On the Ruins of His Regret I Soar novel Chapter 72

Kevin narrowed his eyes. “What do you mean?”

Jessica poked a finger into his shoulder. “Do you know why I despise Catherine and her mother so much? You know perfectly well when you and Isabella Charles started your affair.”

“Jessica, when did you become such a liar?” he blustered. “You have no proof. You’re just spouting nonsense.”

She leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “Actually, I do. In that little storage room on the first floor, right before Isabella took Catherine and left the country. You remember what you did, don’t you?”

A jolt went through him. He stared at her, his face a mask of disbelief.

“Shocked?” she continued. “Surprised I know? Well, I’ll tell you something else. My mother knew, too.”

Kevin staggered backward. “What are you talking about?”

“My mother knew you cheated on her,” Jessica said, her voice trembling with rage. “She was on her deathbed, and she didn’t expose you because she wanted to leave you with a final shred of dignity. And now you want to give the property she left for me to your mistress’s daughter? In your dreams. If you dare, I’ll drag your name through the mud so thoroughly you’ll wish you were dead.”

The venom in her eyes made him genuinely afraid. He finally realized why her gaze had seemed so familiar. It was the exact same look his late wife, Elizabeth Bailey, used to give him.

He rubbed his temples. “Fine. As long as you behave, stop provoking Lance, take care of Amy, and drop this nonsense about divorce, I’ll keep Willowbrook Gardens for you.”

But there was no denying he had a soft spot for her. The thought of her leaving forever had stirred something in him. He couldn’t quite remember the details of that day, only the feverish encounter with Isabella in the first-floor storage room. It was the first and only time he had been unfaithful before Elizabeth’s death. He had thought his secret was safe, but Elizabeth had known.

Back at his own home, Kevin stormed in. Isabella rushed to greet him. “Kevin, you’re back. How is Susan?”

Susan Lane had watched Elizabeth grow up and had never liked Isabella, so Isabella knew better than to visit and invite scorn.

Kevin, still stewing, pushed past her without a word and went upstairs.

Isabella stood frozen in place, a complex expression on her face. A moment later, she pulled out her phone and called Catherine. “What happened at the Smith estate? Your father came back acting very strangely.”