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.

brushing the frame as she

face, she felt a rush of emotions-grief, comfort,

-all at once.

didn't feel foreign

it felt

"Every year, Mom bought you the

the season. I checked-all the sizes should

If you can't find something,

tonight. We'll

Jessica nodded.

wardrobe

clothes,

vanity was covered

eyes stung

she did have a family

pretended she didn't exist.

always been

warmth seeped into the cracks of

herself aching to see

she understood at

your

fished out her phone

had already contacted the Bryants, letting

Grandpa was waiting for them at the Lawson estate, urging them to get

as soon as possible.

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

the Gilded Whisper Estates.

also called Yates, telling him to meet at the

Vince answered Jessica's call.

"Hey, Jess-"

then said

for

today that they were siblings, but because

memories of her childhood, she'd always called

I'm your

should start calling you that anyway. Can you send me

number? I want to book a flight to

couldn't wait any longer.

see her as soon as possible-maybe it

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

for you. You want

"Yes. Tonight."

"Alright."

of her ID. Vince,

and Grandpa, arranged for his assistant to

Whisper Estates. As soon as he

car, Yates strode

about?" Yates

grim. "Come inside. You'll