The press claims they’ve spotted your mysterious wife…”
Chapter 22
Timothy paused, a flicker of something complicated in his sharp eyes.
He was no longer the same Timothy who’d grown up alongside her. Years of navigating the business world had left him more composed, more inscrutable than ever. Sheila realized she could no longer read him the way she once did.
After a moment, he finally replied, his voice even. “It doesn’t matter.”
Sheila blinked, momentarily thrown. Did he really not care at all?!
She tried again, gently. “But Jessica is your wife.”
“She has the marriage certificate. If that piece of paper can’t give her peace of mind, then she’s being rather foolish, isn’t she?“! Sheila hesitated, thinking it over. “Alright then. I just didn’t want her to overthink. That’s all I wanted to say. You should get some rest.” “Mm.”
Timothy said nothing more, and Sheila quietly left the room.!
He lit a cigarette, his gaze falling to the velvet box on the table. Rising, he tucked the box away in his suitcase.
Just then, his phone rang.
He crossed to the nightstand and picked it up.
It was Phelps.
“Grandpa.”
“Timothy, it’s been ages since your family visited the old house. Why don’t you come home for the autumn holiday? I miss little Henry.“) Timothy sat back on the edge of the bed, phone pressed to his ear. “I took Henry on a trip.“”
“The last day of the holiday is my birthday. Bring Jessica and Henry home, will you? I’ve been craving Jessica’s chicken soup.“” “Alright.“&
Phelps had raised Timothy himself.”
Except for that one falling–out seven years ago, their bond had always been strong.
After the call, Timothy sent a message to Jessica.
[The 7th is Grandpa’s birthday. He wants your chicken soup. I don’t care where you are right now–you need to be back at The Gilded Whisper Estates by the evening of the 6th!]
Jessica was already asleep. She didn’t see the message until the next morning.
Phelps…2
For the past seven years, she’d simply seen him as the stern patriarch of a wealthy family. His strictness never bothered her much.”
Her background was worlds apart from Timothy’s. She’d never dared hope the Lawson family would truly accept her.
Still, as Mrs. Lawson, she always did her best–showing respect and patience to every member of the family.
But once Sheila entered the picture, Phelps‘ two major emotional outbursts had made one thing painfully clear.
In his eyes, she was nothing more than a tool to tie Timothy down.
Too bad the old man’s plans had backfired.&
She was never capable of holding on to Timothy’s heart.”
Everything was becoming clearer.
Whatever had prompted Timothy to marry her seven years ago–it had to be something out of the ordinary. Jessica shook off the thoughts, determined not to dwell on anything related to Timothy.”
Thankfully, her grandmother had left her an old house.”
Otherwise, having gambled everything on her marriage, she would have been left with nowhere to go.
Women who bet everything on love usually lose the most.
She’d become yet another cautionary tale.”
It had been years since Jessica last lived here. The place needed cleaning, organizing, even a few repairs.
Even if it was just for six months, she wanted to be comfortable.
From now on, she would live only for herself.
After several days of hard work, the old house finally began to feel like home.
Jessica decided she needed a computer.
Animation work required a decent setup.
Six months wasn’t enough to accomplish much, but perhaps it was time to make up for those lost seven years–years when she’d never really been able to pursue her passion for animation &
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