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 picked

face, she felt a rush

-all at once.

didn't feel foreign

deep down, it

doorway. "Every year,

the sizes should

find something, just ask. Grandpa and I

We'll have dinner

Jessica nodded.

to the wardrobe and opened it. Inside,

clothes, tags

was covered with jewelry and

stung with

a

about her or pretended

always been in their

the cracks

aching

mother herself, she understood at

your child

out her phone and called

already contacted the Bryants, letting Mr. and

for them at the Lawson estate, urging them

as soon as possible.

up-one headed to the

the Gilded Whisper Estates.

telling him to meet

Vince answered Jessica's call.

"Hey, Jess-"

hesitated, then said

for

that they were

her childhood, she'd always

I'm

But I think I should start calling you

I want to book a

was still sick; Jessica couldn't wait any longer. She wanted

her as soon as possible-maybe it would

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

for you. You want

"Yes. Tonight."

"Alright."

her ID. Vince, hoping

assistant to book a flight for after ten

Vince pulled up to the Gilded Whisper Estates.

car,

this about?" Yates

"Come inside. You'll find out