The news was everywhere—no matter where you looked, it was all anyone could talk about.


    Timothy and Henry had been spotted out together, and while the world knew Timothy was married, no one had ever figured out who Mrs. Lawson really was.


    So when the paparazzi finally managed to snap a major scoop, they wasted no time sting it across every tform, hungry for clicks and attention.


    Timothy was a giant in the business world, always at the center of public conversation.


    But when it came to his private life, he was a fortress-no scandals, no gossip, nothing for the tabloids to sink their teeth into.


    Everyone was dying to know: what kind of woman would a man like Timothy marry?


    Unfortunately, the woman in the photo was mostly blocked by Timothy''s tall frame, and the camera had only managed to capture the side of her face—just a glimpse of sleek, jet-ck hair.


    But even from that, the polished look of her hair alone set off a wildfire of spection. People were convinced she had to be the heiress of some powerful family.


    Jessica hadn''t wanted to see or hear anything more about Timothy. But the moment she unlocked her phone, news about him was everywhere she looked.


    Maybe the rest of the world didn''t recognize the woman beside Timothy, but Jessica knew instantly-it was She.


    Nine hundred and ny million.


    meheart...


    And Henry, personally crowning She with the family''s tiara.


    All those memories jabbed at Jessica''s throat like thorns.


    meheart. Legend had it that, during the Renaissance, a prince from a dying royal house had fallen in love with his aunt and crafted the ring for her by hand.


    meheart was more than just a jewel; it was a symbol of forbidden love. Timothy had given meheart to She...


    Could She really be his aunt?


    Phelps had confronted Jessica twice, grave both times, urging her to find a way to keep Timothy''s heart.


    It was clear-Phelps knew about them and didn''t want them together.


    Jessica hadn''t realized any of this until she married into the Lawson family: when Timothy''s mother was pregnant with him, she''d been diagnosed with uterine


    cancer.


    To give birth to Timothy, she''d refused treatment.


    On the day Timothy was born, his mother died from massive hemorrhaging.


    She became his forbidden memory.


    No one in the Lawson family ever spoke of Timothy''s birth mother.


    Jessica didn''t even know her name.


    She''d never met anyone from his mother''s side of the family, either.


    She couldn''t say for sure if She was truly Timothy''s aunt.


    But she was certain of one thing: Timothy loved She.


    Loved her with a fiery, consuming passion.


    Jessica pressed her lips together. She''d been nning to file for divorce, but not a singlewyer was willing to take on Timothy.


    And now, with a cancer diagnosis hanging over her, she only had half a life left. Divorce or no divorce, it hardly mattered.


    Once she was gone, Timothy would be single again.


    Still, she decided-she would see it through. She didn''t want to spend her final six months as Mrs. Lawson.


    Once Timothy and Henry returned from Oakwood, she''d make a trip to Riverside City and talk to Timothy about the divorce.


    As it happened, Ines''s nextic convention was in Riverside City, too.


    When She saw the trending news online, she rushed straight to Timothy''s hotel room.


    Timothy and Henry had arrivedter than the others; he''d booked a presidential suite. After She learned they were in, Henry had invited her to move into their suite.


    "Timothy? Are you awake?"


    "I am."


    She didn''t wait for further invitation. She pushed the door open and stepped inside.


    Timothy had juste out of the shower, a white towel slung around his hips.


    His body was all clean lines and hard muscle, the ssic V-shaped torso on full disy.


    She flushed crimson and spun instantly on her heel.


    "Sorry I didn''t know you were in the shower."


    Timothy reached for his robe, slipping it on and tying the belt with effortless elegance.


    "Is something wrong?"


    "Are you dressed?"


    "I am now."


    She finally turned around.


    "We got caught on camera. Don''t you think you should contact Jessica and give


    her an exnation?"


    Timothy arched a brow. "Exin what, exactly?"