partnership for the comic convention, she maintained a professional

demeanor, inviting him to sit. "What can | do for you?"

He sat down, looking troubled. "You're important to Jessy. My marriage is in trouble-I was hoping you could help."

Ines frowned. "Jessy's already made up her mind. I'm afraid there's nothing | can do."

Timothy looked puzzled. "She told you about what happened between us?"

"I know sof it. Timothy, | think you should just divorce her. In your family's

eyes, she's always been the outsider—the mute girl who married up. Think about how she's been treated by your

relatives. And you—"

Ines paused, taking a breath. "Before

Jessy left for Europe, she gavetwo and a half million dollars in cash and askedto keep it for her. | asked

why she didn't put it in the bank. She toldyou'd had all her assets frozen, accusing her of selling marital

property. She couldn't access her accounts, and she only had a thousand left to her name. She had to sell her

and her grandmother's artwork just to survive. Did you ever stop to think what would have happened if she

didn't have those pieces to sell? A thousand bucks-how was she supposed to live?"

Timothy stayed silent. All he'd wanted was for her to chome.

"As a husband, treating your wife like that-how much pain do you think you've caused her? She probably

wouldn't have toldany of this.if she hadn't needed my help. Seven years of marriage-surely you know how

much she's sacrificed for you. She gave up her career, her future, everything, just to be your wife. She's done

her part. But you-have you ever really done yours?"

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