Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Jessica stopped Larkin, shaking her head. "Let's just leave it. I don't want to be

tangled up with their family anymore."

The more you try to sort it out, the messier it gets.

But Larkin's jaw tightened. "If I don't confront Phelps about this, I'll never be able

to swallow my anger. Don't worry, Jess. I'll handle this. No matter what, I'll make

sure your divorce from Timothy goes through smoothly."

It was in that moment Jessica realized: having family, for a woman after marriage,

was the greatest source of strength.

Her grandfather had lost his granddaughter for so many years, and now he knew

in advance all the hurt she'd suffered at the Lawsons' hands. There was no way

The'd stand by and do nothing.

Jessica didn't try to stop him again.

Vince put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Come on, I'll show you to your

room. You've had a tough day-just rest here tonight. Let us handle the rest."

"Alright," she agreed quietly.

She was drained, physically and emotionally, from the whole exhausting divorce

ordeal. The idea of rest was a relief.

Jessica followed Vince down the hall to her room.

Stopping at the door, Vince glanced back at her. "Even though you haven't been

home for years, Mom always kept your room ready. After you turned eighteen, she

even had it redecorated."

With that, he pushed the door open.

The room was awash in soft, feminine touches-blush-pink curtains, a crisp white

bed, a neat row of plush toys lined up above the headboard. On the wall hung an

oversized photograph. There was a picture frame on the nightstand too, holding a

photo of her as a little girl.

fingers brushing the frame as she

at her childhood face, she felt a rush of

-all at once.

feel foreign

it felt

"Every

for the season. I checked-all the sizes should fit

is here. If you can't find something,

tonight. We'll

Jessica nodded.

wardrobe and opened it. Inside, it was

clothes, tags

was covered with jewelry and

eyes stung with

she did have a family

or pretended she didn't exist. Even

always been in

warmth seeped into the cracks of her

aching

that she was a mother herself, she understood at least

to love your child like

out her phone and called

already contacted the Bryants, letting Mr.

the Lawson estate, urging

as soon as possible.

and Larkin had decided to split up-one headed to the Lawsons', the

the Gilded Whisper Estates.

called Yates, telling him to meet at the Gilded

Vince answered Jessica's call.

"Hey, Jess-"

hesitated, then said softly,

froze for

learned today that they were siblings, but because Jessica

she'd always called him

remembered I'm your

start calling you that anyway.

to book a flight to see

mother was still sick; Jessica couldn't wait

soon as

ID," Vince said quickly. "I'll have my secretary

you. You want

"Yes. Tonight."

"Alright."

ID.

assistant to book a flight for

Vince pulled up to the Gilded Whisper

car,

this about?"

inside. You'll find out