Timothy sat in the car, lips pressed together in silence.


    He couldn''t me everything on Henry Lawson. The truth was, he''d overestimated himself.


    He''d thought taking She to the parent-and-child event wouldn''t change anything.


    But when they got home that day, Jessica was visibly upset. Still worried She might be getting the cold shoulder from his wife, he''d chased after Jessica, leaving She behind. By the time he returned, Jessica was inconsble.


    Maybe that day was the tipping point-the final straw that broke what they had.


    Or maybe, there''d been something on her mind for a long time. Maybe she''d tried to tell him, but he had never really listened.


    And by the time he wanted to talk, she wouldn''t hear a word.


    But what mattered most now was the birthmark. He needed to know-how did Herbert find out about it?


    He''d agreed to the divorce out of fear, worried she''d do something reckless. It wasn''t what he wanted.


    Jessica was supposed to be his, and his alone.


    "Timothy, I''m talking to you. What are you thinking about?" his grandmother''s voice broke through his thoughts.


    Timothy blinked, snapping back to reality. "Sorry, Grandma. What did you say?"


    "Sallie said all this happened because of She. Is that true?"


    He didn''t want to dodge responsibility. At the end of the day, this was on him.


    He''d thought after seven years of marriage, everything had finally settled down. No one would bring up his past with She anymore.


    He never expected things to fall apart like this.


    "It''s not—" Timothy started to say She wasn''t to me, but Vince''s words from earlier echoed in his mind.


    Why had Yates warned Vince so many times with no reaction, but the moment She mentioned Daisy looked like Jessica, Vince had responded? What exactly had She told him?


    "Timothy." Sandra sounded exasperated. "Can you say what you mean for once?"


    "I''ll handle this myself. Please, don''t get involved. She is just a side note-the real problem is me."


    He''d neglected Jessica for too long.


    Seven years of marriage, and she''d always cherished their family. The only abnormal moment started after She visited The Gilded Whisper Estates. That was when Jessica left home, and he hadn''t taken it seriously. He''d just assumed she was acting out.


    Remembering all this, Timothy felt a sharp, twisting pain in his chest.


    It had started as such a small thing. The next morning, he''d thought it through— She''s hotel allergy wasn''t a big deal. If he just exined it, Jessica would understand.


    But because Jessica wasn''t at home, he hadn''t bothered to exin.


    A dam copses from a single crack.


    If only he''d tried a little harder, maybe things wouldn''t havee to this.


    She''d told him—she had given him chances.


    He remembered the day he bought her a cake. For a moment, it seemed like she was really listening to him. But the very next day at the hospital, Henry called Jessica the housekeeper and said She was away on a business trip with him. And that was the end of it.


    Later, when she reached out to him for help, he''d dropped everything and flown a helicopter through a storm to Capital City.


    So why had it all fallen apart anyway?


    "Timothy, you keep saying you''ll handle it, but look where it''s gotten you," Sandra said, her voice weary but gentle. "Things have only gotten worse. And what were you thinking, saying those things about Jessica in front of the Zimmermans? Can you really not trust your wife, even a little?"


    Sallie added her own plea. "Timothy, Jessy and Herbert-it''s not what you think. She''s not that kind of person If there really was something going on, would they have waited until now? And anyway, Yates came with both of them and has been staying with the Zimmermans. If Jessy and Herbert were together, the Zimmermans would be supporting her, not letting Yates stay there too. Right?"


    Their reasoning made sense, and Timothy''s fists clenched tighter.


    He''d lost control. The moment he found out Herbert was the one who told Jessica about the birthmark, his emotions had gotten the better of him.


    When they reached the hospital, Timothy got out of the car. He saw Vince carrying Jessica, hurrying her inside.


    He followed.


    "Timothy."


    Sandra caught his arm. "Don''t do this, okay? The Zimmermans will make sure she''s all right."


    "Grandma, she''s unconscious. How could I just stand by?" His voice trembled, raw and desperate.


    Sallie had seen enough to realize Jessica had always had a ce in Timothy''s heart.


    When you have something, it''s easy to take it for granted. But the moment you lose it, the feeling explodes-wild, uncontroble, impossible to hide.


    She gently took Sandra''s arm. “Let him go, Grandma. He''s worried about Jessica. Let him be."


    Sandra could only sigh and give in.


    Sallie draped à suit jacket over


    Timothy''s shoulders. Noticing his injuries, she helped him into the jacket, straightened his tie, smoothed out his shirt, and, with soft steadiness, said, "Timothy, calm down and go take care of things. Grandma and I will wait for you toe back and get your wounds treated."


    Timothy took a step forward. Even exhausted and hurting, he forced himself to gather everyst bit of strength and walked toward the hospital.


    Sallie watched him go, his figure wavering in her eyes until everything blurred.