Goodbye, Mr. Regret

The matter had been resolved, but it left a bad taste-these sorts of things were always considered inauspicious, and to let it spiral like this felt, to Phelps, deeply disrespectful to their ancestors.

He gave everyone in the Lawson family a harsh scolding, making it clear that if anything like this happened again, he wouldn't let it slide.

Afterward, a sense of discontent toward Jessica lingered throughout the family.

If she had just stayed home like she was supposed to, none of this would have happened.

But with the patriarch still seething, nobody dared voice their frustrations openly.

What should have been a cheerful family gathering for the festival had turned into a day shrouded in gloom, the atmosphere tense and unsettled.

Timothy lost his appetite for lunch entirely. With Jessica absent, he simply told Henry to stay at the old house for now.

Leaving the Lawson estate, Timothy got into his car and dialed Jessica's number.

She didn't answer.

He gripped his phone so tightly his knuckles went white. After a moment, he set it aside, started the engine, and headed home to The Gilded Whisper Estates.

Inside, he unlocked the safe and retrieved the pearl necklace and brooch Secretary Allen had recently redeemed for him.

brooches that had been sent later by the jeweler's boutique were all stored safely at the office; he had no intention of letting them see the light

his mother's keepsake. The brooch-one he'd chosen and

to return these things

he'd

Jessica had been at home, none of this

thinking deeper, he realized that for seven years, Jessica had devoted herself to the Lawson family, never once tending to the memory of her own late

the Lawsons, people complained

absence, not a single person had bothered

Jessica's family was all gone, he'd never once accompanied

the necklace and

past a flower shop, he stopped and

memorial supplies, and got straight

to buy the offerings that morning, Secretary Allen had called to report he couldn't reach Mrs. Lawson; Timothy told him not to bother coming back if he

Timothy called

you?" he

home," Allen replied, sounding