She opened the door, surprised to find Timothy standing there.


    "Timothy,e in. Have a seat."


    She reached out, ready to steady him, but Timothy sidestepped her hand. "I can walk on my own."


    His sudden coldness stung in a way She couldn''t quite put into words. Still, she swallowed her difort.


    "I''ll make you some coffee."


    "No need. I won''t be staying long."


    She felt even more at a loss. What was he here for, then?


    Timothy settled into the living room armchair. "Sit down."


    Uneasy, She perched on the edge of the couch.


    Looking directly at her, Timothy got right to the point. "I just stopped by Ines''s studio. From her, I learned that the reason she gave that painting, The Grand Canal, Venice, to Henry, was because she saw Jessy''s style in one of Henry''s papercut illustrations. So, that painting can''t stay with you. I''m here to take it back."


    She stared at him, stunned.


    This was the first time he''d ever asked to take back something he''d given her.


    He really was starting to care more about Jessica.


    But she didn''t argue. "I see. Since it''s hard for you to get around, I''ll have someone bring it to youter."


    "No need. I''ll have someone pick it up. Also, about Henry calling you his mother in public-please correct him in the future. All this confusion about family roles has to stop. Jessy cares about it a lot."


    Suddenly, it felt to She as though everything had changed in an instant.


    She forced herself to keep herposure. "Alright."


    Timothy caught the edge in his own words and tried to exin. "I don''t want our family to fall apart. I used to think she could understand our rtionship, but I''ve realized recently that she can''t. I hope you won''t be offended about me taking the painting back."


    She gave a small, strained smile. "Timothy, it''s nothing. Why would I mind?"


    "Good. Also, you''re not getting any younger. I hope you''ll consider getting married soon."


    She froze, her smile vanishing.


    "Timothy, do you realize what you''re saying?"


    "I do."


    Her expression turned steely. "I''ve found my biological father. If you refuse to ept me, then I''m your aunt—and as your elder, what right do you have toment on my marriage?"


    Back when Timothy wanted to marry her, they were equals. But if he refused her now, she had every right, as his aunt, to take the upper hand.


    Her family registration was with the Howards. She was Sandra and Abell''s daughter, Timothy''s aunt in every legal and moral sense.


    Timothy''s gaze lingered on her, unblinking.


    It was the first time She had ever used her status as his aunt against him.


    Noticing his displeasure, she said quietly, "Sorry. We grew up together, almost as equals, so I shouldn''t have said that. But I can''t help it."


    "Timothy, do you really not remember why I gave up back then? For seven years, I kept my distance, never crossing the line, and you know exactly why. You must know."


    She drew a shaky breath, fighting tears. "All these years, I''ve racked my brain looking for ways to solve our problem, to bridge what separated us. Why, when I finally can, do you not want me anymore?"


    Her voice broke at the end.


    She missed the Timothy from seven years ago—-the one who''d defied his family for her, determined to marry her, no matter what.


    Tears welled in She''s eyes. "You know how much I love you. You promised me, even if we got married, we''d keep it secret-that was your promise, proof of your love. Have you forgotten?"


    "That wasn''t love."


    She felt herself unraveling.


    His love had been all she''d clung to, all these years. She''d waited for him-waited until she was thirty, still a virgin, never even dated, never experienced the warmth of a lover''s embrace. Night after night, she endured the loneliness and longing, all for him.


    How could he turn away so easily?


    "Then what was it?"


    "I wanted to marry you because you saved me, and I lost my voice because of it. I worried no one else would have you, and I didn''t want you to get hurt. And..."


    "And what?"


    He hesitated, then changed the subject. "I promised to marry you and keep it a secret because I didn''t know who I would end up with. Maybe it would be someone random-so whether it was public or not didn''t matter."


    “Wasn''t Jessica just someone you picked up on a whim?”


    Timothy''s tone softened. "Yes, she was, at first. But the moment I saw her, I wanted to marry her. Even after the wedding, I felt guilty toward you. For a long time, I didn''t even touch her. As for why I never made the marriage public for seven


    years..."


    He paused. "You know she can''t speak. If I went public, imagine the ridicule she''d face."


    She let out a bitterugh.


    "Timothy, do you still expect me to believe that? You say you didn''t touch her for a long time after your wedding, but you''ve been married seven years, and Henry''s about to turn six. With pregnancysting nine months, you couldn''t have waited even a couple months before getting her pregnant."


    "Do you have any idea? I''ve kept myself pure for you—I''m still a virgin."


    "Did you ever really feel guilty?"


    Tears streamed down She''s cheeks.


    "I''m sorry," Timothy said, his voice heavy. "You were the one who gave up first.


    These years, we''ve been just friends. I thought you''d moved on."


    "Timothy."