Goodbye, Mr. Regret

The man's voice was low and gentle, and only then did Jessica's trembling begin to ease. The nap she'd taken earlier hadn't done anything to shake off her weakness or exhaustion.

Half-asleep, she slumped into Timothy's arms and drifted off, but even in sleep, a deep furrow remained between her brows.

Timothy, worried she might wake easily, hardly dared to move.

Memories of the night before crept in, and with them came a wave of guilt unlike anything he'd ever felt.

Meanwhile, Vince left The Gilded Whisper Estates and headed straight for the hospital.

Sure enough, Larkin was lying in his hospital bed, but he looked perfectly fine.

"Grandpa, didn't they say you needed emergency care?" Vince asked, bewildered.

Larkin, looking completely serious, replied, "You and Timothy didn't get into a fight, did you?"

Vince frowned. "Grandpa, what's going on?"

Larkin finally explained, "Timothy's assistant called and said you and he got into it over something—asked me to get you to come back so you two wouldn't come to blows. Honestly, look at you. Aren't you both too old to be fighting like kids?" "Grandpa!" Vince was exasperated. "And aren't you too old to fall for such tricks? Do you really think I'm the type to pick a fight with Timothy over nothing?"

As for the trouble at the company, Vince knew Timothy must've had a hand in it, but with his grandfather's health on the line, he hadn't dared to ignore the call. "So you're telling me I got played? What actually happened?"

Larkin just stared at him, confused.

"Look, time's tight. I'll explain everything to you later," Vince said, before rushing out of the hospital. He still needed to stop by the office.

motion, Vince

team together and handle the

barely left the hospital parking lot when his assistant

the situation's

How did it resolve so suddenly?" Vince

a computer virus-a false alarm. Before our tech guys even started working on it, the problem vanished

brakes, then pounded his fist against

but these were high-stakes problems-he'd been forced

And Jessica?

chill ran through him. He floored the gas pedal and sped back toward

house was

the doorbell for ages before Mabel finally came to the

"Mr. Zimmerman, good evening."

"Where's Timothy?"

aff to turn in for the night. only came because

know if they're

the main house

me get the

she led

The place was deserted.

himself, so Mabel went from room to room, knocking and checking each one. But by

floor, the divorce papers Timothy had