What does the Rambam say about the three stages of repentence?

From the Rambam’s Laws of Repentance:”And what is the [discussed] repentance; The sinner should take leave of his sin, remove it from his thoughts, and decide in his heart never do do [that sin] again, and that is what is meant in Isaiah (chapter 55:7) “the sinner should leave his ways, and the iniquitous man – his thoughts”. He should [also] regret the past. . . and The Knower of all that which is hidden (ie:G-d) should testify that he will never return to this sin again…One must verbally confess these sins, and express the decisions [never to return to these sins again].”

(Laws of Repentance Chapter 2, Law 2)

On analysis, the Rambam seems to first say three things:
a) Leaving the sin and removing it from his thoughts
b) Accept never to return to these sins again
c) Regret having done the sin.

Yet the Rambam adds another proviso: One should verbalise the confession (probably the regret, and the leaving), and also express the decision not to retuen to these sins again.

It is well known, that the Rambam sees the commandment to be Vidui (confession), rather than seeing Teshuva (Repentance) as the commandment. Repentance is something so obviously necessary in a relationship with G-d [As is making-up to a spouse after an argument so obviously necessary in a marriage relationship] that G-d doesn’t command us to return; all the Ramabam says is:

“...When one does Repent, one has an obligation to confess (verbally)...”
Laws of Repentance Chapter 1 Law 1

Therefore, the three stages seem to be as we have stated, but they all need verbal expression.

Rabbi Shmuel.