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 picked

she felt a rush of emotions-grief,

-all at once.

didn't feel foreign at

deep down, it felt

softly from the doorway. "Every year, Mom bought

the sizes

is here. If you can't find something, just ask. Grandpa and

We'll have

Jessica nodded.

she walked to the wardrobe and opened it.

clothes, tags still

was covered with jewelry and

eyes stung

did have a family who loved

pretended she didn't

she'd always been in

the cracks

aching

herself, she understood at least a

love your

out her phone and

contacted the Bryants,

at the

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 Gilded Whisper

Vince answered Jessica's call.

"Hey, Jess-"

hesitated, then said softly, "Big

froze for a

only just learned today that they were siblings, but

she'd always called him by

remembered I'm your

start calling you that

I want to book a flight

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

soon as possible-maybe it would

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

for you. You

"Yes. Tonight."

"Alright."

her ID. Vince, hoping she'd still have

assistant to book a flight for

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

car, Yates

this about?"

face was grim. "Come inside.