"The press ims they''ve spotted your mysterious wife..."


    Timothy paused, a flicker of somethingplicated 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 moreposed, more inscrutable than


    ever.


    She 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."


    She 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?"


    She 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 She 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 youe 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."


    "Thest 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...


    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 ept her.


    Still, as Mrs. Lawson, she always did her best-showing respect and patience to every member of the family.


    But once She 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 ns had backfired.


    She was never capable of holding on to Timothy''s heart.


    Everything was bing 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 rted 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 be yet another cautionary tale.


    It had been years since Jessicast lived here. The ce needed cleaning,


    organizing, even a few repairs.


    Even if it was just for six months, she wanted to befortable.


    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 aputer.


    Animation work required a decent setup.


    Six months wasn''t enough to aplish 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.