Goodbye, Mr. Regret

The Lawsons had completely fallen out with the Howards.

Now that Sheila was back, it suggested the tension had eased—at least a little.

Given how close he was with Sheila, he'd never embarrass Timothy in public by making a scene.

Yates, on the other hand, fixed Timothy with a thoughtful stare. "Sheila's got a point. No woman could put up with that much for so long. Why don't you bring her over and introduce us? She deserves at least that much."

"There's nothing to explain."

Timothy picked up his glass, taking a long, punishing swallow of whiskey.

Jessica, that woman just couldn't behave.

He'd handled everything for her, made it all so easy. All she had to do was send him a single message, and he'd let bygones be bygones, bring her home.

But of course.

She just had to ruin his mood.noveldrama

Still, if she came to him now, made the first move, maybe just maybe he'd forgive her this once.

Sheila noticed Jessica was gone. Rising from her seat, she put on a show of mock annoyance. "Timothy, you- What am I supposed to do with you? Oh, forget it. If you won't go get her, I'll do it myself."

Sheila glanced in the direction where Jessica had been only moments ago.

"Huh? Where did she go?"

Timothy looked up just in time to see that familiar figure had vanished, and his eyes darkened instantly.

A tight line formed on his lips, simmering with irritation.

Kane gently tugged Sheila back down into her seat. "If Timothy can't be bothered, let's not meddle either."

With Timothy acting so nonchalant, Kane was more convinced than ever- Timothy didn't care at all about the woman who'd given him a son.

Sheila still looked uneasy. "But-"

"Oh, come on, enough with the 'but.' Have some fruit."

Kane speared a piece of fruit with a plastic fork and handed it to Sheila.

Sheila hadn't seriously intended to go fetch Jessica anyway, so she accepted the gesture and let the matter drop.

Timothy stubbed out his nearly spent cigarette in the ashtray. "I'm going to use the restroom."

The moment Timothy slipped away, an odd tension seemed to settle over the group.

Kane raised his glass, nodding at Yates for a toast.

"Yates, do you think Timothy will actually get a divorce?"

Yates arched an eyebrow. "Hard to say."

They'd all assumed Timothy would file for divorce, but seven years had come and gone without so much as a rumor.

Kane shot Sheila a knowing look. "What about you, Sheila? Any thoughts?"

Sheila's cheeks flushed pink. "How should I know?"

Standing just outside the restroom, Timothy made a call to his secretary.

"My wife's at the Red House. Come inside and find out what she's up to."

He hung up without waiting for a reply.

This wasn't the kind of place she should be.

Red House was one of Yates's properties.

A few minutes later, Timothy received a text.

He couldn't help but smirk.

Interesting.

Definitely Timothy's style.

Yates replied to a message, then lifted his glass and clinked it against Kane's.

"Kane, think Timothy's coming back after the restroom?"

"We're not done here-why wouldn't he?"

Yates swirled the wine in his glass, smiling faintly. "I have a feeling there's going

to be quite a show at Red House tonight."

Sheila picked up on the subtext, frowning. "Yates, what are you getting at?"

A vague unease crept into her voice.

Yates twirled his wine glass, his tone teasing. "Spoiling the surprise would be no fun. Just wait and see."

Kane raised an eyebrow. "Come on, man, don't keep us in suspense."