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.

inside, her fingers brushing the frame as she picked it

felt a rush

-all at once.

room didn't feel

deep down, it felt

softly from the doorway. "Every

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

find something, just

early tonight. We'll

Jessica nodded.

to the wardrobe and opened it. Inside, it was

clothes, tags still

vanity was covered

stung with

have a family who

her or pretended she

she'd always been

seeped into the cracks of her

herself aching to see her

she understood at least

to love your

out her phone and called

the Bryants, letting Mr.

at the Lawson estate, urging them to

as soon as possible.

decided to split up-one headed to

the Gilded Whisper Estates.

him to meet at the

Vince answered Jessica's call.

"Hey, Jess-"

said softly, "Big

for a

learned today that they were siblings, but because Jessica

memories of her childhood, she'd always called him by

I'm your

I should start calling you that anyway. Can you send

number? I want to book a flight to

Jessica couldn't

as

photo of your ID," Vince said quickly. "I'll have

You want to

"Yes. Tonight."

"Alright."

a picture of her ID.

Grandpa, arranged for his assistant to book a flight for after

the Gilded Whisper

his car, Yates strode

this about?"

was grim. "Come inside.