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.

stepped inside, her fingers brushing the frame

at her childhood face, she felt a

-all at once.

feel

deep down, it

softly from the doorway. "Every year,

the season. I checked-all the sizes should

you can't find something, just ask. Grandpa

early tonight. We'll have dinner

Jessica nodded.

Vince left, she walked to the wardrobe and

brand-new clothes, tags still

covered with jewelry and

eyes stung with

did have a family

pretended she

she'd always been in

warmth seeped into the cracks of her

herself aching to

herself, she understood at

your

out her phone

had already contacted the Bryants, letting Mr. and Mrs. Bryant

waiting for them at the

as soon as possible.

had decided to split up-one headed to the

the Gilded Whisper Estates.

telling him to meet at the Gilded Whisper

Vince answered Jessica's call.

"Hey, Jess-"

hesitated, then said softly,

for

just learned today that they were siblings, but

her childhood, she'd always called

remembered I'm

think I should start calling you that anyway. Can you

I want to book a flight

Jessica couldn't

soon as possible-maybe it would help her

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

you. You want

"Yes. Tonight."

"Alright."

him a picture of her ID. Vince, hoping

for his assistant to book a flight for after

pulled up to the Gilded Whisper Estates. As soon as he stepped

his car,

this about?"

"Come inside. You'll find out soon